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The VOC usually arranges a private avalanche course for members in January of every year.  Spaces are limited, and it fills up quickly, so make sure to sign up early if you want a spot.  This course is usually a bit cheaper than taking a course open to the public.
The VOC usually arranges a private avalanche course for members in January of every year.  Spaces are limited, and it fills up quickly, so make sure to sign up early if you want a spot.  This course is usually a bit cheaper than taking a course open to the public.


If you can't do the VOC course, avalanche courses are offered by many local guiding companies, including Canada West Mountain School and the Whistler Alpine Guides Bureau.
It is a good idea for anyone who is interested in traveling in the backcountry to take an avalanche course.  Each year the VOC organizes one or two entry-level avalanche courses for members, so that our members can get a group rate for the course.  Avalanche course students learn about some snow science basics, terrain, route finding, snow stability testing and rescue.


===February 2004===
If you can't do the VOC course, avalanche courses are offered by many local guiding companies, including [http://www.themountainschool.com/ Canada West Mountain School] and the [http://www.whistlerguides.com/ Whistler Alpine Guides Bureau].
'''Organiser: James Floyer'''


The course was run through [http://www.themountainschool.com Canada West Mountain School] (CWMS) 604 878 7007 - they do a group rate for clubs if you book one or more complete courses. We did a 2.5 day custom course, held over a weekend with two 2.5 hour evening classroom sessions, one before the weekend and one after. Each course can have 8 people and it is the club's responsibility to fill the courses and get payment. It is good value if you can get multiples of 8 (i.e. if you only have 7 then the full price is split 7 ways rather than 8).
===Logistics===
{{main|Avalanche course logistics}}


CWMS will ask for the full price of the course in advance. The way I did it
For all future  avalanche course coordinators, logistics and organizational timeline can be viewed from the link cited above.
last year was to get the AMS to write a cheque for the courses (we had 2
last year) and then the individual students paid the money in to the VOC.
This step took quite a bit of time to arrange, as the cheque needed approval
from a comittee. Its important to get the students to pay the money early
(i.e. to fully commit) otherwise there will be a problem with people pulling
out at the last minute, which either is bad for the others on the course or the
VOC.


The feedback that I got from last year was that it was pretty good. Everyone
ended up going to Whistler on Sunday in the end, which added the price of
one Whistler lift ticket onto the price of the course (the first day was at
Seymour, which was included in the price). Car pooling is necessary to get
to Seymour / Whistler. The more advanced group enjoyed it more than the
beginner group. There were a couple of students on the beginner group who
were poor skiers, so they spent more time just trying to get around and
less time talking about avalanche hazard.


It is necessary to book a room for the pre- and post- weekend classroom sessions, which needs to be done at least a week in advance. They need a LCD and a VCR.
==Past Events==


CWMS provided beacons, probes and shovels but no ski gear or clothing.
===2010===


===January 15-16 2005===
*'''Avalanche Skills Training - Level 1'''
'''Organiser: Matt Brown'''


Three groups of 8 took part in avalanche school with guides from Canada West Mountain school. The course involved a pre classroom session, 2 field days (day 1 Seymour, day 2 Whistler) and a post classroom session. For the classroom sessions, we booked a room in the SUB, and also borrowed a TV/Video, OHP and screen from the AMS. The group rate (based on groups of 8) was a substantial discount over the usual CWMS price. I handled the cash flow myself (writing 3 cheques to CWMS as the money came in). I had people sign up on a signup sheet, then chose groups puttting snowboarders together, and 'advanced' skiers and 'intermediate' skiers in different groups.
'''[[AST1_Jan_2010| January 16<sup>th</sup> - 17<sup>th</sup>, 2010 @ Seymour/Whistler]]'''<br>


Next time I would have a system whereby cheque dropoff secured a place, rather than the signup sheet, as several people signed up and dropped out without paying, some at short notice. Another problem was that several non-members signed up. Though many would have bought a membership, we had more people (38) than CWMS could accomodate for that weekend (24), so we decided to restrict the course to current members.
'''[[AST1_Jan_2010_Seymour| January 16<sup>th</sup> - 17<sup>th</sup>, 2010 @ Seymour]]'''<br>
 
*'''Avalanche Skills Training - Level 2'''
 
'''[[AST2_2010| January 23<sup>th</sup> - 24<sup>th</sup> & 30<sup>th</sup> - 31<sup>th</sup>, 2010]]'''<br>
 
===2009===
 
*'''Avalanche Skills Training - Level 1'''
 
{{main|AST1_course_2009}}
 
'''[[AST1_Dec_2009|December 12<sup>th</sup> - 13<sup>th</sup>, 2009]]'''
 
 
*'''Avalanche Skills Training - Level 2'''
 
{{main|AST2_Course_2009}}
 
===2008===
 
*'''Avalanche Skills Training - Level 1'''
 
{{main|Avalanche course 2008}}
 
 
*'''Avalanche Skills Training - Level 2'''
 
{{main|Advanced Avalanche course 2008}}
 
===2007===
 
{{main|Avalanche Course 2007}}
 
===2005===
 
{{main|Avalanche Course 2005}}
 
===2004===
 
{{main|Avalanche Course 2004}}
 
[[Category:Events]]

Latest revision as of 16:45, 31 January 2019

The VOC usually arranges a private avalanche course for members in January of every year. Spaces are limited, and it fills up quickly, so make sure to sign up early if you want a spot. This course is usually a bit cheaper than taking a course open to the public.

It is a good idea for anyone who is interested in traveling in the backcountry to take an avalanche course. Each year the VOC organizes one or two entry-level avalanche courses for members, so that our members can get a group rate for the course. Avalanche course students learn about some snow science basics, terrain, route finding, snow stability testing and rescue.

If you can't do the VOC course, avalanche courses are offered by many local guiding companies, including Canada West Mountain School and the Whistler Alpine Guides Bureau.

Logistics

Main article: Avalanche course logistics

For all future avalanche course coordinators, logistics and organizational timeline can be viewed from the link cited above.


Past Events

2010

  • Avalanche Skills Training - Level 1

January 16th - 17th, 2010 @ Seymour/Whistler

January 16th - 17th, 2010 @ Seymour

  • Avalanche Skills Training - Level 2

January 23th - 24th & 30th - 31th, 2010

2009

  • Avalanche Skills Training - Level 1
Main article: AST1_course_2009

December 12th - 13th, 2009


  • Avalanche Skills Training - Level 2
Main article: AST2_Course_2009

2008

  • Avalanche Skills Training - Level 1
Main article: Avalanche course 2008


  • Avalanche Skills Training - Level 2
Main article: Advanced Avalanche course 2008

2007

Main article: Avalanche Course 2007

2005

Main article: Avalanche Course 2005

2004

Main article: Avalanche Course 2004
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