Level I Avalanche Class

[Mahk]

Time For Tuckerman, it's Time for an Avalanche Course :schlitz: .....

Nancy asked me to "blast your ski crowd with the avalanche announcement". OK, here comes 'da BLAST: :jumpturn: :snowboarding:

Mark your Calendars!
Brush up on your Avalanche Skills before you hit the slopes or the back country.

For the seventh year, the AMC Mountaineering Committee is pleased to offer an Avalanche 1 Class. The program will be taught by Chauvin Guides International ( http://www.chauvinguides.com/ ), and directed by internationally certified guide Marc Chauvin. His credentials include certifications from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education Level 1 Avalanche.

The format of the program is:

The first day is a classroom workshop will be on Saturday December 1st 2007 at Joy Street in Boston.

The Second day is the practical hands on upcountry day, on Saturday January 5th 2008. This is when you see first hand all the snow layers and structures described in the classroom. This will be on Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

The cost of this two day program is $225 and is inclusive of guide gratuity and probes and beacons.

The class is limited. To register please email me at: nj_savickas_28@hotmail.com

[PWDR8S]

I highly recommend this course! Any and all of you that like to wander into risky territories show have this knowledge in your brain... It really could save your lives and quite possibly your buddies or even ME! :rolleyes:

DO IT! You won't be dissappointed. :)

[jshefftz]

His credentials include certifications from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education Level 1 Avalanche.

I don’t want to put a damper on any avy education, but just a quick note
that Chauvin is no longer affiliated with AIARE (American Institute for
Avalanche Research & Education – see avtraining.org): he split off this
season b/c of AIARE’s new requirement that all Level I courses provide at
least three days of instruction (or some other combinations of days +
shorter sessions to add up to 24 hrs). This requirement stems in large part
from the new explicit guidelines from the American Avalanche Association
(whose course outlines had previously implied 24 hrs of instruction, which
was followed by almost no course providers).

Chauvin is instead now teaching Canadian recreational intro courses. As the
Canadian curriculum entails the Avaluator and terrain ratings that are not
in use in the U.S., unclear what difficulties students will have in applying
their training to ski touring here. Also, students hoping to proceed to a
Level 2 course may find their credentials rejected by course providers.

Note that the other two northeastern AIARE providers – EMS (North Conway &
Whiteface) and Alpenglow (Maine - website not yet updated though) – will
offer 3-day L 1 courses this season. (NSP status is still evolving....)

[NtrentT]

I remember AVI 1 Class, Tons of info, tons of fun.

Heres a pic that will take those who do not sleep down memory lane

http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_PB120232.jpg

[cms829]

I don’t want to put a damper on any avy education, but just a quick note
that Chauvin is no longer affiliated with AIARE (American Institute for
Avalanche Research & Education – see avtraining.org): he split off this
season b/c of AIARE’s new requirement that all Level I courses provide at
least three days of instruction (or some other combinations of days +
shorter sessions to add up to 24 hrs). This requirement stems in large part
from the new explicit guidelines from the American Avalanche Association
(whose course outlines had previously implied 24 hrs of instruction, which
was followed by almost no course providers).

Chauvin is instead now teaching Canadian recreational intro courses. As the
Canadian curriculum entails the Avaluator and terrain ratings that are not
in use in the U.S., unclear what difficulties students will have in applying
their training to ski touring here. Also, students hoping to proceed to a
Level 2 course may find their credentials rejected by course providers.

Note that the other two northeastern AIARE providers – EMS (North Conway &
Whiteface) and Alpenglow (Maine - website not yet updated though) – will
offer 3-day L 1 courses this season. (NSP status is still evolving....)
hmmm....and i was gonna sign up for this one.....:confused:

[PWDR8S]

Interesting news about the none compliance... Now it has me wondering if I'll get rejected for the level II course. :rolleyes:

[jshefftz]

My hunch would be that for this season, Level 2 providers will accept any kind of Level 1 course as a prerequisite, since right now very few prospective Level 2 students will have taken a three-day Level 1.
But in the near future, when the vast majority of prospective Level 2 students will have taken a three-day Level 1, having only a two-day "Level 1" might not put you in good standing...

[yuckster]

This is bothersome. I took Chauvin's L1 course two years ago without really thinking about whether anyone would ever ask me to prove my attendance. All I came away with was the course info packet and decision card. Chauvin L1 didn't give any sort of cert... it was an AIARE accredited class, I didn't think there was actually supposed to be a certification from the L1 class...??

