This coming winter, the MCofS will be running a series of one-day "Avalanche Awareness" courses based in the Cairngorms. Aimed at the general winter hill-goer, the courses are non-certificated and will be suitable for anyone wishing to increase their knowledge of snow and avalanches, learn which areas to avoid and improve their understanding of reports and forecasts. Each course will consist of an indoor introduction to avalanche theory followed by a practical session on the hill.

The courses will be delivered by qualified and experienced personnel at a ratio of 1 tutor to 4 participants. Basic winter skills will NOT be covered.

The course costs £35 per person and the dates are as follows:-

• Saturday 12th January 2008
• Sunday 13th January 2008
• Saturday 19th January 2008

For more information please contact the MCofS Office or book your place now by sending a £35 cheque along with your address and telephone number to the MCofS Office. Please indicate which day you wish to attend. Details and a booking confirmation will then be sent to you.

New Kids on the Rutschblock (course review)

spostscotland Avalanche Information Service
Avalanche Safety leaflet

Caroline Davies writes

MCofS Avalanche Awareness Course - 14th February 2004

In February 2004, eight of us from the Edinburgh Nordic Ski Club signed up for the Avalanche Awareness course which was run by the MCofS and took place at Glenmore Lodge and in the Cairngorms. The course consisted of two parts: firstly an indoor introduction to avalanche theory and secondly, a practical session on the hill.

The first session was extremely informative and pitched at just the right level for those non-scientists amongst us. Our instructor, Wes Sterritt did point out that it was not possible to cover all aspects of avalanche theory, however, he delivered an excellent overview of the physics of how and why avalanches happen, where they happen and how to predict when they may happen. Wes couldn't emphasise enough that an avalanche is not an event but a process, occurring over a period of time and crucially involving a change in conditions. He stressed how important it is to be aware of the previous day's weather conditions and the effect that any subsequent changes could therefore have on a slope's propensity to slide.

We were then provided with transceivers and we headed outside for a practice session. They turned out to be very straightforward to use - even for non-techies. Then the hill session. Unfortunately, the snow from the previous week had all but disappeared and that which remained was as hard as concrete and was not going anywhere. However, we could still practise applying the tests we had been taught in the classroom and appreciate how to detect the telltale layers which might indicate potential weaknesses.

This was an extremely well run course giving an excellent overview of the fundamental causes of avalanches, the tests one can carry out on the hill and the avalanche forecasts and how to interpret them. Such knowledge enables one to make a far better informed route plan for a day in the hills before setting out and to make on-going assessments throughout the day. I would encourage anyone who ventures out into the hills in winter to go on one of these courses, as the information gained is invaluable for improving your safety on the hill.