What I learned from taking an avalanche course

With the right people for company, digging and analyzing snow pits is super fun

By Jen Heller Reader Contributor

When a late spring snowstorm blew me into Sandpoint some 12 years ago, I thought I enjoyed being outdoors. But then, I began to encounter a whole new breed of people — the ones who like to ski… uphill.

At first, I kept a mental catalog of these backcountry individuals, watching them suspiciously for indications of “danger to the public” or small, twitchy insanities. They were far too eager to get up before daybreak in the midwinter dark. Overall, though, they seemed harmless, friendly, fun… one could even say happy. Slowly, my own mind betrayed me and began sneakily transferring those backcountry travelers onto my list of Actual Friends.

Then I made the worst mistake of all. I started dating a backcountry skier.

Fast forward 10 years and, this February, I found myself lolling in the snow on a sunny hillside just outside Schweitzer’s resort boundaries with some 20-odd strangers. We had all paid out some of our hard-earned dollars to take a Level 1 Avalanche course with the Friends of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center.

Let me start by saying that, among all the in-person courses and trainings I’ve taken since college, my Avy 1 course experience was definitely a high point. For one thing, the instructors — Jon, Gary and their motley crew — couldn’t seem to stop smiling as they taught. This included the hour-long Zoom meeting on the day prior to our first excursion.

“Who grins through an entire Zoom meeting?” I wondered to myself in awe.

People who love their job, that’s who.

The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC) is actually run by the U.S. Forest Service, like many of the avalanche centers and forecasters across the country. This is because a huge proportion of backcountry recreation takes place on federally controlled lands. However, like the budget for many federally funded programs, IPAC’s source of dollars isn’t necessarily sufficient for what many folks might consider the needs of the area.

What are the needs? As our region continues to experience a huge influx of new residents, those residents — like me — are taking advantage of their surroundings to play. The number of snowmobilers, skiers, snowshoers and overall humans in our local mountains is growing. And with that increase comes the need for those humans to know how to exit the mountains alive.

That’s where the Friends of IPAC step in. Launched in 2011 by some local backcountry diehards, the nonprofit raises money to expand the avalanche forecasting and education opportunities in the entire Idaho panhandle.

This 2022-’23 season saw a dramatic increase in services offered. IPAC now publishes three avalanche forecasts a week, and the friends offer a slew of new classes across multiple panhandle locations. Sessions include Backcountry 101 for skiers and snowboarders, fundamentals of avalanche rescues for snowmobilers, Avy 1 courses for all types of winter activities, refresher courses and even Wilderness First Aid for winter backcountry users.

It turns out, with the right people for company, digging and analyzing snow pits is super fun. I thoroughly enjoyed all the topics we covered in my class, from simulating rescues, to analyzing terrain and weather, to discussing human factors in avalanche risk. As a side bonus, running up and down hills in ski boots is the perfect excuse to consume half a backpack of yogurt pretzels, peanut butter cups and peppermint patties. You know, to stay warm. Or something.

In our fickle local weather, I can’t promise that you’ll be wearing sunscreen at your own Friends of IPAC course. But, for our multifaceted North Idaho life, I recommend being like a snowflake: strive to become well-rounded, and bond a bit while you’re at it.

And, if you didn’t recognize that last bit as a horrendous attempt at backcountry punning, sign up for a Friends course.

Ready for your first Friends of IPAC adventure?

•Check out idahopanhandleavalanche.org and navigate to the Education page. This season’s final courses were just completed, but get to know the offerings so you’ll be ready for next season’s sign-ups. Expect the 2023-’24 calendar release in late summer/early fall.

•Adventure gear is a bit more likely to be in stock now than during the height of COVID, but plan ahead. Whether you buy, rent or borrow, assemble and get to know your gear early.

•If you’re like me and you learn very slowly, it’s an excellent idea to study and practice before your chosen class. Check out an avalanche handbook from your local library. Go to a free beacon session at Schweitzer (every Sunday at 10 a.m.). Have a buddy take you on a safe mini-excursion in the weeks before your class.