Avalanche rescue and beacon class in the Snowies

[snowww1]

Four Hour Avalanche Beacon and Rescue Field Session

Outdoors setting. Hands-on training.​

Prerequisite: Four hour avalanche awareness, avoidance and rescue class.
Learn: To find a beacon in under two minutes, search efficiently for multiple beacons, dig effectively, probe for a victim, lead and execute a fast avalanche rescue.

Proven, effective and affordable avalanche classes.​

Cost $59 Must sign up in advance. Payment must be made in advance. Limited to 10 people.


Take the class with those you ride with.

Date: Monday December 28, 2009 Or Sunday January 3, 2010
Location: High Altitude Excursions. Laramie, WY.
Class will take place in the Snowy Range. Exact location will be determined by snow conditions/weather. All participants will be notified of meeting location and class location one week prior to class. I will be checking out areas on December 21st for the December 28th and January 3rd classes.

Directions: TBA
Time: 9am-1pm
To sign up: Email Mike Duffy: duffyww1@aol.com
Send check to: Avalanche1
PO Box 2298
Avon, CO 81620



Course content:
• Single and multiple beacon searches.
o Search patterns.
o Walk by test.
o Working as a team.
o Accurate pinpointing.
o Effective shoveling
o Common mistakes in beacon searches.
• Probing
o Finding someone without a beacon
o Effective probing and pinpointing deep burials
• Rescue techniques.
o It not just looking at a beacon.
o Analyzing the avalanche and finding the most likely burial point.
o Coordination and step by step procedures for a fast rescue.
o Leadership and team work.
o Probing and probe lines.
o Mistakes in rescue.
• Rescue scenarios.
o Group timed rescue.
o Find victims with and without beacons.

What to bring:
• Warm clothes and extra gloves. Dress much warmer than you would expect. We have never cancelled a class due to weather.
• Food and water.
• Sunscreen.
• Your avalanche gear: beacon, shovel, probe.
• Good health, please let us know if you have health conditions or concerns. We will be walking/running up and down hills on the rescue scenario and rescue station.

We supply: Beacons, shovels and probes if you do not have them.
Instructor: Mike Duffy. Level I & II Avalanche instructor Colorado Mountain College, rescue/avalanche team leader/avalanche mission coordinator Vail Mountain Rescue Group, instructor Walter Kirch Avalanche Seminars, graduate of National Avalanche School, National Academy of Winter Guiding, AVPRO. Mountain Snowmobiler for 20 years. Member American Avalanche Association.

What the student’s say about the field session:

We practice pretty often & our groups definitely improved greatly on the 3rd & 4th scenario, you'll learn a lot about your crew when you see what they would do if you were dying.

It's worth the time & $$. Caleb Timberlake Backcountryislife

Mike, thanks again for the great class today. Definitely the best $ I have spent in a long time. If anybody is considering this class, don't wait just doo it. 500CID

Great Class Mike! Truely appreciate your knowledge, not to mention got to meet some great people. Thanks again, Lance


Mike's classroom is very good, but everyone should also go to his hands on class. I did it last year on Vail Pass and it was a real eye opener as to how a beacon really works and what is really required to find someone. Very good class and highly recommended. Cannonman, WI (Mark Stewart)

Class follows the guidelines of the American Avalanche Association

 

[snowcross338]

Register for this class, it's a must have experiance for anyone who rides in the mountains. Mike is a great teacher, and has tons of experiance. This training could save your life or the life of others you ride with.

 

[snowcross338]

ttt

 

[snowcross338]

ON HOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please call me Mike! Thank you!!!!!

 

[john800]

I was just at you class in Hope last night and I thought it was very informative, nice job. We will be in the snowys from the 30th through the 2nd ... go figure. I will try to get to one at some point throughout the year.

 

[OCDsledder]

Why is it on hold? I'll PM ya.

