Intensive Avalanche Emergency Course
Afternoon course featuring hands-on practice in rescuing fellow skiers during an avalanche. Ideal for the start of the season.
A quick rescue by fellow skitourers is often the only chance of survival for someone buried in an avalanche. We’ll cover the proper use of a shovel, probe, and avalanche transceiver, and practice a simulated avalanche burial scenario. The course aims to help you familiarize yourself with your own equipment at the start of the season and to perform companion rescues. It is not a comprehensive avalanche course and does not cover all aspects of this complex subject area, such as hazard assessment, avalanche condition reports, etc. The focus of this course is on the practical exercise of performing a rescue following an avalanche.
Course Content
- Handling Your Own Equipment: Shovel, Probe, Avalanche Transceiver
- Procedure for Searching for a Buried Person
- Hands-on practice with various scenarios
- This course does not replace the standard content of avalanche courses—which often last several days—but focuses exclusively on searching for buried victims.
Requirements for your participation
This course is designed for winter sports enthusiasts (snowshoers, freeriders, and ski tourers) who own their own avalanche safety equipment and want to familiarize themselves with it at the start of the season.
The program at a glance
Day 1 – Saturday: Individual travel to the mountaineering village of St. Jodok
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- Welcome, Equipment Review
- A Brief Theoretical Overview of Search and Rescue Operations for Buried Victims
- Practical Exercise in Searching for Buried Victims
- This is a half-day course held in the afternoon
You can find information about public transportation online at www.vvt.at or download the VVT's SmartRide app to your phone.
Dates & Prices 2026
2026 Event:
December 18, 2026
Custom dates for groups are available at any time!
Price per person: starting at €115
Minimum number of participants: 4 people
(for groups of 3 or more: €150)
Included services
- 1/2-day course with a local, state-certified mountain guide
- When booking a stay in the Wipptal: Wipptal Card = ticket for public transportation in the Wipptal (Innsbruck-Brenner S-Bahn, regional buses to all valleys)
A Boundless Communication Concept
The alpine courses in the Wipptal Valley are an example of how funding projects can lead to concrete initiatives for the region. The “Boundless Communication Concept” project demonstrates how the climate change adaptation strategy can be implemented in a practical way—through initiatives that promote safety, environmental awareness, and sustainable alpine tourism.
Funded by Interreg Italy–Austria, CLLD Wipptal, and the participating regional partners.
Registration Form for the Intensive Avalanche Emergency Course
Privacy Policy:
Booking and Cancellation Policies:
Four weeks before arrival, you will receive detailed information about the Intensive Avalanche Emergency Course, including the accommodation address (if booked), the program, a packing list, and the invoice.
Cancellation Policy:
Up to 4 weeks before arrival: 50% cancellation fee
Up to 1 week before arrival: 75% cancellation fee
1 week or less before arrival: 100% cancellation fee
We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance from Europäische Reiseversicherung. Along with your booking confirmation, we’ll send you a link that allows you to easily and quickly purchase your insurance online—ideally right when you book.
Providers for the tour:
Incoming Reisebürogesellschaft GmbH
Rathausplatz 1
6150 Steinach a. Br.
Phone: 0043 5272 6270