Thread: UTAH: avalanche courses....?

any suggestions?

i've found a class at alta in december by the american avalanche institute or one in jan or feb at brighton by exum mountain guides. or i've found various "create your own classes" (with 4 to 8 ppl) from Exum, alpen pro, jim frankenfield....

December sounds good cause i'd like to attend a course sooner than later.

has anyone put their own class together with anyone mentioned above or even not mentioned above?

thanks for the input

American Avalanche Institute has a pretty stellar reputation.

Avalanche workshop (1.5 hrs), Avalanche class (2.0 hrs) at the U. I don't know whether you'd have to be a student or what. I'd recommend the workshop if you can do it, the 2.0 hour is just more snow science and written tests, which sucked. I've heard the Utah Avalanche Center has classes too, they'll put it up on their website I'm sure

Originally Posted by gramps

Avalanche workshop (1.5 hrs), Avalanche class (2.0 hrs) at the U. I don't know whether you'd have to be a student or what. I'd recommend the workshop if you can do it, the 2.0 hour is just more snow science and written tests, which sucked. I've heard the Utah Avalanche Center has classes too, they'll put it up on their website I'm sure

is that just classroom stuff though? im lookin for both classroom and field stuff, like digging pits and block tests and what not.

Lynx: If you want to do the make-your-own-group thing, I've got myself and 2 others who would like to join in on a Level 1 course.

If that doesn't work, I plan to take the Utah Avalanche Center course at the Wasatch Mountain Lodge at Brighton, which is usually in January, I believe. That's a 3 day mix of on-snow and classroom stuff.

the make your own might be worth looking into. the january one isn't until martin luther king weekend. i cant wait that long! heh. the one at brighton sounds pretty cool though, and it's cool that you can just stay up there over night at the lodge.

i took one at alta put on by ols a few years back. it is taught by mostly udot guys who are out there everyday. the cost was only $35. i can't remember how many days it was, but it did have an field day. i still have the number for a guy who used to teach the avy class at the u. he is well respected among the trollers up in lcc. i think his name is bill harris, but i can't remember. he will also teach a make your own class type of deal. he seems to be ok on price and just enjoys teaching.

There are field sessions in those U classes for sure. BCC generally.

The U classes are good. Way more information than a normal bc traveler would use, but definetely a good class. I think they offer it as a continuing education course as weell, so it is available to those not enrolled in the U. When I took it, we never went in BCC, we were in LCC for every field session. Does Bill Harrison still teach it?

Also, Powderbird Guides have an avalanche class, it is only one day, morning class room session and afternoon heli ride to do some field work. I felt that the course was geared to novices and if you've had any previous course it was pretty boring.

The National Ski Patrol teaches level 1 and 2 avie courses. they used to be open to non patrollers, don't know if they still are or not. probably depends on the number of people registered.

I highly recommend the 3 day course taught by UAC that RB talked about. The only drawback is that it is in the middle of the season, whcih is good for field work, but not good if you want to get out in the backcountry early.

Also, there are numerous free clinics that are only a few hours long. Bruce Tremper usually teaches one that is held at REI in December.

I also recommend purchasing the book "Snow Sense" It is a great manual for the everyday bc traveller, short enough to read in an hour or so but full of useful information. There are other books out there, but his one is by far the best for the average person.

{Brief Hijack: seeing as the season is nearly here, anyone up for some beacon drills? end hijack}

cololi,

count me in on the beacon drills.

Speaking of Beacon Practice; I'm working with the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center right now to try to find a location for a "Beacon Basin" - Backcountry Access has offered to donate a really cool beacon training range (like they have in Kirkwood & other spots) if we can find a place to put it!

Feelers are out to all BCC/LCC resorts, but no one is jumping on it yet; most likely we'll have on in place by the start of the season...

