West Wide Snow Survey Training School (000043)

Overview

Classroom subjects include history of snow surveys; NRCS mission and snow surveys; snow sampling; note keeping; over‑snow travel; safety; emergency shelter construction; principles of survival; avalanche hazard recognition, assessment, and avoidance; first aid; SNOTEL theory and operation; and data accessing and uses. Outdoor laboratory exercises include snow machine operation and maintenance; helicopter safety; snow survey techniques; and an overnight bivouac in the snow using individual shelters constructed by trainees.

Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• use correct procedures to obtain snow survey data and complete field notes
• conduct all survey activities safely and effectively, choose proper travel mode to data sites, recognize natural hazards and exercise appropriate avoidance
• construct emergency winter survival shelters and successfully bivouac in a snow-covered environment
• describe the basic emergency first aid procedures needed for injuries and illnesses commonly encountered on snow surveys

Prerequisites

Personal health and physical conditioning necessary to travel on snow using snowshoes or skis and carrying a full field pack, an annual physical examination (NRCS personnel), current Red Cross Multimedia Standard First Aid Course (or its equivalent), and a CPR training course

Duration

1 week

Target Audience

Personnel engaged in snow surveying or who travel and work in remote mountainous terrain in winter may attend. Cooperating agencies and organizations' personnel who conduct snow surveys or have winter mountain environment activities may also attend.

NEDC Contact

Janie Wade

Technical Specialist

Garry L. Schaefer

Enrollment

Go to AgLearn to request enrollment in West Wide Snow Survey Training School (000043).