Which Level 1 class - Seattle?

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Which Avy 1 class in the Seattle area would you recommend, or recommend against, and why?

There are classes offered by the following entities and I'm not sure which one to take:

Ridge Explorations
Mountain Madness
Pro Guide Service
North Cascades Mountain Guides


And yes, I did search for the answer to this question and got nada. I suck at searching...

Thanks!

[PNWbrit]

Highly recommend Pro Guiding's course. Really nice folks with resumes 2nd to none aimed at skiers rather than catch all type courses elsewhere.

PM me if you'd lIke

[Crystal_Mt_Dreamin]

Haven't taken it from anybody above, but were I to from that list it would be with Pro Guiding Service.

[eknomf]

After looking into it quite a bit, I took mine through the American Alpine Institute in Bellingham and I would highly recommend them. All the Instructors were very experienced and also worked as guides leading trips to all kinds of crazy places. It is aimed at skiers as well http://www.aai.cc/

[Ed el Loco]

FWIW I signed up for the Pro Guiding one. Partly on location and timing, but largely on the very few reviews I could find. I also think that having it on the week days will limit it to people who are serious and want to learn as they might have to take time off work.

Or hard core ski bums, but their all right too.

[BaltiHimal]

One criteria to consider when choosing a course is whether or not the course meets the hours requirements of the American Avalanche Association (http://www.americanavalancheassociat...ble_071008.pdf). I'm not sure about all those you listed, but, ideally they should all be at a minimum meeting those requirements.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Well dammit, I didn't realize the Pro Guide courses were mid-week. Yeah, I'd prefer that schedule in a perfect world, unfortunately I don't get paid time off. Taking three days off from work would effectively end up costing me over $1000 for that course. Ouch.

Anyone have any input on this course? I'd only have to miss one day of work and it's a relatively easy commute as well.
http://www.mountainguides.com/avalanche.shtml

Oh, and I wrote to their contact address and asked them to sell me on their course - why should I choose them over other courses from other organizations. Will be interesting to see the reply.

[Northway]

Chainsaw - I took the IMG courses. I did their I and II a few years back and would highly recommend them. I felt I came away from the class with most all I wanted.

It's hard to find someone with more avalanche experience than Paul B., and he does a bulk of the classroom and field instruction himself. Mark Moore from NWAC did the instruction for the weather portion of the second course.

I've also heard very good things about the Pro Guiding Service courses from the likes of the Brit.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Cool, thanks for the endorsement! Haven't heard back from them yet in reply to my e-mail.

[RootSkier]

One criteria to consider when choosing a course is whether or not the course meets the hours requirements of the American Avalanche Association

Could they call it an Avy 1 class if it didn't meet the criteria?

[Hugh Conway]

Could they call it an Avy 1 class if it didn't meet the criteria?

yes. same reason anyone can call themselves a guide in most states

[skiwa]

second on IMG being sweet, informative, and the work with dogs was amazing