Avy Classes '08

[Franz]

anyone got any beta on front range avi classes for this upcoming '08 season? or know anywhere to find out?

[~mikey b]

CAIC is a good place to start...

http://avalanche.state.co.us/

They have a calendar of classes on their education page, but it's empty at the moment.

a few folks to try:

High Mountain Institute
10th Mtn Huts
Friends of Berthoud Pass
Aspen Expeditions

it's a bit early, but not a bad idea to start thinking about avy classes - maybe a good time to start reading text books to prep for the winter

[~mikey b]

more...

http://avtraining.org/

Alpine World Ascents
CO Mtn College
Crested Butte Mtn Guides


get a few folks together and I'm sure you can get a private course set up

[CG]

get a few folks together and I'm sure you can get a private course set up

I would be in for an Avy 1 class

[Franz]

telemike-thanks for the info, i've already been breaking out the text books, I just wanted to get a more formal education this fall than FOBP stuff (though that is an awesome program and I fully intend on attending again)
CG-I'll look into it and see what i can find out.

[fish]

I need an avy 1 class too... just bought all the gear

[Pinner]

FOBP will be doing classes again. We actually will have a new classroom instructor so the presentation will change up a little bit and you'll get a different perspective on most of the same material. Stay tuned for dates.

[~mikey b]

Shan - any chance of a field session? I'd be willing to put together and submit the paperwork to the FS. Liability insurance would be the tough part.

[couloirman]

I wanna retake level 2 this year seeing as I missed a day of the course I took several years ago(car issues), and am rusty on a lot of things. If anyone wants to do a class with alpine world ascents lemme know, something on two successive weekends so I wont have to take off work(if I even have a job by then) would be best.

[schindlerpiste]

On a related subject, does anyone in UT. know where I can take an O.E.C. course this fall?

[~mikey b]

go to the NSP website - there should be schedules up - I was looking for one in CA, and some started as soon as next week - it's also worth looking on the websites for the NSP region you are in, as well as on the sites for the individual NSP patrols - the NSP website does not always have the most current info - best to go to the source if you can

[Franz]

shot both AIARE and Alpine world ascents an email about pricing and if they had any information on when classes might be offered. I'll keep y'all posted

[Pinner]

Mike,
We already do field sessions at Berthoud with the tacit approval of the FS district ranger. It's a one-day follow up to the evening-long classroom presentation.

I'd be curious to see how our curriculum differs from an "Avy I." Since there is no nationally sanctioned certification program, there is a wide range of interpretation and one man's Avy I might be another's Avy II. Obviously that's a bit of a stretch, but the gist is that there is no golden ring that sets an Avy I apart from what we teach. We just don't call it that.

We've been recognized by Bryan Mountain Nordic Ski Patrol, a "certified" program, such that our course is sufficient prerequisite training for their Avy II.

Worth noting.

[~mikey b]

American Avalanche Association has very specific guidelines for avalanche courses, as well as A3 Certified Instructors.

http://www.americanavalancheassociat...education.html

http://www.americanavalancheassociat...ble_071008.pdf



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Purpose & Need:

Prior education guidelines were created in 1999 with the intent for re-evaluation and updating as new avalanche information and education emerged. Spring of 2006, the Education Committee began a process to update the guidelines with a path of progressions and outcomes/objectives for each level.

Summary:

The updated guidelines serve to:

Recognize and facilitate awareness programs, introductory programs, multiple user groups and identify ongoing education opportunities such as L1 refresher/prep for L2 programs and rescue clinics.


Accommodate a variety of programs and course providers. University and intensive training programs may incorporate more time than the recommended guidelines. However, we feel that independent field experience between progressive levels of educational programs is essential. Through active experience, students are able to practice and integrate knowledge and skills learned.


Strongly recommend backcountry first aid and winter survival skills. Although outside the scope of most avalanche programs, A3 feels it is important enough to make a recommendation for any backcountry traveler to obtain this training or experience.


Provide outcomes for L1 & L2 programs and list L1, L2 content in a manner to support outcomes. Note: Pre-existing L1 and L2 guidelines fit the updated guidelines. Course providers who have offered programs meeting prior L1 and L2 guidelines do not need to make significant changes, but should review the new guidelines and make any needed adjustments.


Note the recommended format for L1 requires 24 hours or 3 days, the L2 content mandates a 32 hour or 4 day program. We feel this time frame is essential to cover the course content and for the student to gain a level of comprehension and application of skills that meets the desired outcomes. The intent is to facilitate consistency of content and quality of L1 and L2 programs among course providers nationwide.


Recognize upper level programs. Note- general not specific guidelines are listed for L3’s. L3’s are identified as offering advanced topics with a specific focus such as guiding or operational concerns. Content is at the jurisdiction and expertise of the course providers. Further refinement of guidelines for L3 programs will be a priority for the education committee working with course providers.


Emphasize the need for continuing education.


Recommended Guidelines are presented as:
a) A table format addressing specifics of title, audience, outcomes, content, pre requisites, format, performance measures, instructor qualifications and student:instructor ratios
b) A graphic of progressions depicted by a flow chart and a conceptual illustration. The education committee developed two different graphic formats in recognition that we absorb and process information in different ways.



Course Content & Quality

The guidelines are provided only as a framework for avalanche instruction. They are not comprehensive or exhaustive. Instructors can, and must, fill in the blanks with their own experience and knowledge of general avalanche phenomena, as well as local expertise. The guidelines will not make a novice an effective avalanche educator.

In addition, students may find the guidelines valuable as a template for evaluating courses. Students can compare the guidelines with advertised course outlines to ensure they will receive a comprehensive course. They can also use the guidelines to evaluate their courses after completion to confirm their course covered the necessary material.

