Take Your Avalanche Skills to the Next Level
This five-day advanced avalanche course in Lofoten is designed for ski tourers who already have experience in the mountains and a basic understanding of snow and avalanches, and who want to become more confident in making their own decisions in winter terrain.
Over five days, we go deeper into snow, avalanche terrain, tour planning and decision-making. We focus on how to gather information, assess the conditions and use that knowledge to make good terrain choices – both before and during a ski tour.
We spend as much time as possible in the mountains. Lofoten provides varied winter terrain where we can work with real conditions, observe the snowpack and discuss decisions as we move through the landscape.
The goal is for you to leave the course with a deeper understanding of snow and avalanches, stronger tour-planning skills and greater confidence in making independent and well-informed decisions in avalanche terrain.
What Will You Learn?
Throughout the five days, we work systematically to develop your understanding of snow, avalanche terrain and decision-making in the winter mountains. Theory is continuously connected to observations and situations we encounter in the field.
We work with:
- Snowpack: Understanding snow structure, layering and how weather influences the snowpack.
- Avalanche problems: Identifying and assessing the avalanche problems relevant to the day.
- Terrain: Recognising avalanche terrain, terrain traps and appropriate terrain choices.
- Tour planning: Using weather forecasts, avalanche forecasts, maps and other available information.
- Field observations: Gathering relevant information during the tour and using it in your decisions.
- Decision-making: Developing strategies for making good choices as conditions and information change.
- Companion rescue: Reviewing and improving efficient rescue techniques and routines.
Who Is the Course For?
This advanced avalanche course is for ski tourers who already have experience with ski touring and a basic understanding of snow and avalanches. Ideally, you have completed an introductory avalanche course and are ready to take your knowledge further.
The course is particularly suitable if you want to become more independent when planning and carrying out your own ski tours and more confident in the decisions you make along the way.
You should be comfortable spending full days ski touring and have sufficient skiing ability for us to focus on avalanche awareness, terrain and decision-making rather than basic skiing technique.
Experienced Instructors with Strong Avalanche Expertise
The course is led by experienced instructors with solid expertise in snow, avalanches and winter mountain travel. We openly discuss the assessments and decisions we make throughout the course, giving you insight into both what we choose and why.
Lofoten is our home terrain, and we know the local mountains and winter conditions well. This allows us to use different terrain and the conditions we encounter as an active part of the learning process.
Our goal is not to give you a fixed set of answers for travelling in avalanche terrain, but to develop the understanding and tools you need to make good, independent decisions on your own ski tours.
Is our Introduction to Avalanche Safety Course more suitable for you? Check it out here.
