 Poster: A snowHead
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| Arno wrote: |
My observation is that there is more on digging technique now than there was when I first started taking courses on this stuff (about 15 years ago). Most of my training has been in Europe
Sample of 1 so read into that what you will |
There is, largely because the greatest time component in a typical rescue is digging so there is a big win if you are more efficient. However as I said above, the whole chain from route choice, to group management to S&R are considered in French club training. The result is fewer incidents with club groups.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Interesting- as a punter who takes a course every now and then mixed with ad hoc training from guides and instructors it’s quite hard to tell whether variations of emphasis are down to the individual teachers or changing practices generally.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Arno wrote: |
| Interesting- as a punter who takes a course every now and then mixed with ad hoc training from guides and instructors it’s quite hard to tell whether variations of emphasis are down to the individual teachers or changing practices generally. |
There are a lot of conferences and papers where best practices are discussed - ICAR and the ISSW being the principal international ones. Representatives from the country governing bodies (FFME, ENSA etc for France) as well as trainers will attend and the information will then filter down to guides and instructors as well as via the country federations. For example the idea of "strategic shovelling" has its roots in an IKAR paper by Chris Semmel etc. from the German Alpine Club in 2005 which found its way into the English speaking world in 2008 in Bruce Edgerly's article on strategic shoveling. Before that research on how long it took to dig out buried skiers using shovels, skis, hands really highlighted the importance of this point. There is a lot of international cooperation and dissemination of information at a high level. As Ise mentioned, the AIARE are good as they have a standard syllabus that is taught where as training from (in France) the ANENA, FFME club, FFCAM club may vary somewhat as there is not a formal syllabus as such.
There is a bit of a focus on snowheads, in my opinion, on the sharp end of things: gear, avalanche rescue whereas the problem has to be viewed in the whole from trip planning, group management onwards. If you are involved in an avalanche rescue of your group or friend you've already made a big error somewhere.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| davidof wrote: |
There is a bit of a focus on snowheads, in my opinion, on the sharp end of things: gear, avalanche rescue whereas the problem has to be viewed in the whole from trip planning, group management onwards. If you are involved in an avalanche rescue of your group or friend you've already made a big error somewhere. |
Sure but at least gear is something that can be fairly unambiguous - buy the gear, invest the time and education into knowing how to use it reflexively. Take time to refresh.
Avy avoidance is of course more important but very difficult to discuss in a written forum without seeing field conditions. People being honest about their own feck-ups helps of course but still is a bit of a case of "don't do what I did". But there is still a lot to speaking up in a group situation, sensible party size and definitely recognising the symptoms of powder blindness and desire to claim bragging rights etc.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I know this is an old(ish) discussion but I just re-read it whilst trying to decide what new avi kit to buy, and I'm bumping it because I think it's incredibly useful and well worth re-reading before the winter season. Chapeau to all the contributors (even those whose info may have been "wrong" because it highlighted misconceptions of my own).
Time to go and buy a book. And book onto a refresher avi course I think.
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