21st-22nd January - Level 2 Avalanche Course Cont.

Looking at methods of finding multiple burials

Ian demonstrating efficient digging techniques

Looking at the snow pack

The live training exercise

All members being recalled for instructions

A huge operation for teams from throughout Scotland

An incredible demo by Tom and Tara (SARDA)

I have now completed the MRC of S Level 2 Avalanche course, based in Lochaber. On Saturday, the initial plan of venturing onto Aonoch Mor to practice all the required skills was cancelled due to high winds, so we opted to use the base to go through practical skills such as probe lines, tracker searches, Recco searches, multiple victim searches and casualty care. It was amazing having so much experience in one place, adding valuable input. It was a long day, however, with alot of information to take in. Luckily, Stu informed us that within a month or so a new MRC of S website should be going live, full of informtation, techniques and protocols. We were also shown an amazing video of an avalanche on Buichaille Etive Mor last January taken by Mike Pescod. You can see it here - not what you would usually expect an avalanche to look like!

On Sunday the weather improved somewhat, and we were able to get up the gondola to begin the days lectures. However, there was a shout on Ben Nevis so our numbers were sorely depleted as a lot of the more experienced members from various teams went to help two climbers who had lost their way on the summit, and had spent the night there. They were found safe and sound, and apart from a little hunger, were able to walk off.

Our first lecture was a fascinating talk by Tom Gilchrist of the Search and Rescue Dog Association. It provided insight into how the dogs are trained, their range of use, how they catch and hold a scent, tracking, and deployment. We were then given a demonstration of Tara (the SARDA dog) doing her thing, which was incredible. After this demo, we were split into teams and headed off to find a suitable snow patch to practice efficient digging and probing techniques, with Ian from the Oban MRT. Following a well earned lunch, we had a real-time exercise with multiple burials and huge numbers to manage. It was excellent training, well set up and provided numerous key training points for everyone. I was involved in casualty recovery and, although we did well, there is always room for improvement. We also got a chance to see the dog discover a real live burial victim in less than 2 minutes of arriving on the scene, emphasising the need to call the dogs out as soon as an avalanche call comes in.

An excellent, insightful weekend full of well organised training exercises and useful advice and techniques, Thanks to all involved.