You've done your due diligence. The avalanche rating is low and there have been no signs of instability all day. Just as your crew is approaching the ridge, the person out front triggers a slide. All three of your companions are swept up in the avalanche. When the snow stops, there's no sign of anyone. 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. This practice session will focus on multiple burial situations, so you should be comfortable with companion rescue in single burial situations.

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 multiple burial situations. Depending on the skill level of the group, we can get creative and throw in some challenges to keep us on our toes.

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.

This practice session is not a substitute for proper training.