The Samsara Backcountry Snow Safety Program serves small private groups who have already completed an approved Level I course and who are looking to take their snow assessment skills to the next level.
As this is an upper-level course, it requires experience and high levels of fitness. Students are placed in the lead for the entirety of the course, conducting all of the route finding, stability assessment, decision making, and group management.
NOTE: The course is taught at the Level II standard; however, it is not a certified course, which allows for more flexibility and a bias towards time spent in the mountains.
Program Specifics
Course Duration
3 Days (With Optional 1-Day Add-On)
Schedule
December 2020 – Feb 2021
Cost
Varies based on # of participants and location
Location
Teton Pass, Jackson, WY
CORE CONTENT
(included in program)
The Complete Picture of Stability
Tracking the Season History
Avalanche Problems & Behavior
Mechanics of Avalanche Release
Metamorphism of Snow
Framework for Decision-Making
Avalanche Rescue
Terrain and Group Management
OPTIONAL ADD-ON CONTENT
(Additional $200 per student)
Glacier Travel
Crevasse Rescue
Technical Skills for Ski Alpinism
(Anchors, Belays, Rappels)
Digital Route Planning
Student Resume Requirements
Minimum of 5 years of human-powered backcountry riding experience
Completed American Avalanche Association approved Level I Avalanche course within the past 5 years
Ability to complete 4-5k of uphill travel comfortably
Ability to confidently ski 40-degree terrain in all conditions
Proficiency with single burials