Note: The National Avalanche School classroom phase 1 and field session phase 2 is comparable to attending an intensive Level 1 and a L1 Refresher/L2 Prep (ASAW) and is seen as meeting prerequisites for AV Pro. A minimum of a full field season of applied practice and experience is required before attending a Level 2 program, so L2 graduates are expected to be more advanced in their education and experience than a NAS phase 1 & 2 graduate. Thus, completing the NAS phase 1 & phase 2 is not exactly the same as completing a Level 2.

Conclusion:
These guidelines are provided for the avalanche community as a tool. This tool needs improvement, refinement and continual updating as new material and information becomes available. We invite feedback from instructors and students at any time. Please contact the Education Committee chairs, a committee member, or your AAA representative with comments.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


American Institute for Avalanche Education also has it's own, similar guidelines for course content. They have a very good cirriculum.

http://avtraining.org/Avalanche-Trai...E-Level-1.html


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

bottom line - the FOBP seminar is NOT a Level 1 course by anyone's standards

[Franz]

when I went to the FOBP seminar, the instructor told me that it qualified as about an "Avy .5". Eitheir was it was great info and a lot of fun and I still plan on attending this season. However, I'm also going to get myself into a certified Avy 1 program.
Speaking of which, the guys at Alpine World Ascents got back to me and here is their class schedule for this season:
Thanks for your interest in our avalanche courses. Here is our udated schedule:
DECEMBER
6 rescue - front range, colorado
11-14 level 1 - berthoud pass, colorado
19-20 awareness - rocky mountain national park, colorado
JANUARY
3-4 awareness - berthoud pass, colorado
8-11 level 1 - berthoud pass, colorado
15-18 level 2 - berthoud pass
22-25 level 1 - berthoud pass, colorado
30-31 - awareness - berthoud pass, colorado
FEBRUARY
5-8 level 1 - berthoud pass, colorado
14-15 & 21-22 level 2 - berthoud pass
26-3/1 level 1 - berthoud pass, colorado
MARCH
7-8 & 14-15 level 2 - berthoud pass
19-22 level 1 - berthoud pass, colorado
27-29 advanced ski touring - berthoud pass, colorado

hope that helps some of the other folks who were also looking for this kind of instruction

[CG]

Did Alpine Ascents mention the cost at all?

[Franz]

they didn't, although i'd imagine it'd be around 250-300, maybe less. it might be on there site from last year?

[angelinalove]

Anyone doing the avy course this weekend?

[Jonathan S.]

I'd be curious to see how our curriculum differs from an "Avy I." Since there is no nationally sanctioned certification program, there is a wide range of interpretation and one man's Avy I might be another's Avy II. Obviously that's a bit of a stretch, but the gist is that there is no golden ring that sets an Avy I apart from what we teach. We just don't call it that.

As the other poster noted, that previous "free-for-all" situation has changed dramatically in recent years.
Even aside from A3 restating its course guidelines, AIARE providers now account for the vast majority of recreationalist avy courses. AIARE L1 courses are now three days (or equivalent hours thereof), and although AIARE providers can obviously differ in many ways, they are all using a common curriculum and course materials. Also note that the AIARE L3 course is the only American course that meets AMGA requirements.
Meanwhile, NSP has significantly changed its course guidelines for this coming season, and L1 is now three days (or equivalent hours thereof) along with a L1 for Rescue Personnel that includes add'l non-companion rescue and is now a requirement for NSP L2.
(BTW, AIARE & NSP are way different at L2, with AIARE delving into snow science in great detail, and NSP covering a more diverse group of topics with more emphasis on rescue.)
So if an intro course isn't AIARE or NSP, it really is an exception these days. (And I'm sure some "indies" deliver great courses, but they're definitely bucking the trend.)

[Ed el Loco]

Any one have recommendations for a Seattle area class?
Gary Brill, The Mountaineers, REI, Mountain Madness?

[~mikey b]

I've heard good things about Gary Brill's courses.

I'd also check out Pro Guiding.

edit - AIARE has a list of course providers
http://www.avtraining-admin.org/courseprov.cfm

I don't have a lot of experience with AIARE yet, but I'm going to take an ITC course this winter. Looks like I'll be teaching and guiding for MAS.

[Out_to_lunch]

I'm definitely in need of an avy-1 course. I thin I'm going to get one in in January.

Anyone interested in getting together some afternoon for some beacon practice? It's never too early to start...

[CG]

Found this over the weekend

http://www.crestedbutteguides.com/page.cfm?pageid=8909

(for AVY1)
Dec. 5-7, 2008 Fri. 5-9pm; Sat. & Sun. 8am-6pm
Dec. 19-21, 2008 Fri.-Sun 8am-4pm
Dec. 19-21, 2008 Hut Trip All day Fri.-Sun.
Jan. 2-4, 2009 Fri. 5-9pm; Sat. & Sun. 8am-6pm
Jan. 16-18, 2009 Fri. 5-9pm; Sat. & Sun. 8am-6pm
Feb. 6-8, 2009 Hut Trip All day Fri.-Sun.
Feb. 27- March 1, 2009 Fri. 5-9pm; Sat. & Sun. 8am-6pm
Mar. 13-15, 2009 All day Fri.-Sun 8am-4pm

Classes are $275 if you book before 10/1/08 Didn't mention the prices after 10/1

Looks like they also do classes on Berthoud Pass as well but no dates mentioned

[CG]

Hut Trip Courses are $375 till 10/1

[Franz]

thats not too bad. I'd definetly be in for some afternoon beacon practices somewhere. A hut trip Avy class could definetly be fun