Avalanche Education Scholarships in the San Juan Mountains 

The Peter Inglis Avalanche Education Fund is proud to help sponsor scholarships pertaining to avalanche awareness and safety. The idea behind the scholarship fund is to increase avalanche awareness, safety, and education in the San Juan Mountains. The scholarship recipients will receive partial tuition reimbursement to take their desired avalanche education course.

Applications are now OPEN for the 2020-2021 season.

In order to apply, please create a word document with the following questions and answers (or download it here: PI Fund-Application) and email it to piavalanchefund@gmail.com when you are ready to submit. Questions and answers must be received by Tuesday, December 15, 2020, for consideration during the 2020-2021 winter season. You will hear back from the PI Fund by Tuesday, December 22, 2020, in regards to your partial course reimbursement. Please note, you may not receive the full amount you apply for. How many applications we receive is a factor in your total awarded scholarship amount.

How does it work? Scholarship funds will be partially reimbursed directly to the course participant after they have successfully completed the course. We will require a letter from your course provider stating you have finished the course in its entirety or a certificate of completion from the course you applied for. Please email piavalanchefund@gmail.com when you have this documentation and are ready to be reimbursed post-course. We will send you an email with the amount you will be receiving prior to your course education. If you ever have questions, feel free to email us at piavalanchefund@gmail.com.

PI FUND SCHOLARSHIP QUESTIONS:

Full Name:

Email:

Phone:

Employer:

Employer Contact Info (for Pro Course scholarship requests only):

What course are you interested in taking and with what provider?

When do you want to take it?

How much financial assistance are you applying for?

What is the original cost of the course?

Essay Submission (500 words or less): Please answer the following question: Why would you like to take this course and why are you applying for funding support?

Past Scholarship Assistance

During the 2019-2020 season, the PI Avy Fund awarded $3,000 in scholarships to 17 individuals for avalanche education courses. Scholarships were given for companion rescue courses, Avy 1 courses and Avy 2 courses.

During the 2018-2019 season, the Pi Avy Fund awarded $3,160 in scholarships to 20 individuals for avalanche education courses. Scholarships were given for companion rescue courses, Avy 1 courses and Pro 1 Avy Courses.

The Peter Inglis Avalanche Education Fund is working in conjunction with the Telluride Mountain Club to come up with a Code of Ethics for backcountry skiing and snowboarding in the Telluride region. We have been working with various avalanche professionals to come up with our first draft, below. We are seeking your feedback – what should be added, deleted, etc. – in order to make this a code that all skiers and snowboarders in our region can follow.

Please take our short feedback survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NSV823P.

Draft: Tentative Telluride Backcountry Code of Ethics

If you don’t know, don’t go. AND When in doubt, don’t go out.

If you decide to head into the backcountry:

• Beacon, Shovel, Probe, Radio, Avalanche Airbag Pack
• Always have uphill travel capabilities
• Be cool at the rope drop
• Don’t drop in on other parties, use your radio if you can’t see your line to make sure other skiers aren’t below you.
• If you are skiing/boarding a line, communicate with the parties above you.
• Have an alternate plan for the day in case your line is crowded with other parties.
• Uphill traffic (hikers) on Bear Creek Trail have the right of way. Slow down, be cool.

Continue your education with snow safety courses on a regular basis. Stay in school and never stop learning.

Help us by giving your feedback here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NSV823P!