Kent Swanson Memorial Avalanche Course:
This course is designed as an intensive 2.5-day avalanche refresher course
presented bi-annually on Oregon’s Mount Hood. The course is geared toward
mountain rescue volunteers, ski patrollers, guides, and others that support the
mountain rescue community. It is intended as both an avalanche skills refresher
and a forum for presenting new developments in avalanche science. The course is
taught by the best avalanche professionals in North America and includes both
theory presented in classroom sessions and hands-on practice on the mountain.
PMR will be offering a Kent Swanson Jr. Memorial Avalanche course during the
weekend of January 30 – February 1, 2009. The lead instructor for this course
will be Grant Statham, of Canmore, Alberta. Grant’s steady job is working as an
Avalanche Risk Specialist for Parks Canada in the Rocky Mountain parks. He has
also worked: in private industry as an avalanche consultant (with Chris Stethem
and Associates – Chris is a former Kent Swanson Avalanche Class lead
instructor); as an avalanche forecaster for the Canadian Avalanche Association;
and as an instructor and course leader for CAA Level 1 and 2 avalanche courses.
Grant’s background also includes 21 years as a certified professional mountain
guide and ski guide, including extensive experience guiding in avalanche-prone
terrain. Grant was the CAA Professional Member of the Year in 2005. Grant is
also an accomplished rock and ice climber, with a significant climbing resume
including guiding and first assents on several continents.
To read published articles about the Kent Swanson Jr. Memorial Avalanche
course, click <HERE>
(4MB pdf file).
Kent Swanson Memorial Rigging Course:
Designed to immerse its participants in the science of technical rescue
rigging, this seven day, 70+ hour course gives mountain rescue volunteers the
opportunity for in depth and hands on learning in this important craft.
Correct technical rescue rigging is crucial to the safety of the victim, as
well as the rescuers, in mountain and high angle rescue situations.
The 2008 course will be held in late September and will be taught by Doug
Clarke, one of the lead instructors for
Ropes that Rescue, a highly respected training school based in Sedona
Arizona. Doug is a fire fighter and avid climber who lives in Wenatchee ,
Washington
This year’s course will include a night operation and the many uses of the Aztek
Kit. Already there is a waiting list of enthusiastic members anxious to improve
their rigging skills.
Kent Swanson, Jr. Memorial Fund:
Organized and administered by Kent, Sr. and Trish Swanson, this fund honors the
memory of their son and generously supports PMR mountain rescue and safety
courses, as well as education events. Without the financial underwriting
of the Kent Swanson, Jr. Memorial Fund, Portland Mountain Rescue would be
unable to present these important education and training sessions.
To date, the Memorial Fund has helped fund the following:
Six
(6) Avalanche Courses taught by these world class instructors:
1. Clair Israelson - Exec. Director, Canadian
Avalanche Assoc
2. Bruce Jamieson - Author & Professor, Univ. of
Calgary
3. Chris Stethem - Avalanche Consultant & CAA
Founder
4. Ian McCammon - Avalanche Researcher, Amer Aval
Assoc
5. Phil Hein – Avalanche Consultant and CAA Founder
6. Ian Tomm – Operations Manager, Canadian Avalanche
Assoc
One (1) Rigging for Rescue Course
Multiple scholarships for PMR members to attend avalanche courses that are
unavailable locally
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