10 Things to Do After Completing Your Avalanche Level 1 Training
You've finished your Avy 1 course — now what? Todd Passey shares the 10 most important next steps to build real backcountry competence and stay safe in the mountains.
What to Do After Completing Avalanche Level 1 Training
After taking an Avalanche Level 1 course, it's natural to feel both excited and a little intimidated about heading out on your own. Even experts get it wrong sometimes — and after one weekend of training, you'll know far more than before, but there is no substitute for experience. Here are ten concrete steps to build your skills safely.
1. Practice in Safe Terrain
Find a few generally lower-angle zones (below 30 degrees, without larger connected slopes above) to explore and learn in. Dig pits, run stability tests (CT, ECT, ST), and share your observations with the regional forecast center. Start on Moderate or Low hazard days only.
2. Go Out With More Experienced Skiers
Choose partners who:
- You trust and who share your safety standards
- Take time to explain what they're observing
- Include you in the planning process
- Conduct gear and beacon checks at the trailhead
- Are patient and openly invite questions
3. Read the Avalanche Forecast Every Day
Reading the forecast daily accelerates your learning dramatically. You'll deepen your understanding of current hazards, learn what problems to look for, and build intuition about which slope aspects and elevations to avoid. Find your regional forecast at avalanche.org.
4. Check Local Weather Stations
Monitor wind, snowfall, and temperature data from stations near your planned terrain. In the Wasatch, you can access the same data NOAA uses. Observing stations at a similar elevation to your objective gives you far better situational awareness than a general forecast alone.
5. Hire a Certified Guide for a Few Days
Spend time with an AMGA or IFMGA certified mountain guide and ask them to actively coach you — route planning, track setting, snowpack assessment. Get involved in the planning beforehand, compare your analysis to theirs, and practice making your own assessments in the field. This is one of the fastest ways to improve.
6. Measure Slope Angle and Aspect Constantly
Keep your compass or inclinometer accessible. Measure every slope before you ascend or descend it. This becomes second nature with practice and is one of the most important habits in the backcountry.
7. Trust Your Gut
Don't override your instincts because of social pressure or a desire to keep up. Speak up when something feels wrong. Slow down, breathe, and think clearly before committing to a line or a route.
8. Know Your Human Factors
Avalanche accidents are rarely caused by lack of information alone — they're caused by human biases:
- Herd instinct: following others without thinking critically
- Summit fever: commitment bias, pushing when you should back off
- Familiarity bias: "I've skied this slope 20 times" — conditions change
- Time pressure: rushing leads to poor decisions
Know your own patterns. Recognizing them in the moment gives you the ability to make a real choice.
9. Manage Stress in the Field
When the stakes feel high, the survival brain kicks in and creative thinking shuts down. Practice staying calm with simple techniques: three deep breaths, soften your shoulders, slow everything down in your mind. Use a structured decision-making tool like ALPTRUTH by Ian McCammon to think through hazards systematically rather than reactively.
10. Practice Safe Travel Protocols Every Single Time
No matter how experienced you become:
- Only one person exposed at a time on a hazardous slope
- Move from safe zone to safe zone
- Ski one at a time, regroup in a protected spot
- Set uptrack away from loaded slopes
- Know where the runout is before anyone drops in
Avalanche safety is a lifelong practice. The more time you spend in the field — digging pits, observing conditions, and skiing with mentors — the better your judgment becomes. Reach out to us if you'd like to book a guided day in the Wasatch to accelerate your learning.