Fourteen eighth-graders will receive “Avalanche 1” certification, following a program offered at Haines School.
The students received 20 hours of classroom instruction and spent eight hours in the field, said physical education teacher Lexie DeWitt.
Field training included using locator beacons, assessing snow stability and digging test pits to check ski conditions, she said. “They can recognize snowpack, terrain and weather conditions that relate to being safe in the mountains.”
Besides visible hazards, the class…