Snow Samurai
The Program
Living and traveling in the winter environment of the mountains requires conscious awareness, respect, humility, community, and an understanding, based on observation through the eyes of nature. This means that we do not see what we want to see, human perspective, but what is really there, Nature’s term.
This course is set up as a rite of passage into the winter environment. It is designed progressively, as building blocks, built upon the preceding material, and based on the CAA AST Content. Keep in mind however, that this course goes way beyond the scope of the AST Program. This course has as its primary objective – to train you, to have the discipline and awareness, to lead yourself with understanding, through a winter avalanche environment.
Our goals and objectives are to foster a better understanding of the winter mountain environment, and ourselves in the context of this environment. This will promote a greater understanding of self, in relation to strengths and areas of further development needed for our continual growth and evolution as conscious human beings.
Philosophy behind the Course
Just as the diamond requires three properties for its formation –carbon, heat and pressure- successful leaders require the interaction of three properties-character, knowledge, and application. Like carbon to the diamond, character is the basic quality of the leader. But as carbon alone does not create a diamond, neither can character alone create a leader. The diamond needs heat. Leaders need knowledge, study and preparation. The third property, pressure -acting in conjunction with carbon and heat-forms the diamond. Similarly, one’s character, attended by knowledge, blooms through application to produce a leader.
Keep these thoughts in mind.
- In order to lead others, one must first be able to lead oneself.
- The example you set is as important as the words that you speak. Through your words and example, you must communicate purpose, direction and motivation.
- Purpose gives people a reason to do things.
- When providing direction you communicate the way that you want things done.
- Motivation is attained by your words, your actions and your example.
- Character describes a person’s inner strength. You demonstrate your character through your behavior.
- Character describes what a leader must be, competence refers to what leaders must know, and action is what leaders must do.
- Self-disciplined people are masters of their impulses. This mastery comes from the habit of doing the right thing, all the time.
- Imitative is the ability to be a self-starter.
- Judgment. Good judgment means making the best decision for the situation.
- Self-confidence is the faith that you will act correctly and properly in any situation, even when under stress and you may not have all of the information you want. Self-confident leaders instill confidence in their followers.
- Intelligent leaders think, learn and reflect; than apply what they learn. Intelligence is more than knowledge. Smart decisions result when you combine professional skills (which you learn through education) with experience (which you gain in the field).
The snow and the potential of an avalanche have no understanding of your agenda, and your desires. For this reason one needs to think like “snow”, and do what is appropriate for the conditions, the structure of the snow pack, and with the realization that there is always another day. To think like snow, we need to realize that we are playing chess with the greatest master, nature, and to “win” this game, we need to be honest with ourselves, tempered by the awareness that there is almost always the potential, for things to go wrong.
Training techniques for the mind.
- Think of doing the right thing – have a set of values as guideposts.
- Train the mind – discipline the mind by practicing focus, get rid of external distractions. Be calm, meditate.
- Think aggressively. The goal is a hungry and searching mind that is continually searching out the true meanings and connections, that see weaknesses and flaws, in opinions, procedures and action plans. Train your mind to challenge everything –don’t be complacent.
- Think free of attachments. Don’t look for preconceived outcomes, be creative and radical,
- Think objectively. Rid yourself of emotional attachment and be objective.
- Course Cost $550
Course Duration 1 Classroom, and 4 Field, in a variety of locations.
