AIARE LEVEL 2 Rec: Analyzing Snow Stability and Avalanche Hazard

Education – Winter – 3-Day

(970) 668-8900

Education, Winter

REVIEWS

Take your avalanche education to the next level with an AIARE Rec Level 2 course!

The AIARE 2 is a three-day/24-hour course that provides backcountry travelers an opportunity to advance their decision making skills in more complicated situations such as being a leader within a small travel group, traveling in more complicated terrain, and/or developing a travel plan where online resources are scarce.

The AIARE 2 builds on the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in the AIARE 1 and adds to it the evaluation of critical hazard assessment factors. Students will describe and discuss weather, snowpack and avalanche processes, and identify how these processes relate to observations and travel within avalanche terrain.

Prerequisites:

Prior to taking a Level 2, students must complete:

Avalanche Safety Level 1 (AIARE or AAA)
AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course (1-day)

This course can be taken on alpine touring skis, or splitboard. No prior backcountry experience required but it is highly recommended that participants with touring gear have experience on their setup prior to taking this course. Alpine touring skis and splitboards are available for rent from local shops. Students on skis or boards must be comfortable in steep blue to black terrain at the ski resort.

Price Includes:

AIARE Certified Course Leader and Instructors
24-hour course with a 6:1 maximum instructor to student ratio
Student manual and weather-proof AIARE field book

General Info

Duration: 3 days (.5 day classroom and 2.5 days in field)

Dates: January 24-26, 2020

Price: varies, call for info

Maximum Participants: 12

Prerequisites: The AIARE 2 is a three-day course for those who have taken an AIARE 1 and Avalanche Rescue and have had at least a year of backcountry travel experience. The AIARE 2 provides backcountry leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision making skills.

Participants must have the ability to travel in avalanche terrain. An AIARE 1 Course (strongly recommended) or equivalent Level 1 training is required. A winter of practical experience after the Level 1 course is required before taking the AIARE 2 course.
AIARE or AAA approved one-day Avalanche Rescue Course.

Location: Breckenridge, CO

Course Itinerary:

Friday: Classroom 8:00AM to 12:00PM – Field 1Pm-5pm
Saturday and Sunday: Two Full (8 hour) days

Syllabus

Day One: (classroom)

Half-day (AM) in classroom.
Afternoon: Travel to trailhead for field instruction.

Day 2 & 3: (field)

2 full days of classroom and field instruction and practice to better hone your avalanche safety skills. We turn the hut into a classroom and cover trip planning, decision making, route-finding techniques, and more. Field instruction takes place right out the door of the hut! We will travel by skis or splitboard and cover snow pit analysis and tests, and companion rescue techniques in a real mountain environment.

What you’ll learn:

Differentiate where specific avalanche hazards exist within the landscape and identify avalanche terrain where consequences may be more severe.
Use and interpret weather, snow, and avalanche observations to locate appropriate terrain prior to entering and while in the field.
Demonstrate leadership skills within a small team that include facilitating small group discussion, 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 absences of local supporting avalanche information.