Sweet Riders head coach left her mark on the first 3 days of the ARAC course. (Advanced Recreational Avalanche Course) Unfortunately, fighting a cold throughout the whole weekend left me only participating in half of it. However, the parts that I was able to attend I learned a lot and am really looking forward to the remaining two days of the course on the 2nd and 3rd of February. I would like to personally warn those going out in the back country to board or ski, to really have some knowledge of what is happening with the snow. It is really an eye opener to learn about weak layers of snow and what can happen when they give way. The day I missed, that morning a class 3 avalanche happened off the top of Norikura, Tsugaike Ski Area. It was massive, thank god it happened in the early morning when no one was around!!! Avalanches happen so KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!!!!! Enough of the preaching, here are more pictures here!!

Sarah, Bill, an excellent AVALANCHE specialist and our teacher, and I. Thanks Bill!! It was great to learn from you!!!!