Mike Duffy Avy course... QUESTIONS!

[Skidoox600]

Hey all,

Looking at attending Mike Duffy's avy course here in wyoming. I have a couple of questions for people who have attended them.. Do you need to bring any avy gear with you (IE beacons, probes?) After completing the course are you considered avy certified? Like I know guides have to be avy and CPR certified.. Does his 4 hour course certify you? Or is just to build up your knowledge on avys?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[500 CID]

Mike's classes are great, we just finished his on the hill course at Vail Pass a few weeks ago. The gear depends on which class it is. Outdoor on the hill classes would require your own gear, and the indoor classes we took didn't. If you don't have gear you might want to wait to purchase after the class because Mike offers some pretty good advice on what does and doesn't work. As far as certification, I believe to get "certified" requires a level 1 avalanche class (usually 1 to 2 days long). CPR classes you are on your own for those also. Hope this helps

 

[up-high]

A 2 day avy course is not going to get you certification.

 

[500 CID]

By all means up-high enlighten us rather than just reply that 2 days doesn't get you certified. I was just trying to help the guy out.

 

[bdoe22]

the avy one course i just finished was 4 classroom sessions at 3 hrs a night and 2 field sessions at 6-8 hrs a day.....so most likely a 2 day class doesnt qualifiy for "certification," but it would depend on the content, hours of training, instructor to student ratio, and lots of other factors. certainly a 4 hour class will not get you any certs but is good information to have none the less.

 

[Skidoox600]

Cool thanks for the info for those who helped. All but one... Give some info if you will talk. Thanks alot guys!

 

[AndrettiDog]

I took his introduction class at the Denver SnoShow. It is a great class and I think all snowmobilers should take it for their sake and all the people they are around. The class I'm thinking about was the 4 hour class. You do not need any gear as it is all class room. It is an introduction to avalanche awarness and the next step would be to take an avalanche course. The class I took is great for getting a basic understanding of what to do and not do. He does some terrain reading and explains what snowmobilers (not skiers) should do or not do.

 

[bdoe22]

something that i learned in the avy one is how the temperature of the snowpack affects the likelyhood of an unstable snowpack. >1 degree celcius per 10cm of depth can and will change the snow and create an unstable condition...<1 degree per 10cm...can create an "equalibriam" (sp) state and help stabilize the snow. i thought that was pretty interesting as you dont hear people talking much about snow temps but it actually can tell you alot about certain areas......

 

[570MC]

I went to his class and it was great. If its just the 4 hour class you don't need to bring anything. It was way better than any other type of class that i have been to and he knows what he is talking about. I would definitly go if you have the chance.