It's not because you've had an avvy class that you can asses the dangers properly.
I know lots of people who had an avvy class or initiation and still don't read avvy reports before heading out, don't carry compass or clino-meter, etc.
People are often reassured by the fact that they've been through an avvy course.
THIS IS WRONG !
People should be reassured by the fact that they know what they're doing.
( By example, a guy follows an avvy course with a professional guide, the guide explains all factors that lead towards an avalanche, such as exposure, snowdeck, slope angle, people, etc...
The guide then takes the guy into a 35° northern exposure couloir because the avvy danger was extremely low and the snowdeck was very stable.
Then a year later the guy returns and remembers what the guide told him, he only remembers some things.
He remembers that the guide told something about exposure and slope angle, snowdeck etc.
Since he doesn't remember too well, he decides to play safe and go down the couloir from last year, he knows it's a safe descent because he did it last year.
Only difference, the avvy danger is 3, there is a lot of windblown snow acumulated in the couloir and he brings 2 of his buddys who have never had an avvy course...
other scenario
the guy remembers what the guide told him about exposure, since there isn't a guide this time, he'll favor a southern exposed slope, the guy has read the avvy report and sees that it's rather high, so he stays on gentle slopes and prefers skiing ridges, thereby avoiding the dangerous couloirs in which windblown snow has acumulated. He brings 2 friends who he has pushed into following an avvy course and carrying avvy gear.
So you have 2 scenarios, in the first scenario the guy thinks he knows what he's doing and in the last scenario the guy actually knows what he is doing...
only a small nuance but it coul be the difference between life and death...)
sry for the long post, i hope i made my point clear, english isnt my native language so i'll apologize in advance...
-peace out
