This course presents basic information about weather, snowpack, and terrain factors which contribute to avalanche hazard.
Students dig snowpits, identify weak and strong layers, and practice routefinding.
To complete the course, this data is used with storm data to make a hazard forecast for a particular avalanche path. The Level III course at Silverton, CO emphasizes forecast problems associated with the continental snowpack and presents more technical background and recent research. This course emphasizes field work in the Tetons and is designed for guides working toward AMGA certification.