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I'm looking to take the level 1 avy class in December and just want to hear some perspectives on the different options around the SLC and Park City areas. I hear the one through the Utah avalanche center is pretty good. Moving from Chicago to Park City and want to get to the BC as fast as possible.
Thanks,
Uac site under education has a list seems their all either utah mountain adventures (exum) or aai. not seeing any fuac. eithers probably good . Best bets read trempers book hit the beacon parks as soon as they're in start dialing your skills and hope to find some partners who "Know" personslly never took avvy 1 but was blessed with damn good partners who took the time school me
strong work "jong" getting it in the slide zone shitload of good info here and not a lot of cunting
Da bears
For the OP, personally (you know about opinions), I'd stick w/ AAI or FUAC. Took my Level I w/ Rod Newcomb (AAI) on Berthoud Pass 20 yrs ago. Level II was w/ NSP. I don't suggest you take a National Ski Patrol class, due to the fact that they're more *resort* oriented and (too) much of the class was devoted to rescue, rescue plans, patrollers here, patrollers there, toboggans, Incident Command System stuff. I'd rather stay out of them and there's never a patroller around when you're 10+ miles away from the nearest road, house, ski area/patrol shack.Quote:
Originally Posted by skifishbum
Have not taken one, but understand the Utah Avalanche Center (FUAC) classes are excellent.
I was kind of surprised there wasn't uac class spots in the silent auction at the fundraiser this year.
maybe they're not doing classes
bummer if so avvy 2 at the wmc lodge was great and all the instructers were great specially that oag retired guy
I'm sure the FUAC will have classes on MLK weekend January and Pres weekend in February. Those folks just started work on 1 Nov so I think they just haven't updated the education page yet. It may be L-1 in Jan and L-2 in Feb. The L-2 is especially good but you should have a couple on backcountry seasons under your belt before you take it.
OAG
Wow, the OAG pipes up on TGR. Weehaw we are in for it.
Back to original topic- I highly recommend the FUAC level 1 up at Brighton. Go camp at the lodge and make a weekend of it. The UAC forecasters cycle through, and the instructors that are there all weekend are pros.
Any of the AAI and Lone Tree courses are very good. But I also echo what SFB says about buying a copy of Trempers book and put yourself through boot camp. Also come to the USAW this weekend: http://utahavalanchecenter.org/utah_...orkshop/092910
Anyone know anything about this program? White Pine Touring at Canyons. Thanks.
http://www.whitepinetouring.com/prog...e-training.jsp
I took my level 1 from Utah Mountain Adventures (Tyson Bradley and crew) thought it was an excellent learning experience.
Well.... As usual I am behind the times. Par for the Old Arthritic Goat.
The UAC will not not doing their usual L-1 and/or L-2 classes this year.
Instead they will do some (maybe six) one day workshops. The exact format, cost, and the dates have yet to be determined.
So.... check their website for updates.
I am sure they will interesting and worth attending.
OAG
Looks like a lot of classes are available this season http://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche-classes
who has some experiences with these classes? AAI, Utah Mountain Adventures, White Pine/AIARE are all offering avy 1. are there any others not listed on the UAC site? who should I get learned from? on round 2 of reading tremper's book, ready for some classes!
go to an avy talk up at alta or wherever else the UAC holds em. in an hour or two you get a lot of good (not too much) info on snow/terrain and how weather affects the interaction of the two.
a good place to start anyway. i went to one of bruce's talks when i was a pup and it definitely had my forehead wrinkled and palms sweating to learn more.
rog
im looking to get avy 1 with a multiday class. ive read a fair amount on the interweb, and am going through trempers book one more time. my buddy has the avy handbook, thats next on the list.
The Wasatch Mountain Club at Brighton hosted a 2.5 day avi 1 class last winter that was amazing! We were able to sleep at the WMC cabin and got cheap pizza at Molly Greens. Great info and comprehensive practice. Brandon Dodge that patrols up there was heading it up. I'd keep an eye on the Brighton website or email them directly to see when those will be happening this year.
i believe the talks are free and would make for a nice intro to your level one. book reading is very important as well, but hearing the straight dope from the pros gives you tones and emphasis on key points that you don't get from text.Quote:
Originally Posted by BurkeBC
rog
I would recommend a multi day hut based if you can find one. I took level 1 last year and we were outside almost half the time. Lots of skinning = plenty of terrain evaluation, hand pits and discussion that is a dimension beyond powerpoint or books. The combination of the two with a LOT more outside time is a good format. Some classes offer a full 4th day of just touring where students pick objectives, plan tour and execute decisions while being watched closely by instructors. Good stuff imoQuote:
Originally Posted by BurkeBC
There is some good info here. Thanks for your input on the weekend at the WMC. That place would be sweet for a home base during a weekend Avy class.
Any input on the difference between the Avy 1 class vs. the non-certification classes (Avalanche Awareness & Backcountry 101)? Is there much of a difference for someone who doesn't plan on becoming a snow professional?
Best bang for your buck was the semester long snow study class@ the U through the geology dept starting in Jan. I have no idea if they are doing it again and nuked my pc w/ a cup of joe
so i can't pull up the sylabus/course description from last year ,quality instructors/TA's way more class time, way more field/ pit work and a chance to observe the snow pack over a season.
non certified but that certficate is only a peice of paper it's what you learn from a class or experirenced partners and how that affects your decisions that counts.
imo
^^^^ Plus 1 on that but, I took it in the mid eighties.
Did mine last year through White Pine Touring in PC. 2 nights of class/discussion then 2 days out in the field all day. Great people and I learned a ton, as well as met some touring partners that I skied with after that.
Thanks for the info everyone! im going to go through AAI, as they offer college credit, and have been doing the class since 1975.
my main partner is experienced, his dad even more so. I will definitley be heavy on the observing of their techniques.