Hiking in the back country can be a very enjoyable experience, and those who take part in a Calgary course will learn how to take to the winter woods safely.
The class, which will be for those who enjoy snowshoeing, will teach skills that may be helpful to anyone who visits avalanche country. The goal is to ensure that learners will be well prepared should an emergency happen, and will know how to keep that sort of situation from ever arising in the first place.
The course will touch on a variety of topics, and one of these is how to recognize the risks that may be present on back country trails. Both classroom and field learning are on the agenda. The group will discover how and why avalanches occur, the fundamentals of trip planning, how to use forecasts and other tools, companion rescue and also what travel techniques to use to minimize the risk.
Each participant will need to supply their own boots, snowshoes, poles, day pack and other gear. These may be rented from area vendors if needed. Brochure printing companies can supply planners of events like this with equipment lists, waivers, trip sheets and many other printed materials.
Lifemark Physiotherapy at Max Bell Arena will be offering the public the AST 1 Avalanche Skills Training Course (Snowshoes) on January 29th and 30th. Tickets are $130.
