There are three components to the Avalanche 1 class. Online/zoom pre-class session(s), an outdoor practical weekend field session and an outdoor day tour session. The outdoor field and tour sessions and will be offered twice and students can choose which to attend.

Classroom Zoom Sessions will be held Mon 19^th Jan through Thurs 22^nd Jan 2026.
The outdoor field session (#1) will be held on Sat 7^th and Sun 8^th Feb 2026. If necessary, based on student enrollment numbers, outdoor field session #2 will be held on Sat 31^st and Sun 1 ^st Feb 2026. Field sessions will be held at the Pinecrest Community Center.
The outdoor tour for session #1 will be held on Sat 28^th Feb 2026 and, if necessary, for session #2, on Sun 1^st March (Likely at Castle Peak/Tahoe Donner).

This course teaches students how terrain, weather, and snowpack contribute to avalanche hazards. This knowledge is used during decision-making exercises in the classroom and in the field session. Students also become acquainted with human factors, which skew effective decision making. The course covers movement through avalanche terrain, route selection/hazard identification, and stability assessments in the field environment. Also focuses heavily on the fundamentals of self, and companion rescue. Students complete a written exam and practical evaluation during field exercises. Upon course completion, students are qualified to participate in organized rescue operations.

This class will satisfy the Far West Division Nordic requirement for Avalanche as well as provide one elective credit for patrollers seeking advancement towards Senior (if taken with the additional organized rescue module).

Click here to download the COURSE SYLLABUS.

Contact Keith Gale () if you have any questions.

The Avalanche 1 course is open to all NSP members, approved affiliate organizations and interested members of the public.

If Organized Rescue is desired for your organization, contact the Instructor.

Winter/Avalanche training comes with significant personal bodily risk as a direct result of the environment or prescribed lesson activities. As a student of the class, you assume all personal liability issues as a result of class registration and participation, and all participants in NSP classes are required to sign a release of liability holding the NSP and the Instructors of the course non-liable.

The Far West Division Event Release Form can be downloaded here.

Please download and read the course syllabus, agenda, logistics and equipment and the Far West Division Event Release form (see above links).

Directions to the Pinecrest Community Lodge can be downloaded here.

Instructors wishing to help instruct at the course are encouraged to contact Keith Gale () for details.

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