Monday, February 2, 2009

I just got back yesterday from a three day course at Silverton Avalanche School giving me my Avalanche 1 certification. We learned about the components needed for an avalanche (a strong snow layer over a weak one, a trigger- natural or human, and a slope steep enough for that strong layer to slide off the weak one). We practiced using our transcievers and other rescue gear. There were 6 or so instructors splitting the lectures and helping with the field exercises. I had fun and the weather was lovely. I am definately going to keep a daily eye on the avalanche conditions and avoid any days with danger. Don't worry about me! I feel much better about mitigating risks after this class.

This is a view from McMillan, still the only mountain I have backcountry skied. Mom, if you look at the basin dead center of the photo, that is Porphory Basin, the one we hiked with Leanne. In the spring, it is a good 1 day ski tour up the road and down over the other side all the way to Telluride.
This is looking up McMillan. It was very wind swept and crusty up this high- a little over 12000ft.

My first snow pit. By digging down all the layers, one can isolate columns of snow and do stress tests to quite easily see if one layer might separate from another. I could even see a dust layer from early winter.

1 comment:

  1. Nice shot of the back-hoe. And the snow pit; the ski in front with that purple skin is pretty stylish.

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