Heads up on avalanche classes.

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Check your Instructor's credentials.

Many avalanche "instructors" that work for different agencies have been attending my classes this year. Everyone is always welcome to my classes.

From talking to these educators, I have learned that some have only attended beginner avalanche classes that require participation and no exam. This was surprising to me. In some situations, the information being presented by them is outdated or wrong. Many do not follow any guidelines for avalanche education.

Anyone can give themselves a fancy title, I would suggest you look at their credentials. Be suspect of classes where instructor credentials are not listed.

This post is just meant to be a heads up.

Mike Duffy

 

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Progression of classes

Here's the American Avalanche Association's US Avalanche Education Progression.
http://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/edu_progression.php http://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/edu_progression.php

Looking at the chart, you start from the bottom and work up. Recreational users usually go up to a level II certification and professionals go up to AVPRO (level III+). On the website you can see the curriculum for each step. The more hands-on training the better. Mike

 

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Check the credentials and the content.

We have had some recent avalanche fatalities in our area and many people are organizing classes to help "solve" the problem. These classes are 45 minutes to an hour and half. Unfortunately, many people believe this is all they need to be knowledgeable in the backcountry.

There are certain activities where shorter courses are not offered for obvious reasons. A few examples: Scuba, whitewater kayaking, swimming, drivers education, and hang gliding to name a few. If shorter courses were offered, people would definitely sign up, but these organizations know that the short courses are not effective. Avalanche classes should be included on the list. I have never had anyone say after participating in a longer class that they should have just taken the short course. The common response is, "Everyone should take the longer classes, you learn so much more".

The instructors of these short courses always say "We emphasize that they take longer classes". The reality is that if you offer the short course, people will just take the short course. Many substitute the short course for real instruction.

Just my .02. Check the course content and check the instructor's credentials. If they don't list them, it usually means they don't have them.