Avalanche awareness – 3 day course
with Mario Ravello*

February 14 -16th 2020, kalavryta, greece

Price for 3 days: 100 Euros (this only includes instruction and materials)

Places are limited so please contact spiros soulis 6946339526,  soulmountains@gmail.com or FB messenger.

Participants must have some experience with ski touring and have the following equipment – ski touring skis, skins, ski touring boots, arva, shovel, probe and ski crampons

• His instruction to Alpine Guides covers Avalanche rescue and risk management as part of the knowledge required by Mountain Guides.
• He teaches Avalanche Theory as part of the Ski Instructor Course
• Is a Member of the local Avalanche Commission (dealing with risk management related to roads and other infrastructure)

14/2/20  First day morning: classroom – Location TBD

9:15-9:30         Presentation of the course and setting goals
9:30-10:00       Outline of meteorology aimed at the phenomenon of avalanches
10:00-11:00     Snow cover characterization (constructive and destructive metamorphism)
11:00-12:00     Illustration of the snow check pattern (Munter method)

14/2/20  First day afternoon: outdoor

13:30-14:30    Transfer to the slopes to be analyzed, first general impressions (intuitive evaluation of stability), choice of representative site for snow analysis
14:30-16:00    Characterization of the snowpack by stratigraphic analysis
16:00-17:30    Preliminary estimate of the avalanche danger through the use of the snow check
20:00               Dinner as a group (location TBD)

15/2/20  Second Day – Ski Touring  – Back of Helmos Mountain (Applying first day theory into practice)

09:00 -16:00   Simulation of ski mountaineering trip aimed at risk management, including instruction on choice of course, assigning of groups and ski touring techniques

16/2/20  Third Day: outdoor (lower slopes of ski center)

9:30 – 12:00     Analysis of the elements used to define the risk management (Munter Method)
12:30 – 15:00  In-depth analysis of snow stability assessment (application of Munter method) including ARVA instruction
15:00 – 15:30  Debriefing and Assessment Task
15:30 – 16:30  Little Chalet for customary beer(s)

*Mario Ravello is a Geologist and Mountain Guide in Aosta Valley, Italy who also instructs at the School for Alpine Guides.