The backcountry can be an ugly place. Grizzled, bearded men populate the canyons and mountainsides of the Wasatch, with fewer of the fair sex getting after it. Our mountains would be more charismatic and probably be safer with more women ripping skins and making turns. Females are far more less likely to die in an avalanche, and that intuition can reel their testosterone-filled male counterparts away from that cornice hanging above a trigger-laden couloir. So to help educate and get more women into the backcountry, the Utah Avalanche Center is offering free awareness talks and beacon clinics.
Below is a list of women’s-only events with the Utah Avalanche Center:
UAC Women’s Avy Awareness Talk & SheJumps Winter Celebration: Monday, December 3rd, 7pm REI SLC
First, on December 3rd, a ladies-only events will feature the Utah Avalanche Center’s Evelyn Lees, who will give a 40 minute Avalanche Awareness presentation including a video PowerPoint on how to stay alive in avalanche terrain. It’s an introduction of avalanche safety basics and a way to learn more about the 2012-’13 UAC Ladies Avalanche Series. Also on hand will be Lucy Dettmer, a 92-year-old who will share her experiences, and stories of wisdom of peak-bagging, and traveling to foreign countries (including a first ski descent in Japan) plus exploring the western U.S. backcountry.
Women’s Only Beacon Clinics: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at Alta Ski Resort. Wednesday, December 12 at Brighton. Saturday, December 15 at Snowbasin.
The Friends of Utah Avalanche Center, SheJumps and ACE have teamed up to provide a Women’s Only Beacon Clinic. The clinic is designed for all ability levels to get out on the snow and practice using a beacon. Even if you spend every day in the backcountry or are just starting out knowing how to use your beacon, it is still the most important skill to have when it comes to avalanche rescue. The Beacon Clinic is a 2.5 hour session on snow. The course is led by Evelyn Lees, a long-term Utah Avalanche Center Forecaster and mountain guide. Evelyn will be supported by a team of women, all avalanche professionals, leading smaller field day groups. Student/Instructor ratios will be kept as low as possible to allow students to ask questions and get personal attention.
Women’s Backcountry 101
Salt Lake
Thursday, January 10, 2013 – 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday, January 12, 2013 – 8:30am to 5:00pm
$130.00
Utah Avalanche Center and Black Diamond Equipment Presents the 2012-2013 Avalanche Education Series
Evening Session: Thursday, Jan 10, 2013 – 6pm-9pm @ Red Butte Garden
Field Session: Saturday, Jan 12, 2013 – 8:30am-5pm @ Brighton
Backcountry 101 is a designed for those new to the back country and those wanting a ground- up refresher. Heavy on practical, usable skills and local information, this is a great place to start building your avalanche skills. You will leave this class understanding the basics of safely travelling in avalanche terrain and sporting a great foundation for learning more.
Traditional Level 1, 2 and 3 classes teach the science behind avalanches and are great for those wanting to make a major investment in their avy knowledge and possibly go on to become an avalanche professional. But for someone less interested in the science and more interested in getting into the local mountains armed with a basic understanding and awareness, this class provides what you are looking for with less of a time and money commitment.
Backcountry 101 is an 11 hour course for skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers of all ages and credos. We welcome tele skiers, fixed heel skiers, snowboarders, splitboarders, free riders, new schoolers, old schoolers, powder hounds, locals, resort riders, soul riders, backcountry riders, hikers, snowshoe explorers, and everyone in between. The course is appropriate for everyone from seasoned backcountry users looking for a modern refresher to those who are new to backcountry terrain.
