Further Learning

Further Learning

The following references have been provided for further reading and self education on the topics of weather, snowpack, and avalanche observations.  If you have questions on the terminology please consult the National Avalanche Center’s Glossary of Terms.
These references are not an adequate replacement for hands-on formal education.  For a listing of education courses in Alaska, see our Course Offerings page.
Online Tutorials:

  • The following chapters introduce the basics of recreational avalanche safety. In this tutorial you will learn to understand avalanche danger and how terrain selection is one of the most important skills for safe travel in the backcountry.

  • American Avalanche Association
    The AAA created a tutorial which guides you through the recognition of red flags, identification of avalanche terrain, safe travel techniques and how to perform a rescue.
  • National Avalanche Center
    This tutorial is broken up by user group – motorized and non-motorized.  It discusses the kinds of avalanches you may see, terrain selection, snowpack, weather, low risk travel and rescue. 

  • The following is a basic avalanche awareness guide and powerpoints.

Weather Observations:
Snowpack Observations:
Avalanche Observations:
Emergency Response:
Clips:
  • Backcountry Access videos.
  • Avalanche-Research.com videos.
  • Planning a backcountry trip: video.
  • Teton Gravity Research videos.  Click on ‘browse by series’ and select ‘Avi Education’.
  • Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center videos.
  • Jill Fredston of the Alaska Mountain Safety Center discusses avalanche risk and causes in Alaska.
  • Univ. of Wyoming links – Avalanche 1, Avalanche 2

Published Works:

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