Avalanche Courses

Instructors for the Avalanche Courses

Our instructional staff consists of highly qualified individuals from our community. We are pleased to have Erich Peitzsch, Cameron Johnson, Jenny Cloutier, Lloyd Morsett, Teal Gayner, Morgan Goetting, Jamie Burkholder, and Kody Coxen joining us in this capacity. Each is an active and experienced trainer and backcountry enthusiast. In order to meet or exceed the American Avalanche Association (AAA) guidelines for student-to-instructor ratio, each course will have one lead instructor and two co-instructors.

Location

All classroom and field studies will be held at Whitefish Mountain Resort and in the backcountry immediately surrounding.

Lift Ticket & Access

The resort is providing day-use tickets for students and/or instructors who do not have a season pass. During our field study days, the resort will also grant students and instructors lift access at 8:30 am.

  • • Whitefish Mountain Resort ski pass (if you don’t have one please let us know that you need a day ticket)

    • Skis or split-board (must be fitted with some sort of brake/retention device)

    • Skins for skis or split-boards (no snowshoes)

    • Boots

    • Ski poles (also required for snowboarders)

    • Avalanche transceiver

    • Avalanche shovel (no plastic shovels)

    • Avalanche probe (at least 260cm length is ideal)

    • Sunglasses

    • Goggles

    • Sunscreen

    • Ski pants or bibs

    • Ski jacket or shell

    • Warm gloves and/or mittens (at least 2 pairs of hand-warming clothing is preferable)

    • Warm hat

    • Neck gaiter or scarf

    • Water bottle and/or thermos

    • Lunch/snack food

    • Warm Layers (extra insulation for the non-moving time in the snow pit like a “puffy” jacket)

    • Backpack with a reasonable method for attaching skis/board

  • • Compass

    • Inclinometer (compasses with inclinometers are fine)

    • Pencil

    • Snow saw (required)

    • Rutschblock/ECT cord (required) - Brooks Range or G3 make quality cords

    • Magnifying lens/loupe (not required)

    • Crystal screen/card

    • Folding ruler or marked probe (marked in centimeters)

  • • Pencil

    • Notebook/paper/tablet

  • • Camera for reviewing avalanches, pits, or noteworthy terrain observed in the field

    • Tablet/phone with wireless connection for accessing remote weather data, avalanche advisories.

    • Hand/foot warmers

  • Rocky Mountain Outfitter (Kalispell) sells most of the snow study gear and, of course, other stuff.

    • Backcountry Access

    • SnowPit Technologies

    • Snow Metrics

    • Rite In The Rain (make sure it is spiral bound, recommended: No. 313)

Level I Avalanche Course Details

Level I Avalanche Course Details
Level II Avalanche Course Details

Level II Avalanche Course Details

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received up to 30 days prior to the registered course are eligible to receive a refund less a $50 service fee. Cancellations received up to 14 days prior to the registered course are eligible to receive a refund of 50%. Cancellations within 14 days of the registered course will NOT be eligible for a refund. No exceptions.

Cancellation requests are made on the website OR via email directly to The Patrol Fund, Inc.

Due to the everchanging policies regarding Covid-19 please be aware that in the case a course is canceled, full refunds will be administered to all participants.