[jshefftz]

You should email them and get a letter confirming that you completed a Level I course, and that then when you took it, CGI was an AIARE course provider, and that the course was taught according to the AIARE curriculum.

[tig]

I emailed Marc, since I plan to take level 2 in the northwest in the Feb timeframe. I include relevant portions of his email:

----------------------
There
is definitely some confusion about the recreational nature of the L1 course.
There are no certifications for L1 in AIARE so there is no certificate
(without an exam all that is available is a letter or certificate of
completion). Unknown to most is that AIARE does not require L1 to take a L2,
although it is recommended. Here is what AIARE says about its pre-req's for
L2; "Student Prerequisites: Students must have the ability to travel in
avalanche terrain. An AIARE Level 1 Course (strongly recommended) or
equivalent training/experience is required. A winter of practical experience
after the Level 1 course is recommended before taking the Level 2 course".
Here is the link
http://avtraining.org/Avalanche-Training-Courses/AIARE-Level-2.html

Reading this it is pretty clear that no courses are required, only
"equivalent training/experience is required". It is left to the provider as
to the requirements. A course pre-req can affect an individuals learning
curve, their ability to travel competently in avalanche terrain (skiing
skill) has a huge impact on both group learning and safety and is often more
important to the provider.

I have attached a letter saying that you have attended a L1 course in Feb
2007. I doubt you will need it. I hope you have a great course and good
snow/skiing on your trip.

-----------------------------------
So, Yuckster, you might want to contact him! Your original thought that there is not supposed to be any certification was correct..

[Rider.Steve]

Nice work Tig

[cms829]

ok guys and gals.....so bottom line....is this or is this class not worth taking and spending my time and money on?? I know any training is better then none...but I'd like to get the best bang for my buck.

[PWDR8S]

ok guys and gals.....so bottom line....is this or is this class not worth taking and spending my time and money on?? I know any training is better then none...but I'd like to get the best bang for my buck.

... I know this gal in Amsterdam who is great and will..... oh wait, wrong bang. :rolleyes: My apologies. :o

It's info worth knowing if you plan on heading into avi prone areas where the best sliding often resides. 1st level course covers a lot of what would be considered common sense but it brings it out and presents it to you so that you can remember with consistancy thus saving your ass or your friends or perhaps even myself. I thought I knew a lot in my 43 years of skiing but the course touched upon some heuristic issues that might have buried me at some point. I've been buried twice(long before avi courses were available) and that was more than enough reason for me to take the courses. If you want the real in depth schooling about snow conditions and likelyhood of avi potential then you need level II, but then you gotta go through 1st base to get to 2nd regardless.

It's your call to determine where you're likely to roam and how valuable you consider life to be. Avoiding avalanches = longer life = more fun in the long run.

[cms829]

lol. whats her number?

Oh I def have to take the class. thats a given. but I was just questioning this specific class vs another. I guess I'll check into this one.

Heading back out west this jan to give a go at hood and st helens in the winter. then up rainier again in july with multiple summit attempts via a few different routes within a week. with who knows what in between.

[jshefftz]

Any avy course is better than no avy course. (Despite what the statistics say, which are simply confusing correlation and causation.)
However, I think an AIARE avy course is better for the typical recreationalist than any other avy course.
Plus, with AIARE moving to three-day Level 1 courses, I think a three-day course is better than a two-day course.
So as compared to this, I would recommend a three-day Level 1 course from EMS:
http://www.emsclimb.com/mountaineering_avalanche.htm

[lacman]

Oh I def have to take the class. thats a given. but I was just questioning this specific class vs another. I guess I'll check into this one.


Sure, 3 days of training is better than 2, as long as the quality of the instruction is similar. But personally, I don't think it matters if you take an AIARE Level 1 or a Canadian rec class. What matters most is how you apply what you learned after the class. (As for the differences such as the Avaluator, tools like this are easy to apply once you have the fundamentals, so again, the differences are negligible.)

Both AAA and AIARE recommend a season to apply what you've learned in Level 1 before moving into Level 2. You might also be able to find an AAA "Skills Advancement workshop" that might actually be more valuable to a recreational skier than an AIARE Level 2 class. Spending time in the field is where the learning is at.

[jshefftz]

Yes, agreed on all points.
And if the time & cost of a three-day commitment is preventing anyone from taking a three-day course, then you're definitely better off taking a two-day course.
Also, NSP/AMC is reviving its two-day course at Pinkham Notch (after last year's hiatus), to be held March 15-16, so that's another Level-1-in-a-weekend option.

[euphoria]

Jan 11-13

http://www.mountaineer.com/mountainfest/mountainfest12.htm