Avalanche Class Resources, after an AIARE 1
You’ve made your way through an AIARE 1 class. Bravo!
You should have learned a process for managing risk. You may have realized that you learned more about a process than you expected, and less about avalanches than you expected. That’s OK. In the seasonal preparation section of the AIARE Risk Management Framework it says you should continue your avalanche education. Now you can learn more about avalanches, snowpack and mountain weather, and apply that knowledge to the risk management framework. As you add more knowledge, you may be able to make less conservative decisions, and/or make decisions with more confidence.
Some sources for that additional knowledge include:
Just released in its 4th edition, the Avalanche Handbook is a great source of knowledge about the science of avalanches, snow and weather. If you want to learn more about orographic lift, facet formation, or alpha angles, the Avalanche Handbook is the place to look.
Snow, Weather, Avalanche Guidelines (the SWAG)
Published by the American Avalanche Association, the SWAG is a collection of standards for the snow science world. If you want to learn what the graphic symbol is for fist hard snow, or where the appropriate place is to take a fracture line profile, or how to take an air temperature measurement to a standard that all practitioners use, you’ll find it in the SWAG.
The ATES Scale- Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale
The ATES scale helps us align our terrain mindset with our terrain choices. ATES helps us define specific terrain as either simple, challenging or complex.
The International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground
The International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground is another reference book that helps us all use a common language when describing snow. If you want to learn the definitions of snow density, water content, or tortuosity, it’s in there.
The International Snow Science Workshop Library
The International Snow Science Workshop, or ISSW is a biennial conference where snow geeks from all over the world spend a week together, delivering presentations and scientific papers to the community. The ISSW rotates between Europe, Canada and the United States, so it only comes to The States once every 6 years. In 2023 the ISSW is in Bend Oregon…we’ll see you there!
All the papers presented at the ISSW are stored and shared by Montana State University. You can search the database for any snow-related concept, and you’ll find papers that relate to those topics.
OAC AIARE Alumni Facebook Group
If you’ve taken your AIARE course with the Outdoor Adventure Club, we provide continued mentorship in our OAC AIARE Alumni Facebook Group. Join the group, ask questions, find partners, share your knowledge and experiences
These are just a few resources to slake your thirst for knowledge. Continuing to read avalanche advisories and going skiing will also help you continue your avalanche education. Go skiing!