AIARE 2 Hut Based

Analyzing Snow Stability and Avalanche Hazard

This 3-day course provides backcountry leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision-making skills. The AIARE 2 course builds on the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in AIARE 1 and adds to it the evaluation of critical hazard assessment factors. All students must have taken AIARE 1, Avalanche Rescue, and have one season of practical experience after taking the AIARE 1 course.

Our AIARE 2 courses are unique because we run them only in hut-based or a snow camping-based (tent, snow shelter) format. This is an amazing way to immerse yourself in the environment while also learning how to execute an overnight in the winter backcountry. Students will describe and discuss weather, snowpack, and avalanche processes, and identify how these processes relate to observations and travel within avalanche terrain.

What You’ll Learn

OBSERVATIONS

• Identifying avalanche terrain where consequences may be more severe
• Differentiating where specific avalanche hazards exist within the landscape
• Learning how to close gaps of uncertainty through identifying key observations within your group, the terrain, or the snowpack

WEATHER/SNOWPACK

• Interpreting weather, snow, and avalanche observations to make terrain decisions
• More advanced snow science and analysis

LEADERSHIP

• Leadership skills to use in a small team, including facilitating small group discussions, promoting appropriate terrain selection, and utilizing simple risk management strategies
• Implement a basic forecasting framework that can be used in conjunction with and in the absence of local supporting avalanche information