Avalanche Hazard Evaluation; considerations for a Scottish snowpack 

Day for BMG Members only. 

These days are funded by the Chris Walker Memorial Trust www.chriswalkertrust.co.uk and AMI.

Chris was a highly talented, accomplished and popular mountaineer who loved to share his enthusiasm, knowledge and skills with others. 

He already held the MIC, was a full member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors and no doubt would have fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a British Mountain Guide. 

The trust offers funding to the BMG, AMI and MTA, to further their members’ and the public’s knowledge and understanding of avalanches and their hazards in the Scottish winter environment. 

This day provides a unique opportunity to benefit from SAIS forecasters experience and knowledge, offering insights from their work in respect of hazard evaluation, public forecasting and knowledge of the dynamics and challenges in a Scottish winter.

Venue: Nevis Range 

Day workshop notes – Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain 

Plan for a mountain day with appropriate winter mountaineering equipment and lunch. Bring along something to write with. Avalanche transceiver, Probe and Shovel would also be useful, if you have them.

8:45 for 9:00 start

Welcome and Intro - Understanding Scottish Winter Challenges  

Overview of factors required to develop a hazard evaluation: 

• Historical snowpack information 
• Recent weather factors 
• Deciding relevant field locations for field snow and avalanche observations. 
• Human factors and its significance in decision making. 
• Using the Be Avalanche Aware process 

10:30 - Break 

10:45 - Depart for hill using transport 

Using the Be Avalanche Aware process in the field:

• Identifying relevant field observations during approach 
• Snow structure relevance to hazard evaluation 
• Considering Human factors 

Visual observation of terrain and slope shape and relevance to avalanche release. 

Identifying avalanche terrain exposure and potential impact in the field.

Field observations - relevance and use. 

16:00 - Return 

Break

Determining the Avalanche Hazard

Summary 16:30 – Finish 

If the workshop is full it is possible to add yourself to the waiting list by clicking the waiting list button on the right of the screen.

Start

19/01/2020 09:00

End

19/01/2020 17:00

Total Days

1

Maximum Bookings

8

Bookings

8

Venue

Nevis Range

Town

Fort William

County

Highlands

Postcode

PH33 6SQ

Country

United Kingdom

Latitude

56.84602

Longitude

-5.01139

Name

British Mountain Guides

Phone

01690 720272

Email