Press Release – La Source Eco Chalet.
The Best Eco-Lodge in the Alps' the Times and 'One of the Finest Chalets in Europe' the Guardian
La Source and The Faction Collective Ski Company are proud to present The La Source/Faction Avalanche Awareness courses
Avalanche awareness courses Winter 2010/2011-Jan9th and March 13th 2011
Avalanches are the greatest hazard facing the off-piste and back country skier or snow boarder. The advent of fat skies and the growing trend in snowboarding to venture in to off-piste areas has seen a dramatic increase in the numbers of accidents amongst the unaware or ill prepared snow lover. In many cases a little snow safety knowledge could have prevented these incidents.
In partnership Faction skis La Source is offering a 6-day residential and non residential “Avalanche Awareness“ week. If you are serious about moving from the piste into an off-piste environment, a solid understanding of the risk of avalanches and some good knowledge on how to plan trips, routes and how to react if something goes wrong is essential.
The week includes 5 days of practical on-mountain instruction. The course is based on the well-established Avalanche Skill Training AST2 as overseen by the Canadian Avalanche Centre but adapted to a European Mountain environment.
The week is designed to give a solid grounding in the essentials; this program is suitable for those with little or no prior avalanche training.
To get the best out of the week it is suggested that participants should have good level of skiing or boarding and be able to ski powder runs.
Course Structure – will cover
· Avalanche – Conditions and factors leading to an unstable snow pack
· Avalanche - terrain recognition and hazard avoidance
· Use of transceivers, rescue and search techniques
· Avalanche emergency response, efficient digging, probing and call out procedures
· Ski touring and back country travel prep and equipment selection
· Safe decision making
· Route finding in avalanche terrain
· Defensive skiing techniques, slope cutting and places of safety
· Snow structures, and weather observations
· Snow pack analysis, Snow profiles, 'Rutsch blocks'
· 'Shovel' tests and additional field tests
· Use of avalanche information gathered by professionals
Optional depending on group level: Glacier Travel and crevasse rescue
Dates and Prices:
Week long course: 9-16th January €1050 Residential or €500 non-Residential
Week long course: 13t-h- 20th March €1050 Residential or €500 non-Residential
Minimum of 4 guests and one non resident
Equipment:
Please look at your ski and snowboard clothing critically. Fashion snow clothing; heavy fabric and baggy clothing is not suitable for ski and snowboard clothing, nor is any cotton underwear or tee-shirts. You are going to be operating in a mountain environment in potentially cold and difficult conditions.
The most suitable clothing is clothing made for mountaineering or serious back country skiing and should be able to be used in a layering system
Optional Equipment
We will supply a limited number of
Avalanche beacons
Collapsible Avalanche Probe
Shovels
La Source
La Source is an eco-ski and adventure sports chalet in beautiful Samoens, the heart of the Grand Massif, 1 hour from Geneva.
It has been described as 'The Best Eco-Lodge in the Alps' by the Times and 'One of the Finest Chalets in Europe' by the Guardian.
It is one of the few true eco-chalets in the Alps and offers a rare mix of cool, laid back comfort, with quality service and exceptional organic food.
La Source offers a mix of week long holidays that combine holistic activities, ski and adventure sports. Run by yoga teacher, ex-Outward Bound Instructor and adventure sports film maker Saskia Anley and Adventure Sports guru, TV presenter and columnist Duncan McCallum, La Source is not your average ski chalet!