I did the Exum course a few years back with Julie Faure, Cowboy, and Spencer Wheately. They did a really good job. On the other hand, Rod Newcomb and AAI have a solid reputation. So, pick the one which fits your schedule best. Definitely also go to one of Bruce Tremper's free talks at REI.

Lynx, RB,
Keep me posted on what you two are gearing for. I NEED to get some professional help with this....the other personal issues, I'll tackle as they come up.

Seriously interested in taking a level one course. Fairly early on this year.

I took the class at Brighton taught by the UAC. A really good course that mixes classromm work at night, and field work in the day. All the people teaching it work with the UAC and there was some significant knowledge there. I definitely recommend it. The good thing about doing it in January is you have a nice deep snowpack to learn on. When I did it we were lucky enough to be in the middle of a nice storm cycle which really helped to learn as we could see everything going on. THe only problem was, the temps hovered around the low teens every day we were out.

BYOT (Bring Your Own Transciever), right?

What's the skinny on courses in Cache Valley?

Also, anyone up here interested in some beacon drills? I need to learn how to use mine, I guess

Originally Posted by Twoplanker

What's the skinny on courses in Cache Valley?

Also, anyone up here interested in some beacon drills? I need to learn how to use mine, I guess

I'll check with my contact at PowderMt. to see if there is anything slated there this year on the level 1 courses...if you are interested. Flyk might have 'basin info also...since he's connected.

Originally Posted by Lumpy

Lynx, RB,
Keep me posted on what you two are gearing for. I NEED to get some professional help with this....the other personal issues, I'll tackle as they come up.

Seriously interested in taking a level one course. Fairly early on this year.

Keep me in the loop too. It's been a couple of years since I had a refresher course.

I need to get my avy one out of the way this winter. Last year there was a mid december course for it. Not sure what's up this year. Keep me in the loop about it all.

There's a level 1 course at Alta around December 10-12 or so. They all cost around $175-200, I think its by American Avalanche institute. I'll probably drop the $ for that one. Expensive, but I guess you get what you pay for. BTW, Alta patrol will pretty much always do beacon drills @ the top of Germ, that's one of the things that they're for. Sorry if any of this already got posted in this thread, Sox are literally dirving me to the drink.

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Speaking of Beacon Practice; I'm working with the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center right now to try to find a location for a "Beacon Basin" - Backcountry Access has offered to donate a really cool beacon training range (like they have in Kirkwood & other spots) if we can find a place to put it!

Feelers are out to all BCC/LCC resorts, but no one is jumping on it yet; most likely we'll have on in place by the start of the season...

Damn RB, that would be really cool. keep us posted!

I would be interested in a early-season avy course, and I know a few others who would be too. Keep me posted.

Ok, here's most of the list ripped from the AAI's web page, lots of courses up in Jackson too...but there are others, such as EXUM & Freddy up in Park City that I'ver heard good things about as well.

It almost seems like we have the people (at least 8) to get our own course together; that might be really cool.

--------------
Course: Level I Course

Date: December 10 - 12, 2004

Tuition: $175 (cash, checks, or money orders accepted only)

Location: Salt Lake City/Alta, UT

Register With: REI, 3285 E. 3300 S. Salt Lake City, UT 84109, (801)486-2100

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Course: Level I Course

Date: January 7 - 9, 2005

Tuition: $175 (cash, checks, or money orders accepted only)

Location: The Canyons, UT

Register With: Mike Ruth, 2208 Sunset Ct., Park City, UT 84060 (453)649-4527, mymruth@qwest.net


--------------
Course: Level I Course

Date: January 13 - 16, 2005

Tuition: $180 (cash, checks, or money orders accepted only)

Location: Salt Lake City/Alta, UT

Register With: Wasatch Touring, 702 E. 1st S., Salt Lake City, UT 84102, (801)359-9361

if money is a factor, i suggest calling bill. he is very thorough. cololi, have you had bill's class before? would you take it again?

edit: he will tailor a class to the classes needs.

Ttips has a short avy awareness clip.
think like an avy