You've done your due diligence. The avalanche rating is low and there have been no signs of instability all day. But just as your best friend drops in, the slope begins to slide. When the snow stops, there's no sign of them. The race against time begins. 

Are your companion rescue skills dialled, or are you phaffing around trying to remember what to do?

Let's spend an evening practicing our companion rescue skills at Hollyburn. All skill levels welcome.

Meet: 6pm at the Hollyburn trailhead beside the Cypress cross-country area.

The Plan: We'll hike, snowshoe or ski up the marked trail until we find an open space where we can practice our companion rescue skills and run through some single burial situations. Depending on the skill level of the group, we can break down companion rescue into its elements (coarse search, fine search, probing and shovelling) before setting up the situations.

What to Bring:

• Avalanche transceiver, probe & shovel
• Waterproof container for your transceiver
• Headlamp
• Spare batteries
• Snowshoes (or touring skis/skins)
• Warm layers
• Headlamp
• Snacks and a warm beverage
• 10 essentials
• Whatever else you need to stay warm and comfortable
• Did I mention a headlamp? We're going to be practicing in the dark.

Other things to know: Headlamps, like all electronics, can interfere with the beacon. I've never done a companion rescue practice in the dark, so it will be interesting to find out what happens.

If you are new to companion rescue or need a refresher, there is a good tutorial on the Avalanche Canada website: https://www.avalanche.ca/tutorial/rescue Remember though, neither this practice session nor the online tutorial is a substitute for proper training.