Recommendations for learning avy skills?

[ACJ]

Does anyone have recommendations on how to develop avalanche and snow reading skills? I'm studying The Avalanche Handbook by David McClung/Peter Schaerer as well as Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper.

 

I stay out of avy terrain due to my lack of knowledge but want to be able to work towards some more challenging objectives and feel as though that's not possible until I understand the dangers that snow provide.

 

With each passing day I seem to pick up more knowledge but need some good practical training opportunities. I don't have the money to take the $375 3 day avy course and would prefer to gain the skills without taking that course. Primarily because I have done a ton of trainings/certifications and I often feel as though they barely scratch the surface of what you really need to know. That being said, if people feel as though the AIARE courses are really worth the money, I'm open to hearing that but would also like some other ideas for learning.

 

Thanks!

[climbingcoastie]

Look into possibly joining your local Search and Rescue team. Once a member in good standing most will offer courses for free or drastically reduced prices, plus you get to serve your community.

[JasonG]

That isn't the case with all MRA units. Skagit, for example, though I don't doubt that some units will spring for it. Going out skiing with more experienced folks is often a good way to learn, as is paying attention to the NWAC report, reading books like you cite, collecting data as you tour, and spending a lot of days working your way into the BC via more and more challenging terrain. You can play it conservative and still gets lots of great skiing in each season.

 

I really do think that the Level One course is pretty valuable these days, especially if you take it from someone like Kurt Hicks (who has a background in outdoor ed.). Even though I have been doing this awhile, I learned a great deal from an AAI course I took from him and Gregg Cronn last season.

[montypiton]

most of the sar units with which I've worked over the years (40+ years, both professional and volunteer units) have done their training in house, free to their personnel. what you get depends on who's doing the teaching. the National Ski Patrol system provides courses for their members. most clubs and college outdoor programs offer the basics, and the "gold standard" is AIARE. For what it's worth, I feel like you can approach the AIARE standard without taking the formal course IF you're willing to devote a number of years to cultivating partnerships with folks who know more than you. Over the course of those years, you'll likely spend at least what the AIARE course would cost you, just spread over a loooong time.

if you really don't want so spend the money, join your local sar unit or the National Ski Patrol.