Youth Avalanche Level 1

UMA’s Youth Avalanche Level 1 course is oriented toward 13 to 17-year-old backcountry skiers, splitboarders and snowshoers. Freeride competitors, ski racers and skimo team members have frequented this course, as well as other teens seeking a solid foundation in the fundamentals of avalanche safety.

Sanctioned by the American Avalanche Association (A3), students will receive a nationally recognized certificate upon completion. Moreover, this course is designed for youngsters seeking a comprehensive and structured avalanche course. In turn, graduates will understand the basics of snow science, stability evaluation, safe travel and rescue, and be ready to make informed decisions in avalanche terrain.

UMA’s Youth Avalanche Level 1 Course Curriculum

•  Accessing and understanding the content of local avalanche reports
• Effectively applying an avalanche forecast to decision-making
• Where and why avalanches run, and the key components of their formation
• Recognition and management of human factor risks
• Effective group communication
• Using simple decision-making and planning tools
• Trailhead checks, safe travel protocols and procedures to minimize risk and exposure
• Companion rescue skills, including single-beacon recovery, efficient probing and shoveling techniques
• Basics of weather with respect to snowpack layering and structure
• Performing key snowpack tests and observations
• Recognizing avalanche terrain in the field and during classroom route-finding exercises
• Selecting terrain and route appropriate to the present avalanche forecast and problem
• Associating objectives with terrain and avalanche avoidance

What to expect?

This is a 3-day course that spans about 8 hours per day. The youth avalanche training is 40% lecture-based and 60% field-based. The schedule includes interactive lectures on day one, followed by two backcountry field sessions (days two and three).

Learn safe travel in avalanche terrain and recognition of weather, snow pack, terrain and human factors contributing to avalanche hazard in the company of other young snow riders. Dig snowpits and perform field tests to recognize strong over weak layers in snowpack and practice efficient individual and group rescue with an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe. UMA avalanche instructors are broadly-experienced, patient, passionate and youth-friendly professionals with an intimate knowledge of the Wasatch Mountains.

Why is this important for young backcountry enthusiasts?

Backcountry skiing in Utah is arguably the finest skiing in the world and offers terrain for beginners and experts alike. Side-country is backcountry. Thus, it is avalanche terrain. Indeed, the epic-ness of the backcountry has become increasingly popular and is widely shared on social media, YouTube and in ski and snowboard films. However, many of these films forget to show the planning, training and skills required to enter backcountry terrain. In turn, each season, more and more young skiers and riders want to get a taste of the backcountry. In addition, there has been an increased number of ski and freeride teams that want their competitors and coaches to be informed. Along with kids having access to open gates at resorts, it is crucial that they recognize the hazards and risks that exist once they leave resort boundaries.

Course Prerequisites & Skill Level

• Students must like hiking and exploring in the mountains, and be open to adventure.
• Students should be confident and in control skiing or riding black diamond runs at the resort.
• Participants should be comfortable and in control skiing and riding trees and ungroomed, variable snow conditions.

This course includes 24 hours of mixed lectures and field sessions over 3 days. Guests are expected to bring their own snacks, lunch and water (1-2 liters per day). UMA does not provide transportation. We encourage carpooling to help mitigate traffic in the canyons and crowded parking areas.

SCHEDULE & MEETING LOCATION

Course times are listed below. Meeting locations are provided to registered guests before the course date. Field Sessions take place in either Little Cottonwood Canyon or Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Central Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Monday – Wednesday: 9 am – 5 pm

GUIDE/INSTRUCTOR

You will receive a reminder with the contact information for your guide/instructor. They will contact you directly by email to confirm meeting time and location, as well as weather considerations and equipment needs.

TRANSPORTATION & PARKING

Transportation will not be provided. Most canyon parking lots require a parking fee.

How To Register

• Register Online
• Call us at (801) 550-3986
• Email us at [email protected]

UMA reserves the right to cancel or shorten the course if fewer than 2 participants register.

Youth Avalanche Level 1 COURSE EQUIPMENT LIST

• Non-cotton top and bottom base layer
• Puffy overcoat and/or other insulation layer (synthetic or down)
• Waterproof/windproof outer shell jacket and pants (or bibs)
• Waterproof snow gloves and mittens (or a second pair of gloves)
• Lightweight gloves for uphill travel
• Warm hat and baseball cap
• Helmet (recommended)
• Sunglasses and goggles
• Sunscreen
• 1-2 liters of water (water bladders not recommended for winter use)
• Thermos of hot drink (optional)
• Sack lunch and snacks
• Alpine touring, telemark or snowboard boots
• Alpine touring, telemark skis or splitboard
• Ski poles with powder baskets
• Climbing skins
• Slope meter, snow saw and snowpit kit (optional)
• Beacon
• Shovel
• Probe
• Backpack (25-40 liters)

Please see our Backcountry & Avalanche Gear List & Rentals page for information on the items UMA provides and local shops where you can rent or purchase gear.

Recommended Books

Snow Sense: A Guide to Evaluating Snow Avalanche Hazard by Jill Freestone & Doug Fesler
Avalanche Essentials: A Step-by-Step System for Safety and Survival by Bruce Tremper
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper

Recommended Maps

Wasatch Touring Map 1 by Alpentech
Wasatch Touring Map 2 by Alpentech
Wasatch Backcountry Skiing Map by Steve Achelis

UMA is a proud provider and member of the American Avalanche Association (A3). UMA teaches the American Avalanche Association (A3) curriculum, rather than AIARE; however, there are no major differences between what is taught. A3 was the first body to govern avalanche education in the US, and remains at the core of innovation and oversight. Graduates of UMA Level 1 and 2 courses will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Please see our main FAQ page for general questions or for anything not covered below. 

What can I expect in the backcountry? How is it different from resort skiing?

Backcountry terrain offers challenges and major rewards that are not found in the resorts. In the backcountry, unlike the resort, runs are not designed by man to ease the downhill experience by creating trails, removing obstacles and maintaining a more consistent snow pack. Different aspects and elevations hold different snow; in one area you can have soft powder and in another it may be zipper crust or hard pack. This is what we call variable conditions.

Our goal is for participants to get the most out of their days/experience with UMA and knowing your ski/riding ability and fitness level is a big part of serving you appropriately. We do our best to match you with other similar levels in groups so that each person can start at the unique level they’re at and progress from there in the appropriate group.