A Comprehensive Guide To Avalanche Safety

be a savvy and desirable backcountry partner

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Welcome
This course is designed specifically for recreational skiers hungry to learn about how to avoid getting caught in avalanches, while finding great snow to shred. If you are interested in developing and refining your avalanche awareness and backcountry traveling skills, then boom baby, you're in the right place.

This course will benefit people who:
- Desire to learn modern and practical lessons to make educated and smart decision in the backcountry
- Desire practical concise instruction from experienced backcountry skiing professionals
- Want to learn at their own pace, and have access to the content forever

Learning Outcomes:
- Accurately digest the daily avalanche forecast and know where not to travel.
- Acquire the knowledge to identify safe and dangerous backcountry terrain.
- Communicate more effectively with your partners, so everyone can have more fun.
- Create backcountry tour route on your phone.
- Understand how to conduct and interpret snow pit stability tests
- School of hard knocks lessons: several professional skiers share personal "near miss" stories

This course does NOT include:
- How to create avalanche forecasts
- How to document in "blue" field books

New for 2022/23: Several in-person field days options are available! Put the skills to practice with an IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide during a four day intensive. Scroll down to learn more.


IFMGA Mountain Guides Leading Avalanche Course


HOW TO BOOK FIELD DAYS
1. Enroll in OPTION TWO online course.
2. You receive a Google forms application to select which field days you are interested in.
3. Book directly with the guide listed above according to their standard booking procedures and policy.
4. You must pass the hybrid digital portion, MTN Sense Avalanche Option TWO.
5. Join other students for these field days, ready to apply your new knowledge.

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 has been climbing, skiing and guiding for the better part of this life. His passion for adventure has taken him around the world. 5 Denali expeditions, and 20+ expeditions to places like China, Peru, Ecuador, Across Europe, Canada and Alaska, have given Mark a ton of experiences to draw from.


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

His teaching style is fun, concise 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 of the best information and techniques that will really help you. Through this course you will tap into his expertise, skills, and knowledge for real world learning.


"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 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.

Sept 22, 2022 Update: $8500 wired to Victor's family, which will cover most of their school expenses for the next year.
Mtn Sense is committed to supporting their needs indefinitely as more people enroll in this avalanche course.

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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
This self-paced online course starts now! It ends once you have passed the final exam.
How long do I have access to the course?
After enrolling, you have unlimited forever access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
Is a refund an option?
If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us within 30 days of purchase, and we will give you a full refund.
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 and snowboarders with snowshoes?
Yes. The term "skiing" 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?
In the USA, the only courses that grant you a certification are Professional 1 & 2 courses. Recreational courses do not certify you. This course has an optional 65 question test, and upon passing this exam, you will receive a certificate of completion from Mountain Sense.
What if I'm pursuing the 'Pro Level' certification?
This course does not include the required field days as required by A3. Therefore, this online course alone WILL NOT fulfill the prerequisite for those on the Pro 1 certification track. BUT, if you complete the course, and then take 14.5 hours of field training with an approved organization, that can open the door to take a Pro 1 course through some of the organizations that teach professionals.

Online vs Traditional Avalanche Courses

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