The course includes a 3 hour lecture on Thursday evening and an 8 hour field day on Saturday. The course is led by one of the U.S. Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Forecasters and supported by a team of local avalanche professionals leading smaller field day groups. On Thursday night, we will be indoors presenting background material and on Saturday we will go out in the snow to practice what have learned, breaking up into smaller groups by ability level. Student/instructor ratios at both sessions are kept low to allow everyone to get personal attention and ask questions. You can expect to learn about the following subjects:
Understanding types of avalanches and how they happen
How weather affects avalanche risk
How to identify and avoid avalanche terrain
Using the local avalanche forecast to understand current conditions
Identifying dangerous avalanche conditions in the field
Safe travel protocol
Understanding how we make decisions in the backcountry
Companion rescue techniques
Thursday 6 – 9 pm on the 2nd floor of the Red Butte Gardens main building at the North end of Wakara Way in Research Park; 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Saturday 8:30 – 4:00 pm at Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Cost: $130 for both sessions (all proceeds go to the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center)
Required gear: Beacon, shovel, probe, (we have loaners available) for field day, method of uphill transport (ie: touring setup or snowshoes. No dogs and no boot-packing
Brighton has generously provided 1 ride lift tickets to get us up high quickly and easily
Questions: contact Devin@utahavalanchecenter.org
Women’s Advanced Skills Backcountry 201
Salt Lake
Thursday, February 7, 2013 – 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday, February 9, 2013 – 8:30am to 5:00pm
$130.00
Utah Avalanche Center and Black Diamond Equipment Presents the 2012-2013 Avalanche Education Series
Evening Session: Thursday, Feb 7, 2013 – 6pm-9pm @ Red Butte Garden
Field Session: Saturday, Feb 9, 2013 – 8:30am-5:00pm @ Brighton
This course is designed for women who have either taken a class or spend a decent amount of time in the backcountry and would like to brush up on there skills. The Utah Avalanche Center has teamed up with SheJumps to bring you this women’s only course.
Advanced Avalanche Skills class is a means of furthering the skills taught in the Backcountry 101 class and to spend time with avalanche professionals honing and refreshing your existing skills. You will leave this class understanding the most recent thinking about safe travel in avalanche terrain and with a heightened awareness of the avalanche issues we face in Utah.
We created this new course as a follow up to the 101 class, to brush up old Level 1 and Level 2 skills, to update the skills of long-time back country users, and as a way for experienced users to discuss avalanche issues with other experienced users and avalanche professionals
This is an 11 hour course for skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers of all ages and credos. We welcome tele skiers, fixed heel skiers, snowboarders, splitboarders, free riders, new schoolers, old schoolers, powder hounds, locals, resort riders, soul riders, backcountry riders, hikers, snowshoe explorers, and everyone in between. The course is appropriate for everyone from seasoned backcountry users looking for a modern refresher to those who are new to backcountry terrain. We will get out in avalanche terrain to practice our stability assessment and decision making skills
The course includes a 3 hour lecture on Thursday evening and an 8 hour field day on Saturday. The course is led by Evelyn Lees, a long-time U.S. Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Forecaster and mountain guide. Evelyn will be supported by a team of women, all avalanche professionals, leading smaller field day groups. On Thursday night, we will be indoors presenting background material and on Saturday we will go out in the snow to practice what have learned, breaking up into smaller groups by ability level. Student/instructor ratios at both sessions are kept low to allow everyone to get personal attention and ask questions. You can expect to learn about the following subjects:
Understanding types of avalanches and how they happen
How weather affects avalanche risk
How to identify and manage avalanche terrain
Using the local avalanche forecast to understand current conditions
Stability assessment techniques
Snowpack evaluation
Safe travel protocol
Understanding how we make decisions in the backcountry
Companion rescue techniques
About SheJumps:
SheJumps strives to increase female participation in outdoor activities by building upon a supportive community that inspires its members to reach their highest potential. Through mentorship from professional and recreational athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, we encourage you to answer the question “what would you dare to accomplish if you knew the only possible outcome was success?”. To find out more and connect with ladies in your area join our online network at www.shejumps.ning.com.
Thursday 6 – 9 pm on the 2nd floor of the Red Butte Gardens main building at the North end of Wakara Way in Research Park; 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Saturday 8:30 – 4:00 pm at Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Cost: $130 for both sessions (all proceeds go to the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center & SheJumps)
Required gear: Beacon, shovel, probe, (we have loaners available) for field day, method of uphill transport (ie: touring setup)
Brighton has generously provided 1 ride lift tickets to get us up high quickly and easily
Questions: contact Devin@utahavalanchecenter.org
For more information about these and other events from the Utah Avalanche Center, visit the calendar page at www.utahavalanchecenter.com