Awarding Body

Mountain Training

Scheme

British Mountain Guide

Course

Avalanche II

Type

Training

Award Description

This international award trains and assesses candidates in the skills required to guide climbing (including the coaching of lead climbing) skiing and mountaineering on rock, snow & ice, and in alpine terrain. It is administered by the BMG to the standards set by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA). The Guide’s carnet is an extensively used professional award.

BMG Avalanche 2 La Grave Jan 2025.

Avalanche 2 5-9 January 2025

Dates – meet at 1900 on the evening of the 5^th of January then 4 full days finishing by 1700 on the 9^th.

Venue – Hotel Edelweiss self-catering apartments La Grave https://www.hotel-edelweiss.com/index.html cost of self-catering accommodation for 4 nights is included in the course fee (see end).

We will advise on exact physical location on the day of the course, we will set up a whats app group to share this and any other pre course information.

We will have two  three-bedroom apartment s one which can be used as a classroom, we will advise on the layout.

Catering – The group to cook an evening meal for each of the 4 evenings, lunch and breakfast to be catered individually.

Staff – Bruce Goodlad and Ben Bradford

Pre course preparation.

There is a significant amount of pre course reading and preparation, please take time to prepare for the course as you will get the most out of it this way.

• Please have a read through the accident report from Norway in the following link, it is sobering reading. Consider the avalanche forecast and the information that the guides had available and try to put yourself in their decision-making mindset.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:4500dfd4-c906-48d8-bb4e-dc142014b466

• Download https://cryosphericsciences.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/snowclass_2009-11-23-tagged-highres.pdf

• Read pages 1-37

• Please make yourself familiar with the common grain forms:

Precipitation Particles

Decomposing

Rounds

Facets

Depth Hoar

Melt Forms

Ice formations

• Read Pages 40-53. It is also worth reading the glossary at the end.
• Watch this video to remind yourself of the snowpack tests we looked on the previous course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A4bWoNgRtk

• Interpreting Snow Profiles

Have a read through this document.

https://www.sais.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interpreting_snow_profiles.pdf

• In addition as we now have snow on the ground can you please start preparing a record of the seasons snowfall - how much, when, major weather events, wind, avalanche cycles etc. If we can be specific on La Grave but also make a note of the other major events across the Alps. Can you please present this as a group.
• Watch this film about advanced search strategies when the mark function fails on your beacon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b68SDzzw2c4 It isn’t a particularly easy watch so you will have to go through it a couple of times. We will then have a practical session on these advanced rescue techniques following on from the rescue exam.

Rescue exam.

During the course there will be a formal solo rescue examination, this will consist of.

Rescue Examination criteria

• 50m x 50m area.
• 2 transceivers buried in rucksacks up to 1m depth.
• Locate and bring to the surface.
• Less than 7minutes.

Equipment

Transceiver

You must have a digital three antenna transceiver that has an analogue audio function – Mammut Barryvox S or S2, Pieps IPS Pro are the only models currently on the market that have this. You will not be able to resolve some of the advanced rescue scenarios without the use of analogue audio. Please make sure you are familiar with your unit and have watched the Genswein video highlighted above.

Please bring standard ski touring equipment for January ski touring including an axe and crampons, please also have a harness and glacier travel kit as there is a glacier at the top of the La Grave lift.

Please also ensure we have first aid equipment, group shelters and improvised stretcher equipment for the group. We will almost certainly travel together but it would be good to keep the option to split into 2 teams.

In addition, please also bring the following equipment.

Field book – these are the books we gave you on the previous course. Pencil and rubber.

Crystal screen

A metal one is best; this is a really good one https://avalanchesafety.ca/products/brooks-range-snow-grid-card-copy

The plastic BCA one is ok https://backcountryaccess.com/en-nl/p/polycarbonate-crystal-card

Magnifying Loop

Youcan buy them here https://www.boutique-anena.org/loupe-c2x24688468

Dont bring the BCA fold out one one its crap.

Thermometer - digital or analogue is fine

https://www.tradeinn.com/snowinn/en/toko-digital-snowthermometer/107633/p?utm_source=google_products&utm_medium=merchant&id_producte=434394&country=uk&gclid=Cj0KCQiAg_KbBhDLARIsANx7wAzX94_6NMJyhIxJ9I4yHvSmiQbeOQfL2y3321eZue9kd0_APaJCp-0aAotdEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

A meat thermometer will also work as long as it goes down to -20c

You will also need a folding ruler, something like https://www.diy.com/departments/foldable-plastic-ruler-l-2m/1775665_BQ.prd

Snow saw, I like the BD snow saw pr as I can attach it to a pole to use for ECT but others also work well.

Please have a case to carry this with you on the hill also have a propelling pencil and a pencil with a rubber on the end.

Maps

The group need the following maps for trip planning and use on the hill. I’m sure as many of us are using digital platforms one set between you will be fine. We can discuss the pros and cons of different systems during the course. All maps are IGN 1:25,000.

Meije Pelvoux 3436ET, Valloire 3435ET, Nevache Mont Thabor 3535OT.

Course Outline

This is a work in progress and may be changed as per the conditions, but it will give you all an idea of what will be covered. We will not have time to go back over the course content from the last course however we will revisit strength structure and shear as well as the strategic mindset.

