I don’t know exactly when I decided I was willing lay it all out there in search of snowboard lines. The general realization of this had finally dawned on me and I decided it was time to re-up on my avalanche education. Last weekend I attended an AAIRE Level one, avalanche course with ASI out of Truckee. It was fun and informative.

I had taken a similar course about 7 years ago, and wasn’t sure how much I remembered. It was good to touch up. Since that first class 7 years ago, I have gone into the backcountry innumerable times, and had been using what I learned. I felt good that much of the course material had already been drilled into my brain, and that I have been employing a lot of the practices over the years.

The course was mostly geared for first timers and people with very limited experience, but the teachers were knowledgeable and could answer any obscure question that popped into my head. It was hard to miss 3 storm days in a row at squaw, but it was worth it to get back up on my avalanche training.

I followed this class up with another hosted by TGR at Grand Targhee, Wyoming. It ran from the 15-17 of December and was geared towards basic rescue and first aid on avalanche and other ski related injuries. It was the hardest thing I ever did driving out of Tahoe on KT-22s opening day, but turned out to be worth it, and I did get one run in on KT before I left. I also got in a good day on Friday the 18^th at Targhee. Bluebird over a sea of clouds witht the Grand Teton showing itself in all of its glory.

(The Grand Teton)

I learned so much and I am way more on it in the backcountry. I feel that I owe it not only to myself, but also to the people I ride with. We did half classroom and half on slope drilling on recue scenarios. I only hope I never have to use any of it.

( Sea of clouds/ "Dreams")