Snorkeling through Utah’s legendary blower powder, face shots with every untracked turn, and tiny rainbow crystals dancing in the winter sun are many a backcountry skier’s or rider’s dreams come true. The picturesque setting and the sensation of floating down a mountain can veil the reality that backcountry riding is a dangerous undertaking. The first step towards operating safely in the backcountry is education and understanding.“The backcountry skiing/riding environment could be called a wicked learning environment. We don’t tend to get the feedback that tells us whether our decisions were good or bad throughout the day,” explains snow scientist and avalanche educator Christopher Brown. “The need for continued refinement is critical when recreating and operating in a wicked learning environment that is very enjoyable, but can be fatal and dangerous at times.”In the name of transparency, Chris is my husband, and I can’t imagine a more appropriate person to share information about avalanche education. While working in our shared office space, I’ve inadvertently attended the digital classroom sessions of dozens of Recreational Level 1, Recreational Level 2, and Professional avalanche courses. His zealousness for snow science and helping users navigate the mountain safely is unmatched.“For little over a decade now, I’ve taught quite a few avalanche courses, at least 100, and a majority of those were recreational avalanche courses,” he says, explaining that avalanche education is critical for any person interested in winter backcountry travel. “Anyone who plans to recreate in a backcountry snowpack environment, or is exposed to a backcountry snowpack environment, including side country next to a ski resort, or winter snowshoeing, should take a Recreational Level 1 avalanche course at a minimum.”Credit: Courtesy of Christopher BrownThe most basic definition of avalanche terrain is a slope that is over 30 degrees, which is equivalent to a blue or black diamond at a resort. There is a risk of overhead exposure, even when moving on non-avalanche slopes. “You can be traveling in totally flat terrain, but if there’s a steeper slope above you, depending on the size, the length, the steepness of the slope and the snowpack, an avalanche could come down from above—which is one of the worst-case scenarios in an avalanche incident,” Brown continues.That’s why investing in avalanche education is critical for all users, from skiers and snowboarders to snowshoers and snowmobilers. “I’m a big proponent of lifetime learning,” he says. Some of the avalanche learning opportunities available include the Utah Avalanche Center’s Know Before You Go introductory presentation, Companion Rescue Courses, and Recreational Level 1 courses.Know Before You Go is a free video produced by the Utah Avalanche Center intended to raise awareness. People interested can view the video online or request to host an event where a Utah Avalanche Center team member will do an in-person presentation. “Some user groups who may not be seeking out slopes, like skiers and snowboarders, can get some knowledge through avalanche awareness lectures,” Brown explains. “It’s a one- to two-hour long, very engaging, well-produced movie that gives you some of the basics and can start to get your wheels turning. It can get you thinking about whether or not you are recreating in or near avalanche terrain and can give you an idea of what it starts to look like.”In 2017, the US-based avalanche education process was re-vamped to better fit the needs of two learner groups: recreational and professional users. Brown says that now, “Recreational avalanche courses focus on self and small group risk management for backcountry skiing and on tools that will be helpful for them to manage their personal risk and their group’s risk.”Companion Rescue Courses pair with Recreational Level 1 to begin creating a cohesive picture of backcountry safety. “The Avalanche Rescue Course is a one-day course that can be taken at any time. It focuses on rescue scenarios including avalanche beacon use and probing.” While it’s unnecessary to be proficient in using rescue gear before the course, some ski resorts have opportunities to practice with the tools. “Beacon parks are generally safe from avalanches and have [more or less] buried beacons. You hit a button, and it activates them. Then you go and find them.” Beacon Park locations and information are available on the Utah Avalanche Center’s website.Credit: Courtesy of Christopher BrownIn a Recreational Level 1 course, students can expect to learn systems for critical thinking and gaining an understanding of how to identify avalanche terrain. “Coming out of Level 1, you’ll have been introduced to understanding the avalanche center’s daily forecast and navigating the website,” he continues. Students should be able to start formulating ideas about areas to avoid, choosing appropriate objectives, and using tools to plan a day in the backcountry. “[This includes] recognizing avalanche terrain. What’s avalanche terrain? What’s not avalanche terrain? Starting to have a basic understanding of weather and how weather affects avalanche problems, what those avalanche problems are, what the character of those problems is, and what that can mean are presented. Then, use tools to go out into the field with a good plan and work as a team to communicate well and avoid falling victim to biases like getting powder fever, where you get excited because it’s so beautiful out and the snow is so good.”It’s important for students participating in a Recreational Level 1 course to be capable of using their equipment. “One thing that everyone should keep in mind is it’s not a backcountry skiing/splitboarding course. Avalanche education and an avalanche skill set are separate from a skiing or splitboarding skill set on the downhill, which is also a different skill set from traveling uphill on skis or a splitboard. Coming in with some uphill and downhill ability is important because that’s how we move around.”Students should be well-versed in skiing or riding in variable conditions and should seek out poor conditions while skiing at the resort to practice these skills. “You don’t need to be an expert skier or snowboarder, but being able to get your way down safely in adverse conditions is important.” Additionally, the ability to ascend is essential for a quality learning environment. “Quite a few ski resorts have uphill policies, which allow skiers and splitboarders to travel uphill in their touring equipment and then ski downhill,” Brown says. Practicing at one of these resorts is the best thing you can do for uphill ability, and policies about uphill travel are available on the resort’s websites or the Utah Avalanche Center’s website.Credit: Courtesy of Christopher BrownThere are dozens of operators offering avalanche education courses. Choosing a reputable source is essential for quality learning. “The American Avalanche Association (A3) is an overlying body that sets forth standards, criteria, and learning outcomes,” Brown explains. There are two primary education providers that meet all A3’s standards: American Avalanche Institute (AAI) and American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). Additionally, some guide operators create curricula that meets A3’s learning objectives. “It’s mandatory to seek out qualified education,” he continues. “There are people out there who are providing a subpar product. You should have qualified instruction when it comes to operating and making decisions that your life could depend on.”To build on Companion Rescue and Level 1 skills, students can hire qualified guides (Brown recommends seeking an American Mountain Guide Association [AMGA] certified ski guide) to dive into specifics, sharpen certain skills, or enjoy learning experiences tailored to particular learning objectives.Skiers and snowboarders who intend to explore the backcountry should prioritize education for personal safety and as a form of respect to other users. Brown wraps up the conversation with a final tip. “Be critical, think critically, stay curious, and don’t use social media to make decisions.” See more in the 2024/25 Winter Adventure Guide magazine.The post Avalanche Education appeared first on Park Record.