If there is anything specific from the last course or things that have cropped up since we were last together can you please let me know either beforehand or during the course and we will make sure we cover those topics. If there is anything that is clearly missing from below please, let me know.

Evening 1

• Case Study Norway
• Snow pack history for the season.

Day 1

Classroom

• Review of Strategic Mindset Assessment, Stepping Out, Status Quo, Entrenchment,
• Weather and Avalanche forecast.
• Recap on Stability tests, strength, structure and shear.
• Introduction to formal recording and SWAG. Full profile, test profile and how to record.

On the Mountain

• Weather observations and relating to avalanche forecast.
• Selection of profile site.
• Snow profile demonstrated by instructor.
• Snow profile carried out by candidate coached by instructor.

Classroom

• PM meeting.
• Plot snow profile.
• Snow profile interpretation and how they are of use to us as guides.

Day 2

Classroom

• Weather and avalanche forecast.
• Conceptual model of avalanche Risk – likelihood of triggering/ spacial distribution, likelihood of triggering & confidence.
• Hazard and Risk analysis form AM – setting the scene for what should be observed on the hill.
• Human Factors review and discussion on using margins to combat these Factors – Situational Awareness tools
• Tour planning, using the strategic mindset and terrain analysis the team will look at tour planning tools to make a plan for the day and execute it.
• Digital navigation and planning tools input

On the Mountain

• Snow profile consolidation, group will complete snow profile in teams focusing on accurate, neat and efficient recording.
• Ski tour or off piste skiing looking at terrain, formal and informal snow pack tests.

Classroom

• Plot snow profile
• Hazard and Risk analysis form PM
• Revision of Rescue management looking at tools and tactics for managing a large scale incident including dealing with all those involved including the public, managing multiple languages, liaising with rescue authorities. Case studies
• Tour planning for the next day.

Day 3

Classroom

• Weather and avalanche forecast.
• Hazard and Risk analysis form AM.
• Tour planning for the day.

On the mountain

• Ski tour looking at terrain and group management.
• Formal and informal stability tests.
• Focus on incorporating propagation propensity into decision making.

Classroom

• Hazard and Risk analysis form PM
• Tour planning for the next day.

Day 4

Classroom

• Weather and avalanche forecast.
• Hazard and Risk analysis form AM.
• Tour planning for the day moving into more challenging terrain.

On the mountain

• Ski tour looking at terrain and group management.
• Formal and informal stability tests.
• Examined Rescue scenario – Managing a complex multiple burial scenario:
  • information gathering,
  • injured parties,
  • tactics for finding those buried without transceivers.
  • Looking for the candidate to control the area and deploy appropriate available resources.
  • Request assistance
  • overcoming language difficulties
  • liaise effectively with attending professional rescue organisations.
  • Evacuation plan.
  • No time limits. Pass/ fail on an agreed criterion.
  • Candidates should be able to evacuate a causality using the equipment to hand.

Classroom

• Debrief of scenario.
• Course debrief and individual feedback.
• Examine each candidates Field book as a quality check of recorded observation standards and their recorded profiles.

Between Avi 2 and Avi 3 each candidate will complete 10 snow profiles; these profiles should demonstrate:

• Good choice of location, - safe, appropriate, looking for targeted information.
• Clear record keeping.
• Well plotted profile with annotations of layers of concern and notes on structure and stability.

Cost

The cost is £810 this includes self-catering accommodation in shared rooms the previous level 2 the aspirants cooked dinner for the whole team while the instructors prepared for the following day. We will do this again. While there is no cooking exam in the BMG course, I often organise catering for clients so it would be great to see how you do. This includes checking for food allergies etc.

Any questions please let me know.

Bruce

0631175515

BMG Cancellation Policy

Cancellation by attendee:
Course attendance cannot be cancelled online; attendees need to call the Mountain Training office.
If a booking is made in error and a cancellation is made within 14 days of booking, a full refund will be made.
All refunds made, except those made within 14 days of booking, will be subject to a minimal charge due to CMS transaction charges incurred which cannot be reclaimed. This charge is £7.50 for refunds up to £300 and 2.5% of refunds above £300.

If cancellations are received up to eight weeks before the course, attendees will get a full refund (less CMS transaction fee); less than eight weeks, but more than four weeks before the course: 50% refund (less CMS transaction fee); less than four weeks before the course date: no refund unless a reserve is able to fill the slot.
Late non-attendance due to unforeseen circumstances needs to be reported ASAP direct to the course provider, so that arrangements can be made to allow reserves to attend.

Cancellation by the BMG:
The BMG will cancel workshops/courses which do not meet the minimum attendance criteria no less than four weeks before the course date, and a full refund will be given. Every effort is made to deliver all of the advertised courses, however as these are non-profitmaking, the BMG reserves the right to cancel a course should there be insufficient attendees to cover the costs.

Cancellation by trainer:
If the provider cannot run the course at the last minute due to injury or illness, and cannot find an alternative provider, it is their responsibility to notify candidates of the last-minute cancellation. The BMG will refund the candidate in full and no payment will be made to the provider.

Start

05/01/2025 19:00

End

09/01/2025 17:00

Total Days

4

Maximum Bookings

7

Bookings

7

Venue

Hotel Edelweiss Apartments

Town

La Grave

County

Ecrins

Postcode

74170

Country

France

Name

British Mountain Guides

Phone

0631175515

Email