A Comprehensive Guide To Avalanche Safety

for all levels of recreational backcountry touring

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Welcome!
These avalanche course offerings are designed specifically for recreational skiers and riders who are hungry to learn how to find the best snow, while avoiding avalanches. If you are interested in developing and refining your avalanche safety and backcountry traveling skills, then boom baby, you're in the right place.

Do You Desire To:
- Ski bigger lines deep in the backcountry?
- Identify non-avalanche terrain for high hazard and low stress days?
- Learn modern and practical skills to make informed decision in the backcountry?
- Identify what things can kill you, and minimize hazard exposure to fit your risk tolerance?
- Be a vital asset to your friends in terms of picking quality lines, and making solid decisions?
- Get ahead of the masses by learning from ski professionals?

If Yes, Then You Need These Skills:
- Accurately digest the daily avalanche forecast and know where to ski on a given day.
- Acquire the knowledge to identify safe and dangerous backcountry terrain.
- Hold space for quality discussions with partners, so everyone can have more fun.
- Use the Internet to quickly and easily create backcountry tour routes for your phone.
- Understand how to conduct and interpret key snow pit stability tests.
- Understand how and when to conduct easier and faster non-pit stability tests.
- Ability to learn from professional skiers: several pros share personal "near miss" stories.



3 LEVELS

Tier 1: Self-Paced Digital Avalanche Course
- Watch and learn on your schedule.
- Refine and upgrade your skills.
- Ask Mark Smiley direct questions in any video lesson.
- Digital certificate of completion after you pass the exam

Tier 2: MTN Sense Digital Avalanche Certification Course
- Same awesome video lessons as Tier 1
- Scheduled calls spaced over four weeks
- Increased engagement and accountability with Mark Smiley and others.
- Watch 2 hours of video lessons per week at your convenience
- Complete a quick and super helpful homework assignment (no really, these assignments will help your future self).
- Weekly 'office hour' group live video call with Mark Smiley is optional.
- Private FB Group is another point of connection, questions, beta sharing, and ski partner finding.
- Pass a final digital exam to earn the MTN Sense Digital Avalanche Certification.

Tier 3: MTN Sense Avalanche Certification Course
- Everything in Tier 2
- Four in-person guided field days with an IFMGA Mountain Guide in one of several locations around the world.
- Limited spots available. Scroll down for availability.

Those that enroll today in TIER 2 or TIER 3 will automatically be grouped with Cohort D.

BOOK THESE FIELD DAYS:

1. Enroll in TIER 3. Pay $449 now ($100 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot + $349 TIER 2 tuition).
2. Select a Mountain Guide via an email Mark Smiley will send you.
3. Your Mountain Guide will contact you with additional details.
4. Pass TIER 2 digital course and earn your MTN Sense Digital Avalanche Certification.
5. Join small group of stoked people (not 12-18 people like most other courses) for four days.

Course Curriculum


  Welcome To The Course
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  Part 1: 5 Foundations of Avalanche Education
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  Part 2: I've Got 9 Avalanche Problems, But My Sitch Ain't One
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  Part 3: A Day In The Life
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  Part 4: Snow's Seasonal Trends
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  Part 5: Become A Better Ski Partner
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  Part 6: Snow Pits - Making Sense of Test Pit Results
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  Rescue
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Your Instructor


Mark Smiley
Mark Smiley
Mark Smiley's passion for adventure has taken him on 30+ expeditions on five continents.

He and his wife, Janelle, are the only people that have attempted to climb all 50 Classic Climbs of North America (48 successfully). He was part of a team to set a world record skiing across the entire Alps Mountain Range (1100 miles and 292,000 vertical feet) in a mere 36 days.

His teaching style is fun, mellow and easy to understand. As an IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide, Mark is among the world's elite guides to reach this status. More important than this certification, is his candid style of conveying to you the best techniques that will help you the most. Through this course you will tap into his expertise and knowledge for real-world learning.

Instagram feed @smileysproject



"Educating ourselves about avalanches is critical to staying alive in avalanche terrain. After completing this course, you will have the knowledge to make better decisions while in the backcountry. This course is a tool, one of many, you will use on your journey to become an expert. Never stop learning."

-Mark Smiley

Victor Caldua was a friend and mountain guide and father who died in an avalanche while climbing Alpamayo, Peru. He left behind a wonderful wife, Alicia, and two amazing and talented daughters, Vanessa and Estefani. 10% of the profit from this course will be gifted to Victor's family for their education expenses. Vanesse wants to be an engineer and Estefani wants to be a mountain guide.

We committed to supporting their needs indefinitely. As more people enroll, their education prospects increase.

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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
There are four Tier 2 and Tier 3 live zoom calls. When you sign up today you will be grouped with that cohort and be given a schedule of events. The live zoom calls and field days are the only fixed date events. Everything else has flexibility.
How long do I have access to the course?
Forever.
Is a refund an option?
Yes, within 180 days of purchase. If you pay with PAYPAL the full amount will be refunded less 3%.
Will taking this course make me an expert?
No- but it will be a big step in that direction. Expertise requires hands on experiences, learning from mistakes, and getting direct feedback. Going touring with a certified guide is one great way to take the next step towards becoming an expert.
Is this course for splitboarders too?
Yes. The term "ski touring" encompasses everyone. It is used for simplicity of speech, not exclusion. All lessons apply equally to all shapes of boards for snow flotation.
Will I earn a certification from this course?
Tier 1: Certificate of Completion Tier 2: MTN Sense Digital Avalanche Certification Tier 3: MTN Sense Avalanche Certification
What if I want to take 'Pro Level 1' next year?
Tier 3 will check all the avalanche class prerequisites to get into the PRO 1 course.

Online vs Traditional Avalanche Courses

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