Thread: 2012 ISSW????

Are you going??

yes! should be a fun week.

can't make it

Yup. Reporting back for the rest of the proletariat for whom it is too expensive. Hard to dirtbag properly if you fly up there.

Originally Posted by homemadesalsa

Yup. Reporting back for the rest of the proletariat for whom it is too expensive. Hard to dirtbag properly if you fly up there.

QFT.

Love to go but other priorities are calling.

We will live it through your eyes.

I really wanted to go to this one, but I can't make it... teaching avalanche rescue in China that week.

Originally Posted by Summit

I really wanted to go to this one, but I can't make it... teaching avalanche rescue in China that week.

How did you get that job?

maybe one day a cure will be found. till then, round and round we go............

rog

There is only one cure for stupidity.

Just sayin.

I'll Be there.
If anyone is looking for cheap lodging the bent prop Inn(hostel) has beds for $25/night http://bentpropinn.com/downtown

Here's the one that really caught my eye:

Title: Avalanche Education in the United States: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Authors: David W. Lovejoy
Prescott College, Prescott, AZ, USA
Avalanche education in the USA has a long and colorful history punctuated by many of the most notable and endearing personalities of our field. However, in the last few decades a new generation of avalanche instructors has emerged and avalanche education is becoming more geographically available and formatted in delivery. Debates over standards, curricular consistency and recommended practices are prolific, as are efforts by the American Avalanche Association (AAA), American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), and the National Ski Patrol (NSP) to credential both instructors and course providers. The issue is further complicated by a range of avalanche education providers including the National Avalanche School, guide services, outdoor equipment stores, ski patrols, avalanche centers, training institutes, colleges and universities and outdoor program such as National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) each catering to varying clients backgrounds. As a result a certain amount of discordance has emerged. In this poster and companion paper, the author will describe and discuss the history and current state of avalanche education in the United States. An analysis of the benefits and liabilities of various certification schemes will result in a proposal for scenarios with the greatest good for the greatest number of winter backcountry users being the guiding objective.

That will be interesting. And it should stir the pot some. Dave is an interesting guy.

I would love to hear how that discussion goes.

Yea, I'm sure you will....

I would be really interested in hearing the opinion of someone that teaches avalanche courses in Arizona.

Originally Posted by Jonathan S.

Here's the one that really caught my eye:

Title: Avalanche Education in the United States: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Authors: David W. Lovejoy
Prescott College, Prescott, AZ, USA
Avalanche education in the USA has a long and colorful history punctuated by many of the most notable and endearing personalities of our field. However, in the last few decades a new generation of avalanche instructors has emerged and avalanche education is becoming more geographically available and formatted in delivery. Debates over standards, curricular consistency and recommended practices are prolific, as are efforts by the American Avalanche Association (AAA), American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), and the National Ski Patrol (NSP) to credential both instructors and course providers. The issue is further complicated by a range of avalanche education providers including the National Avalanche School, guide services, outdoor equipment stores, ski patrols, avalanche centers, training institutes, colleges and universities and outdoor program such as National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) each catering to varying clients backgrounds. As a result a certain amount of discordance has emerged. In this poster and companion paper, the author will describe and discuss the history and current state of avalanche education in the United States. An analysis of the benefits and liabilities of various certification schemes will result in a proposal for scenarios with the greatest good for the greatest number of winter backcountry users being the guiding objective.

rog

Originally Posted by BFD

I would be really interested in hearing the opinion of someone that teaches avalanche courses in Arizona.

I too was wondering about that at first, but then I found this:
http://www.kachinapeaks.org
http://kachinapeaks.org/pdf/KPAC_ISSW_2006_Poster.pdf

Originally Posted by BFD

I would be really interested in hearing the opinion of someone that teaches avalanche courses in Arizona.

The director of the National Avalanche Center received his Ph.D. from Arizona State University. Just sayin'.

On another note, I finished my paper this morning which felt really really good, but sadly I won't be able to make it to Anchorage.

Congrats on getting the paper done Matt.

The director of the National Avalanche Center received his Ph.D. from Arizona State University. Just sayin'.

Maybe he can present on how the use of effluent in snowmaking affects the stability of the snowpack.

Can someone explain to me why it's good for skiers to have one size fits all avy education standards? I mean, I get why the providers want little collect $$$$ standards, but why do I? Kachina Peaks there is a fair bit simpler than some other ranges in the world, why would a class taught there be relevant to skiing in Alaska? I've taken NSP Avy work, it's good for producing ski area monkeys, much better than some other course, which is what they want, right?

Originally Posted by BFD

I would be really interested in hearing the opinion of someone that teaches avalanche courses in Arizona.

Totally. Nothin but sand and cactii up on top of those 11-12k ft peaks.

It ain't no Chugach, but people do get killed there in slides.

People die from roof avalanches in Ontario. Maybe we can get a safety course focusing on their needs.

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

People die from roof avalanches in Ontario. Maybe we can get a safety course focusing on their needs.

roofs and mountains have much in common when it comes to slides. angle, new slab, sliding surface, and a trigger. same as anywhere else in the world. teach skiers the basics and keep much of the silly intricate "science" bullshit away from them and they'll do much less second guessing and actually pick their head up and look around.

rog

Originally Posted by icelanticskier

roofs and mountains have much in common when it comes to slides. angle, new slab, sliding surface, and a trigger. same as anywhere else in the world. teach skiers the basics and keep much of the silly intricate "science" bullshit away from them and they'll do much less second guessing and actually pick their head up and look around.

rog

Or teach them out in the real world more - I took my avy 1 in the san juans this past winter in an extended 4 day version where we spent almost 2 full days total touring safely around the fringes of avy territory in a sketchy snowpack. On the last day the students made all the touring decisions from planning tour/route the night before to what line we would ski. With that much outdoor time it was easy to throw in emergency shelters and multiple rescue scenarios (when they were least expected).

I think I would take a class like this every few years at a minimum just because it was a great mix of skiing/touring and learning.

Sorry for semi hijack from conference thread...