The avalanche rescue program was a couple week-long program that introduced the students to avalanche rescue and more specifically how to avoid being caught in an avalanche. It covered the basics of probe and beacon searching complete with two field trips where we practiced using a probe and beacon to find victims caught in a simulated avalanche.
I chose to participate in it because I spend most of my weekends in the backcountry snowboarding and cross country skiing and thought it would be a useful skill to have.
I came to UW to study Mechanical Engineering and stayed for graduate school. The biggest draw was the proximity to outdoor activities with places such as Happy Jack and Vedauwoo as well as the Snowy Range Mountains. During the winter, there are plenty of cross country skiing opportunities at Happy Jack and at the Libby Flats recreation area while the summer brings excellent mountain biking.
UW is unique due to its quality engineering education and location. With all of the outdoor activities around, I always had something to do.
