Marc
New member
Despite it having been a tiring weekend with a lot of driving, it was a fantastic weekend. I spent it learning the basics of avalanche awareness, travel and rescue with John Tierny, the owner operator of Acadia Mountain Guides and Alpenglow gear shop (www.alpenglowgear.com).
I highly recommend this course for anyone who plans on travel in avalanche terrain. I'd even more highly recommend taking it with John Tierny. Besides it being one of the less expensive Avi 1's ($175), you're learning from a man who has years of experience in climbing, mountaineering, bc skiing and avalanche training. He trained a great deal under Knox Williams, the author of the first Avalanche Handbook. John's list of credentials is long and impressive, but beyond that, he's incredibly down to Earth, humble, accessible, and an all around nice guy.
Saturday was mostly classroom work, although in the late afternoon we went out and played find the buried beacon. Sunday was half classroom and the the second half we went up into Smuggler's Notch and did some snow pit work and more tranceiver work.
Sunday morning, Nate and I skinned up Sterling Mountain before class. I used the Trekkers and they were alright. The elevators are kind of a pain because you can't adjust them with your poles, and stepping in and out is a bit of a pain with the ankle straps, but they worked find for what the were intended to do. I found a pair of Garmont Hi Rides at outdoor gear exchange the night before, so I just have to get my Freerides mounted up and I'll be reading for some long tours.
This is us at the top of Sterling with Mansfield in the background:
If anyone has any questions about the course or anything else let me know.
I highly recommend this course for anyone who plans on travel in avalanche terrain. I'd even more highly recommend taking it with John Tierny. Besides it being one of the less expensive Avi 1's ($175), you're learning from a man who has years of experience in climbing, mountaineering, bc skiing and avalanche training. He trained a great deal under Knox Williams, the author of the first Avalanche Handbook. John's list of credentials is long and impressive, but beyond that, he's incredibly down to Earth, humble, accessible, and an all around nice guy.
Saturday was mostly classroom work, although in the late afternoon we went out and played find the buried beacon. Sunday was half classroom and the the second half we went up into Smuggler's Notch and did some snow pit work and more tranceiver work.
Sunday morning, Nate and I skinned up Sterling Mountain before class. I used the Trekkers and they were alright. The elevators are kind of a pain because you can't adjust them with your poles, and stepping in and out is a bit of a pain with the ankle straps, but they worked find for what the were intended to do. I found a pair of Garmont Hi Rides at outdoor gear exchange the night before, so I just have to get my Freerides mounted up and I'll be reading for some long tours.
This is us at the top of Sterling with Mansfield in the background:
If anyone has any questions about the course or anything else let me know.
