Avy I classes versus FoBP classes and self education

For the past three years I have attended the FOBP avalanche classes, I've attended two of the FOBP on-snow sessions, I've read Snow Sense and Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, I've done and continue to do beacon drills, I've got some experience in the backcountry, I know how to use my equipment.....

So....

Is it worth the $250 or some dollars to take an Avalanche I class? I know some of you would say it's worth the money to be more educated, but judging my the things I've said above, I think I have a good amount of education for now.

What more could I learn at an Avy I class?

Can you jump to Avy II withou taking an Avy I class?

From your description of your knowledge I think you should skip the level 1 and do a level 2. This is what I did several years ago. I imagine you would learn something and have lots of good reinforcement of what you already know in a level 1, but I think it would might be too much review. Make sure you are brushed up on the level 1 type stuff and take a good level 2. Where are you located?

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Originally Posted by wilcox510

Where are you located?

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Denver, CO

I'm not familiar with avy courses in the Front Range, but Im sure there are plenty of good options. I think the Colorado Mountain School in Estes does courses, and Im sure there are plenty up towards summit county. Check with the course instructors, but I would go with the level 2.

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Originally Posted by wilcox510

I'm not familiar with avy courses in the Front Range, but Im sure there are plenty of good options. I think the Colorado Mountain School in Estes does courses, and Im sure there are plenty up towards summit county. Check with the course instructors, but I would go with the level 2.

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Thanks, I am familiar with the the schools that offer avy courses.

If you’re confident you know the basics of terrain selection and your performing the various tests properly, you’d probably get more out of Avy II. And you can always ask the people teaching the classes what they think.

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Originally Posted by Below Zero

For the past three years I have attended the FOBP avalanche classes, I've attended two of the FOBP on-snow sessions, I've read Snow Sense and Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, I've done and continue to do beacon drills, I've got some experience in the backcountry, I know how to use my equipment.....

So....

Is it worth the $250 or some dollars to take an Avalanche I class? I know some of you would say it's worth the money to be more educated, but judging my the things I've said above, I think I have a good amount of education for now.

What more could I learn at an Avy I class?

Can you jump to Avy II withou taking an Avy I class?

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Sounds like you'd probably be best going to Avy II, taking everything into consideration you said. And that's an important detail. I would NOT want to tell a bc newb, ok, you've done the FOBP classroom session, you're good to go for Avy II...or, you're good to go for bc generally. There is something to be said with the continuity that comes from a "full blown", certified, Avy I course...you get twice as much classroom time, and the on-snow session almost always comes in the same week as your 6 hours of classroom time, which is helpful to be able to quickly apply what you've learned, with the instructors right there alongside.

And in no way is that a knock of any kind on the FOBP sessions...

^^Thanks, Scott.^^

You say you get twice as much classroom time. But what new information do you learn that you couldn't learn by taking a FOBP training session and reading and understanding the two books that I mentioned? Along with some on-snow drills and beacon practice, that would seem to me pretty good for Avy I, but that's really why I asked the question becasue I don't know what they teach in Avy I.

I am in no way saying that taking an Avy I course is not necessary, but I just think some things can be self taught and you don't necessarily need to take a $250 course.

Oh just FYI about certification:

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Originally Posted by Hacksaw

This brings up a very good question. Here in the USA we actually don't issue
"certifications" (like being in EMT school, or accounting school for that matter). Because, most American avanche courses/schools don't require the student to pass an actual writen exam or pratical skills assesment. Personally, I wish we did have exams and pratical skills exams.

People throw around all the time that "their certified in avalanche." Ask them where and who did the certifing....????

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Originally Posted by Below Zero

^^Thanks, Scott.^^

You say you get twice as much classroom time. But what new information do you learn that you couldn't learn by taking a FOBP training session and reading and understanding the two books that I mentioned? Along with some on-snow drills and beacon practice, that would seem to me pretty good for Avy I, but that's really why I asked the question becasue I don't know what they teach in Avy I.

I am in no way saying that taking an Avy I course is not necessary, but I just think some things can be self taught and you don't necessarily need to take a $250 course.

Oh just FYI about certification:

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Well, it's been a couple years since I've done the Avy I...so it's hard for me to remember EXACTLY what was covered...I too read the books and other materials, have gone to a variety of "short" clinics, etc...so, it all gets glopped together, in terms of "source". But, I would agree with your assessment...for you, you probably wouldn't gain anything from the Avy I.

What I meant by "certified", is the course being a "certified" Avy I course. Maybe I'm off on that, but my understanding is that courses have to meet certain criterion/cover certain material to be "certified". Something like the CMS's Avy I being a "certified" Avy I course and REI's Avy Awareness clinic not.

Edit: I'm without touring gear at the moment due to selling the older setup/buying a new one...hopefully will be set in about a week...but, if you or anyone else is interested in getting out for some beacon/pit/analysis practice/refresh, I'd be game for sure. I know enough to know I don't know it all...and the skills can get rusty pretty easily.

I took avy I last year, it was the worst timing ever, they herded all the harcore skiers and snowboarders into a classroom on one of the few really good days on the east coast last year. However, Taking 6 hours of classroom time, then actually applying it the next day was a very valuable expierence. I then spent the rest of the season running around digging pits and building on my knowledge, and I'm going to be taking avy 2 this year. Avy I is how to realize that you are in avy terrain, how to travel in it, how to use your equipment, solid skills for sure, but stuff you seem to have dialed already. Avy 2 is more of route selection when you're skiing, more managing the risk than just figuring out if it exists. I don't know you so I can't say for sure, but it sounds like you should go to avy 2.
Also, anyone know of anywhere in quebec that has avy courses, canadian instruction is so much more solid and in depth, I'm thinking about doing avy I there instead of avy 2 here.

Not for nothing, BZ, but you've been very involved and very observant in our courses, and I think if you stick around and keep your interest high and your eyes open, that you'll stand to gain a level of understanding that's at least equal to Level II even if we can't "certify" you as such.

Valid question nonetheless, and one we struggle with in our curriculum development on a neverending basis.

J... go to Silverton Avalanche School's level II

There is no substitute for an AVY I course.

take a level 2 course

CU has an avy I course for $35. Not sure if it's for students only, but I got a certification out of it, if that means anything. About 6 hours of classroom time and a field day. Definitely educational.