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 single and multiple burial scenarios, using transceivers, probes and shovels and their correct use, and also provided a quick review of snow pit creation and snowpack assessment. The next two field trips practiced completing full snow pit profiles and using a field notebook for standardized data recording. Safe travel practices, group travel skills, and applying the avalanche forecast to terrain and route planning were also addressed throughout the field trips. Students were required have completed an Avalanche Level I or Level I Refresher course within the past five years.

On the way out from Todd Lake enjoying sunshine

My snow pit on February 15, 2026 - snow depth was about 1 meter

Field trip #3 ski tour, approaching the ridge above Todd Lake


I found the course helpful - while I felt well-versed in companion rescue using my beacon, shovel, and probe, as I often practice that, I really have not regularly been digging snow pits since earning my AIARE Level 2 certification back in 2021! One suggestion from the course instructors was to regularly watch videos by professional avalanche forecasters regarding their snow pit observations, such as the videos posted by the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. I definitely found identifying the snow crystal types challenging and will need to work on that. I look forward to more skiing and to continuing my education on snow science and avalanche safety. 


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