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Course Location:

YurtSki (Near Seeley Lake, MT)


Course Description

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.

This AIARE 2 course includes Avalanche Rescue, a one-day (8-hour) course 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.

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

Need to rent gear for the class?

Missoula

Last Best Ski & Paddle has Black Crow AT skis or Weston Splitboards with Spark bindings (beacons, shovels, probes also available).
MT Ski Tech has a package of Skis, boots, beacon, shovel, and probe @ $229 for a four day trip when you mention YurtSki.

Bozeman

Uphill Pursuits can put together a backcountry ski set up for rent.
World Boards can set you up with a splitboard.

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