Level 2 Avalanche Course

The Central Division Avalanche Level 2 is being combined with Eastern Division this year.  See details below.

Michael Walenta, Western Michigan Region Avalanche Advisor
walentam@gvsu.edu  616-331-6775 
Twitter: Michael Walenta  LinkedIn: Michael Walenta

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2011 Eastern Div. Level 2 Avalanche Course
March 17 - 20, 2011

by Chuck Boyd

Whiteface Mountain provides premier training terrain for advanced avalanche courses with its ample lift served side country access to avalanche prone slides.  Join us for the next Level 2 Avalanche Course and improve your knowledge and understanding of avalanches and rescue operations.  Anyone with aspirations of being an avalanche professional or a patroller in avalanche prone terrain or who spends a lot of time in the backcountry should sign up now!

The 2011 Eastern Division Level 2 Avalanche Course is scheduled for March 17 through 20 (Thursday through Sunday) at the Atmospheric Science Research Center and Whiteface Mountain, NY.  Participants should plan to arrive Wednesday evening, March 16.  The purpose of the Level 2 course is to help prepare the patroller and backcountry user for all aspects of avalanche hazards and rescue operations.  More information describing the course will be available on the Eastern Division Website.

During the first two days of the course, participants will complete the first half of the program, by attending a wide variety of presentations by industry professionals, NOAA and our trained staff of Level 2 instructors, plus some outdoor activities which include a ski tour.  Two evening sessions include trip planning/ navigation, and a rescue simulator session.  The simulator is an indoor mock-up of a rescue problem designed to provide realistic situations and decision-making typically encountered in avalanche rescue operations.  The next two days include the outdoor portion of the course in which participants will ski to field exercises including snowpack and terrain analysis, rescue beacon use, companion and organized avalanche rescue operations.

Accommodations during the course will be available at the Holiday Lodge (518-946-2251) near Whiteface with breakfast in the restaurant located at the Lodge.  Lodging will be at a group rate of $79.00 per night, double occupancy.  Reservations can be made online at; www.adirondackholidaylodge.com .  Catered lunches will be available at ASRC each day at a very reasonable price, including trail lunches at the outdoor sessions. Registration cost for the course for NSP members will be $200 and $250 for non-NSP members.

Completion of both a Level 1 avalanche course and a mountain travel and rescue course, within the last three years is required as a prerequisite.  Winter hiking experience, with proper outdoor clothing and ski touring equipment, along with strong skiing skills are also essential.  You must be able to ski the black diamond terrain at Whiteface.  Interested participants should understand that the outdoor field work is done in a winter mountain environment that involves physical exertion and sustained exposure to winter elements and hazards.  Interested participants with physical or medical restrictions must consider these factors before applying.

Attendance is limited, so sign up early!  To register for the Level II Avalanche Course, please complete and return the form below with a check for $200.00 NSP members, $250.00 non-NSP members made out to "Chuck Boyd" by March 1, 2011.

For information, contact Level 2 Avalanche Instructor of Record,
Chuck Boyd
(chucklin2@gmail.com)  860-508-5273
Whiteface Mountain, NY
March 17 - 20, 2011

Name _________________________________________________________________

NSP Registration # ______ Patrol __________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________

City _______________________________  State _____  Zip ____________________

Phone _____________  E-mail ____________________________________________

Please return this form with payment by March 1, 2011 to:
Chuck Boyd, Level 2 Avalanche Instructor
1 Daventry Hill Lane
Suffield, CT 06078