The team recently sent one of our newer members, Jordan Wycherley, on the Canadian Avalanche Association’s Industry Training Program (ITP) Avalanche Operations Level 1: Snowmobile course in Revelstoke, BC.
Jordan, a long time snowmobiler, was determined to be eligible for the CAA’s bursary program for this course because of his connections to the local community, our team, and his local knowledge of the Burke Mountain area (in Coquitlam SAR’s response area).
Jordan, in the snow pit
Jordan described the week-long course as “intense,” adding “I don’t know how skiers do it – we covered so much terrain in one day!” The course, which has become internationally recognized, is a standard in the avalanche safety industry. This version of the course is geared toward the snowmobile community, and included SAR members, snowmobile tour companies and other interested members of the sledding community.
Course participants doing snow analysis
Jordan can now assist other “Level Ones” on the team in delivering the Avalanche Skills Training (AST) course, which regular team members take every year, and eventually can deliver his own AST courses to members of the snowmobile community. In addition, he can function as a field team leader for avalanche responses in the Coquitlam area.
Good job Jordan!