Avalanche safety refresher class with Central Oregon Community College's Outdoor Leadership program
From January 29-February 15, 2026, I participated in the Avalanche Level II course (OL 194AC) offered by Central Oregon Community College's Outdoor Leadership program. While the course does not offer an official American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) or American Avalanche Association certification, I thought it would be a useful means of practicing and enhancing my skills and to learn more about avalanche safety and backcountry skiing, as well as gain familiarity with central Oregon's terrain. Passing a cliff band en route to Todd Lake This course is designed to build on the skills developed in an introductory avalanche safety course. In its three, 3-hour classroom sessions and 3 all-day field trips, the course examines various factors that contribute to avalanche hazard including terrain, weather, snowpack, and human factors (heuristic traps, cognitive biases, decision-making processes). The first field trip focused on companion rescue, with both si...
