Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 18:40:33 -0800
From: David Kroodsma <kroodsma [AT] stanford.edu>
To: "<alpine-club [AT] lists.Stanford.EDU> <alpine-club [AT] lists.Stanford.EDU>"
    <alpine-club [AT] lists.Stanford.EDU>,
     "<redwood [AT] lists.Stanford.EDU> <redwood [AT] lists.Stanford.EDU>"
    <redwood [AT] lists.Stanford.EDU>,
     "<climbing [AT] lists.Stanford.EDU> <climbing [AT] lists.Stanford.EDU>"
    <climbing [AT] lists.Stanford.EDU>
Subject: [SAC] Avalanche Safety Workshop--March 3rd

       Stanford Alpine Club Presents:

**** AVALANCHE SAFETY WORKSHOP ****

A 2 hour class on avalanche safety open to the Stanford community.
Thursday, March 3rd
7pm to 9pm, location TBA


This two hour workshop will cover the basics of snow science, snow 
assessment, and backcountry decision making.

Avalanche safety knowledge is a necessary prerequisite for exploring 
mountainous winter terrain.  In the past 20 years, avalanches have 
killed over 300 people within the United States.  The majority of these 
deaths have been backcountry skiers and climbers, and many of the 
deaths could have been prevented with greater avalanche knowledge and 
caution.  In this class, we hope to provide you with the basics of 
avalanche safety and answer basic questions--What snow conditions, 
weather, and terrain are the most likely to cause an avalanche?  How do 
you chose a route safely in an avalanche prone area?  How do you test 
snow conditions, and what do you do if you or a friend is actually 
caught in an avalanche?

More than two hours of training and many more hours of practice are 
necessary to safely travel in avalanche terrain.  The workshop's goal 
is to teach participants how to identify avalanche conditions and to 
understand the knowledge and experience necessary to safely travel in 
such conditions.

The workshop will be divided in two sections.  During the first half, 
we will teach the science of avalanches and snow assessment.  In the 
second half of the class we will present a number of backcountry 
scenarios for the class to problem solve.  A handout on avalanche 
safety will be provided.

This workshop is open to all in the Stanford community.


Questions? Contact David Kroodsma: kroodsma [AT] stanford.edu

	
Class Instructors:
Lauren Buckely
Eric Wanless
Julia Rosen
David Kroodsma