Lecture 5 Topics: Mountain Weather & Avalanche Awareness

Activity Notes

The modules we will be covering on April 9th are: Mountain Weather and Avalanche Awareness!

The schedule for the evening is:

6:00 PM     Doors Open

6:30 PM     Announcements/Introductions

6:40 PM     Mountain Weather

7:00 PM      Avalanche Awareness

7:50 PM     Breakout Session

9:00 PM     Clear the Building by 9:30 PM

The reading assignments and learning goals for the Avalanche and Weather module are (9th ed. FOTH pg #’s):

MODULE 7—AVALANCHE AWARENESS

  • Explain how weather, terrain, and snow pack influence avalanche conditions. p.555-557
  • Know the five levels of the North American Avalanche Danger Scale. p.378
  • Be able to read and understand the Avalanche Summaries on the Northwest Avalanche Center webpage. MAZ + nwac.us
  • Be able to recognize avalanche red flags. MAZ
  • Know strategies for surviving an avalanche. MAZ + p.383

MODULE 8—MOUNTAIN WEATHER

  • Be able to find weather information in preparation for an alpine climb. MAZ weather.gov
  • Give examples on how mountains and elevation affects the weather. p.560-567
  • Know the signs of an upcoming electrical storm and what to do if you are caught in one. p.560-564
  • Know how to navigate in a whiteout. p.123-125
  • Describe weather patterns of the Pacific Northwest. MAZ + NOAA (weather.gov) 

 

If you are using the 8th edition of FOTH, your pages are:

MODULE 7—AVALANCHE AWARENESS

  • Explain how weather, terrain, and snow pack influence avalanche conditions. p.352–366, 549–551
  • Know the five levels of the North American Avalanche Danger Scale. p.362
  • Be able to read and understand the Avalanche Summaries on the Northwest Avalanche Center webpage. MAZ + nwac.us
  • Be able to recognize avalanche red flags. MAZ
  • Know strategies for surviving an avalanche. MAZ + p.367

MODULE 8—MOUNTAIN WEATHER

  • Be able to find weather information in preparation for an alpine climb. MAZ  weather.gov
  • Give examples on how mountains and elevation affects the weather. p.555, 558, 560
  • Know the signs of an upcoming electrical storm and what to do if you are caught in one. p.554–555
  • Know how to navigate in a whiteout. p.107–109
  • Describe weather patterns of the Pacific Northwest. MAZ + NOAA (weather.gov)

Your team leaders will provide you with information RE the breakout sessions.