Avalanche

The NSP provides several layers of avalanche education. They are designed to fit the needs of different audiences with different backgrounds, interests, and geographical conditions. The Ohio region offers two basic avalanche programs. One is the Introduction to Avalanche Safety and Rescue. This course is specifically designed for ski patrollers who operate in areas that lack sufficient snow and/or avalanche terrain to conduct Level 1 field training and are thus unlikely to encounter avalanche hazard or be physically involved in organized rescue. The course is usually taught in a classroom environment and will typically take 8-9 hours to complete. Field activities for improving transceiver skills and probing are included if snow conditions permit at the time of the course. This course qualifies as an NSP senior elective, but it does not qualify as a prerequisite for enrollment in Level 2 avalanche courses. The second is the Level 1 Avalanche for Rescue Personnel. This course is oriented toward the person who enters the backcountry primarily for recreation. It focuses on the knowledge, skills, and the decisions one must be able to make to travel safely in avalanche country. The field sessions must be taught in terrain and natural snow pack that would be possible for avalanche conditions to exists. This course is an enhanced Level 1 avalanche curriculum that includes a supplement specialized for ski patrollers and other Search and Rescue personnel. It is a 3-4 day course and can be taught in different locations for the classroom and field sessions.

Avalanche Instructors for the Ohio Region:

Dale Mihuta    Level 2 / IT     PNS

Jay Zedak      Level 2 / IT     BM/BW

Kim Garrett     Level 2 / IT     PNS

John McGoff    Level 2           PNS

Bev Benzing    Level 1           PNS

Jon French     Level 1           PNS

Harold Park     Level 1           PNS

Over the last few years in addition to teaching and being in support of the Level II courses in Utah, some of our instructors also attended the International Snow Sciences Workshop at Telluride, Colorado and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Ohio Region Staff is some of the best qualified in the NSP, so try to attend one of their classes and learn the skills they have to pass on.

For more information or to request a course contact Region Avalanche Advisor:

Kim Garrett

859 586-1034

KWGarr@aol.com

www.avalanche.org
www.bcaccess.com
www.nsp.org

Copyright © 2004-2006 Ohio Region, National Ski Patrol System, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Last updated 01/13/2012