 

[snowcross338]

Class is on hold because the 21st date is training for cpr certified guides that work for me and I have to be present, I can not be there on the 28th or 3rd because I have other work to do. Mike needs to call me or the Medicine Bow National Forest Service to get the correct permit for a class.
I know Mike is busy teaching classes in the east right now as I talked with the guys at BCA in Boulder and they gave me his cell phone number. Normally we comunicate through my joeyf5@hotmail.com account but I have not used that account in a few days. He has time to pull a permit quickly for this because it is a seperate permit when someone else is doing a class. My name is the only name on my 5 year permit. Hope you all understand, Mike Duffy is a great guy and this class is an awesome oppurtunity. He just needs to get a permit on his own for the classes.
Any confusion can be addressed to the forest service special use permit department.
Sincerly, Joe Faycosh (owner) of High Altitude Excursions L.L.C.

 

[snowww1]

We need to clear up a few things. First of all, do not call the Forest Service about the class. Joe and I are working with the Forest Service to figure out why they gave us the ok for the classes this fall and now they are saying that I may need to pull my own permit. Much of this has to do with some staffing changes at the USFS and some confusion on their behalf. Joe spoke to the District Ranger Friday and everything may be cleared up next week. I am going to meet with Joe tomorrow. We'll keep you posted as to what the outcome is and whether the classes are a go. Thanks for your patience. Mike Duffy

 

[OCDsledder]

Really looking forward to this training. Thanks for the update Mike.

 

[snowcross338]

We need to clear up a few things. First of all, do not call the Forest Service about the class. Joe and I are working with the Forest Service to figure out why they gave us the ok for the classes this fall and now they are saying that I may need to pull my own permit. Much of this has to do with some staffing changes at the USFS and some confusion on their behalf. Joe spoke to the District Ranger Friday and everything may be cleared up next week. I am going to meet with Joe tomorrow. We'll keep you posted as to what the outcome is and whether the classes are a go. Thanks for your patience. Mike Duffy

I tried to call them this am will try again after while, hoping we can get this done quickly, but we may need to reschedule due to the holiday week. The forest service has had 3 differant people doing the special use permit, and with a lack of comunication between them, it has made it very difficult for me to get things situated, we may need a permit for this that has Mike Duffies name on it so we are working on this situation, I was told we could do it on mine if I paid the 3% of sales to the forest service, but we are still unclear if this is how it's going to go. I will keep everyone updated as I get updated, Thank you for your consideration! Merry Christmas and happy new year to all!!

 

[snowww1]

Class update: Spoke to Joe at High Altitude Excursions today and we are going to put the class on hold. Getting different answers from the USFS and want to get the official word from the District Ranger, who is out of the office due to the holidays. We do not want to risk jeopardizing Joe's permit or doing anything wrong with the USFS. We may still be able to use Joe's permit, but will possibly not find out until after the first of the year.
Joe was making phone calls trying to get an answer before he went into surgery today and I really appreciate the effort he has put into this. Joe is a big advocate of avalanche education. I will be moving ahead with a permit on my own in case we will not be able to use Joe's permit. We want to do things correctly. I will be calling the USFS again tomorrow to move ahead with this.
Anyone who has sent a check for the class, the checks will not be cashed and I will be notifying you. Sorry for any inconvenience this has caused anyone. We were told quite some time ago that it was ok to do the avalanche classes through High Altitude Excursions. Have a great holiday. I will keep you posted. Have a quick recovery Joe. Thanks for all your help. Mike Duffy

 

[snowcross338]

Thank you Mike, I am up and moving around pretty good. I appreciate everyones understanding, sorry for the inconvience.

 

[snowww1]

Class update:
Spoke to Jane with the USFS about a special use permit and she faxed me the application. It will take 30 days to process, once it is submitted. Does not appear that they will change their mind on the Dec 28th or January 3rd field sessions. Sorry to say, but the classes have been canceled. I will let everyone know when they are rescheduled (pending approval of permit and insurance). Insurance costs for a few classes may be too high. I'll keep everyone informed. Mike

 

[OCDsledder]

Thanks

Joe and Mike, thanks to both of you for trying so hard to get this class to work. Typical Gov't red tape.