All Courses: Level 1 | Level 2

aiare logoAIARE Level 1

This 24-hour course is an introduction to managing avalanche hazard.

You will learn how to use a repeatable process to manage your risk and learn from your experiences in the backcountry. You will also practice preparing for and carrying out a backcountry trip, keeping track of, communicating, and making decisions about hazards while in the backcountry, and learn rescue techniques if an avalanche occurs and someone is caught. Students should be able to travel off-trail on ungroomed or unmaintained terrain and bring appropriate equipment for traveling on snow, but there are no other prerequisites for this course.

Class & DateLocationPriceAvailability
AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course

December 6-8, 2024

YurtSki (Near Seeley Lake, MT)

$725

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Women's Only AIARE Level 1

December 20-22, 2024

YurtSki (Near Seeley Lake, MT)

$725

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More Info
Detailed Course Description

This 24-hour course is an introduction to managing avalanche hazard. You will learn how to use a repeatable process to manage your risk and learn from your experiences in the backcountry. You will also practice preparing for and carrying out a backcountry trip, keeping track of, communicating, and making decisions about hazards while in the backcountry, and learn rescue techniques if an avalanche occurs and someone is caught.

Why Take Your AIARE 1 with Us?

This is an all-inclusive yurt-based course! We provide the meals and lodging so you can focus on the course. Staying at the yurt with classmates and instructors for 3 nights offers more opportunities for discussion while ensuring that you get a few good powder turns in during the course!

Who Should Take this Course

The AIARE 1 is for anyone, regardless of their method of backcountry travel, who wants to recreate in or near avalanche terrain. You should be able to travel off-trail on ungroomed or unmaintained terrain and bring appropriate equipment for traveling on snow, but there are no other prerequisites for this course

The AIARE 1 is a prerequisite for the AIARE 2, as well as the Pro 1 course for aspiring avalanche professionals.

What You’ll Learn

During an AIARE 1 course, you’ll spend time learning these skills, both in a classroom setting and in the field:

  • A repeatable process for managing risk in the winter backcountry
  • Identifying avalanche hazard
  • Developing a plan for travel in avalanche terrain
  • Identifying avalanche terrain
  • Build habits to maintain awareness, communicate with your group, and make decisions
  • Learn and practice avalanche rescue skills
Example Course Itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
9 am - Meet at the Rich guest ranch parking area
Morning in the classroom @ Ranch:

Introductions, Review pre-course materials,
Classroom Session 		8:30am - BREAKFAST
Terrain, Prepare, Plan
Tour
Snowpack/Weather Observations
Ride Safe 		8:30am - BREAKFAST

Plan
Tour
Lunch Lunch in the field Lunch in the field
Rescue practice
Tour
Debrief 		Debrief
Prepare 		Ride Safe
Debrief
Course Close: Ski/tow out
Dinner @ yurt Dinner @ yurt 5:00pm: back @ trailhead
Course closure
Post dinner discussion Post dinner discussion
avalanche course instructor speaking to students
student using loupe to inspect snowflake
students learning about flux lines

All Courses: Level 1 | Level 2

aiare logoAIARE Level 2 + Rescue

The AIARE 2 builds on your experience as a backcountry traveler.

You will learn tools to apply The AIARE Framework, the repeatable process you learned in an AIARE 1, to new situations and to self-direct your learning after the course. You will learn more skills to connect weather, snowpack and avalanche processes, and identify how these processes relate to observations and travel within avalanche terrain. This can enable you to act as a leader within a small travel group and to identify and target reducing uncertainty about the terrain or conditions.

A pre-requisite of AIARE 2, AIARE’s Avalanche Rescue one-day (8-hour) course is included in our AIARE 2 for your convenience: Avalanche Rescue is intended to be retaken on a regular basis in order to keep abreast of best practices in rescue techniques and gear. New participants will learn companion rescue, and returning students will expand their skills with advanced topics and realistic scenario practice.

Class & DateLocationPriceAvailability
Level 2 Avalanche Course + Avalanche Rescue

December 12-15, 2024

YurtSki (Near Seeley Lake, MT)

$1100

 Book Now
More Info
Detailed Course Description
Why Take Your AIARE 2 + Avalanche Rescue with Us?

This is an all-inclusive yurt-based course! We provide the meals and lodging so you can focus on the course. Staying at the yurt with classmates and instructors for 3 nights offers more opportunities for discussion while ensuring that you get a few good powder turns in during the course!

Who Should Take this Course

The AIARE 2 provides backcountry leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision-making skills. The prerequisites for this course are an AIARE 1, an Avalanche Rescue course (included with this AIARE 2), and a winter of practical experience after taking the AIARE 1.

What You’ll Learn

During an AIARE 2 course, you’ll spend time learning these skills, both in a classroom setting and in the field:

  • Differentiating where specific avalanche hazards exist within the landscape
  • Identifying avalanche terrain where consequences may be more severe
  • Using and interpreting weather, snow, and avalanche observations to make more specific terrain decisions
  • Leadership skills to use in a small team, including facilitating small group discussion, & promoting appropriate terrain selection, and utilizing simple risk management strategies

Additionally, with the Avalanche Rescue course, you’ll spend time in the field learning skills like:

  • Knowing what to do if you or a member of your party is caught in an avalanche
  • Identifying and using the gear necessary for avalanche rescue
  • Participating in realistic scenarios to practice an avalanche rescue response
  • Improving your response skills and times during and after the course with feedback from instructors and peers
  • Developing a plan for continuing practice
instructor holding block of snow
student using loupe to inspect snowflake
close up image of snow