Sea-tards: New Level II

[joshbu]

So for all of you Sea-tards, there's a new Level II. Gary Brill, who does pretty much the best Level I in the area has added a Level II and it just looks killer. I got a look at his materials and I don't know of anyone else who teaches a course like this.

Basically, he took all of the data for the entrie season for Rogers Pass, and then created a season long case study out of it.

Anyone interested?

http://www.geocities.com/garyabrill/avalanche.html

[pollard]

I'm gonna have to do the one at snoqualmi though that snow cat op. tacoma is too far.

[mtgoat]

Gary will be doing a free presentation at Marmot in Bellevue Tuesday 11/18 at 7pm if you are interested. I am guessing it will be fairly basic, but I think I am going to stop by.

[Dr. Crash]

The Mountaineers will also do a brand new Level I this year in February. I know this is a Level II post but I think I need to start with a Level I first :-) Joshbu or others, any experience with the Mountaineers' courses (I only went to their basic avalanche stuff which was simply okay).

Pollard, the page joshbu referred to says the classes are in Bellevue:

LEVEL II Schedule

Location: Marmot store, Bellevue
Lectures: Feb 14, 8:00am-6:00pm, Feb 18, 6:30pm-9:30pm, Feb 23, 6:30-9:30pm
Field : Feb 15, 16 (optional) and Feb 21

drC

[char]

I've been considering getting into the BC but I don't really have the cash buy a beacon, probe, shovel, etc at the moment. Would it be worth borrowing a beacon, etc and going to a Level 1 class to learn the basics and buy the gear later (next summer; tax returns), or should I just wait until I can get the gear?

EDIT: Main reason for the question is that I will have access to lift-served BC this year, something I have not had in the past. And I'm not going out there without the gear and knowledge.

[Jumper Bones]

umm, I'd say yeah borrow the gear, but definitely make sure you make the classes, even if you don't end up borrowing the stuff. never hurts to hear too much on this stuff, the more material you can see the better.

so, even if you don't actually make it to the bc, still try to make the classes - they're always beneficial, and you never can have too large a knowledge base for snow science.

besides they'll have you seeing the snow in a different way.

[joshbu]

Originally posted by Dr. Crash
The Mountaineers will also do a brand new Level I this year in February. I know this is a Level II post but I think I need to start with a Level I first :-) Joshbu or others, any experience with the Mountaineers' courses (I only went to their basic avalanche stuff which was simply okay).

Pollard, the page joshbu referred to says the classes are in Bellevue:



drC

The Mountaineer's "avalanche awareness" is not a level I. (Is that what you are asking about?) It's not even close to a level I. If you are looking to be certified (for patrol or guiding,) then getting a CAA certification is the way to go. Otherwise, I would say Gary teaches the best, most practical level I in the state too.

I'm a little learly of the Cascade Powder Cats instruction. I think it's targeted more at proceedure for being a guide, which is not always the same as recreational safety.