Avalanches are one of the greatest dangers in alpine terrain. They can cause serious injuries or even death. Therefore, it is important to properly understand the dangers of avalanches and learn effective strategies for behavior and hazard assessment in winter terrain.
With our avalanche course, you will gain the necessary expertise to better assess this natural hazard and thus avoid life-threatening situations. Slab avalanches are the greatest danger for us winter sports enthusiasts. Ninety percent of avalanche fatalities occur in this type of avalanche. Therefore, for recreational athletes who venture outside of secured ski slopes, avoiding being caught in an avalanche should be their top priority.
Our avalanche courses
Our avalanche courses teach the most important skills needed in alpine terrain to predict possible avalanches. After all, a lack of knowledge and the associated lack of awareness of the dangers are common causes of avalanche accidents. Therefore, in-depth knowledge of snow analysis and avalanche forecasting is vital for survival when venturing off-piste.
Our avalanche courses offer you a thorough introduction to the world of avalanche prevention and dangers in alpine terrain.
- Complete Avalanche Course (2 days) – vSSD & SSD – €235 per person
- Closed group – On request
For each booked course per person there is a LARA License for 1 Year incl.
What will you learn in the 2-day course?
We offer a comprehensive introduction to avalanche science and avalanche assessment. This will help you gain a better understanding of the potential dangers on snow-covered mountain slopes and enable you to prepare and respond accordingly.
In our avalanche courses, the following topics are taught both theoretically and practically:
- Introduction to avalanche types
- Fundamentals of avalanche initiation/propagation
- Small block test and simplified snowpack diagnosis (vSSD) (vSSD)
- Systematic snowpack diagnosis (SSD)
- Process thinking (transferring test results to the area)
- Dealing with gray areas
First, we teach the basics of avalanche science. In addition to the different types of avalanches, you’ll learn how an avalanche is triggered, i.e., how a rupture occurs and how it propagates.
In our avalanche courses, you’ll also gain firsthand experience with the best method currently available for assessing an individual slope: Systematic Snow Cover Diagnosis (SSD).
The SSD was developed by Georg Kronthaler in 1996 and has been taught by various avalanche commissions, associations, and institutions since 1998.
The so-called “small block test” and the “simplified snowpack diagnosis” derived from the SSD are also taught.
Who conducts this avalanche course?
Our avalanche courses are conducted by avalanche expert Georg Kronthaler. Thanks to his many years of expertise, he can provide a thorough introduction to avalanche science. He has already developed90th century the „Systematic snow cover diagnosis“, which can be used to determine the avalanche risk on a single slope with high reliability. This is considered a very accurate technique for avalanche forecasting. From a data set used for a scientific paper (Kronthaler G.; ISSW 2009; Davos) was used, a total hit rate of 98% was calculated.
Since then, Georg Kronthaler has mostly trained avalanche commissions or teaching teams from various associations and institutions using this method. Thanks to the avalanche courses offered here, it is now possible to offer this training not only to experts, but also to any interested and safety-conscious winter sports enthusiast.
Who is this avalanche course suitable for?
Our avalanche courses are suitable for anyone who ventures into alpine terrain and wants to gain the necessary experience to achieve an increased level of safety. Our courses are therefore aimed atskier, ski tourers, Snowshoe hikers and all others, that are heading to the winter mountains
Our courses are designed to teach you the basics of avalanche assessment while simultaneously improving your skills in dealing with alpine terrain. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional mountaineer, everyone will learn the necessary skills for careful handling in deep snow.
During the theory part, “avalanche”beginners and professionals alike, the course content is designed to be suitable for both beginners and experienced athletes and to provide sufficient challenge.
To participate in the practical part, you should at least be able to safely ski down a slope. If the risk situation and the skiing ability of the course group allow it, off-piste runs are also possible.
What can you do after the avalanche course?
After our avalanche course, you’ll know the different types of avalanches and understand how they form. Thanks to the knowledge you’ve acquired about systematic snowpack diagnosis, you’ll be able to use the LARA app with ease. You’ll also have learned how to take the necessary actions based on a test result.
Thanks to the knowledge you have acquired about systematic snow cover diagnosis, you are now able to…
… the LARA-App easy to use.
…. the Lawinengefahr in the field using the Systematic Snow Cover Diagnosis I developed to evaluate and risks tobetter understand nature.
In our avalanche course, you will learn how to make your own outdoor activities and adventures safer by minimizing risks and developing a better understanding of hazards in nature.
If you’re already an avalanche expert, you can deepen and refine your knowledge and skills to become even safer and more competent.
After the course, you’ll be able to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the industry and establish yourself as an expert in the field.
The training is suitable for both beginners and experts, as it provides a broad range of skills and knowledge relevant to everyone in the industry.
If you are a mountain guide or instructor with an alpine club or similar institution, you can also pass on the knowledge you have acquired to your clients after this course. You will have access to teaching materials.
Course options
To ensure optimal learning outcomes and practical training, the avalanche course is divided into two parts: a theory course and a practical course.
These can also be completed independently. However, we recommend completing the theory course first and then the practical course to ensure optimal consolidation of the learned content. Practical application allows you to apply what you’ve learned under real-life conditions in winter terrain.
1.Complete avalanche course (2 days)
–> Day 1: theory (mostly online)
–> Day 2: practice in the field
The two-day avalanche course consists of several theory blocks on the first day, which can also be completed online. The theory section typically begins at 5:00 PM and continues until approximately 9:00 PM. The second day is devoted to practical application, usually in a ski resort. This allows for as many slopes as possible to be explored in different directions and at different altitudes, without wasting too much time on hours of ascent.
2. One-day course (theory only / online)
The theory part usually begins at 5:00 p.m. and lasts until about 9:00 p.m.
3. One-day course (practical only)
The start of the practical part of the avalanche course depends on the ski area, i.e., the time at which the first ascent is possible. Depending on the snow conditions, the practical day lasts until approximately 3:00 p.m.
4. Closed group – on request
We are also happy to conduct avalanche courses for private groups, such as Alpine clubs, mountain rescue teams, avalanche commissions, and more. You can coordinate your own dates, times, prices, and the number of participants with us.
5. Evening lectures – on request
Evening lectures are also possible upon request (e.g. for Alpine Club sections, mountain rescue, avalanche commissions, mountain guide sections, etc.).
Practical Course
To reinforce and apply the content learned in the theory course, we offer a practical course at various locations.
Practice equipment
Skis or a snowboard, as well as emergency equipment such as an avalanche shovel, avalanche probe, and avalanche transceiver (LVS) are required for the practical days. Bringing climbing skins is also beneficial, as they make the ascent easier.
Special practical days for snowshoe hikers can be arranged upon request, with a minimum of four participants.
Locations for practical avalanche courses
(Depending on snow conditions and ski lift availability)
- Waidringer Steinplatte
- Obertauern
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Arlberg – Zürs
- Kitzsteinhorn
- Jenner – Berchtesgadener Alpen
Details regarding the exact scheduling and course schedule will be sent after booking the avalanche course. After successful booking and payment of the course fee, we will contact you with a course confirmation. If at least four people have registered for the selected avalanche course, you will receive an email with detailed information.
In the event that too few participants have registered, you will be refunded the full course fee immediately.