Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides AIARE Level I - December 7 - December 10 2017

AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Course 

This is a decision making in avalanche terrain course. We will be teaching you what avalanche terrain is and how to make decisions in and around the winter mountain environment.

This class is going to give you the basic tools you need to understand the dangers of traveling in the backcountry in avalanche terrain.

Good choices, planning, observing, teamwork, and traveling wisely will give you the best probability of safety and this course will help you identify the right questions to ask.

Give yourself wide margins and buffers as you increase your understanding of avalanche mechanics and develop your avalanche and mountain travel skill set with Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides.

AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course

Upon completing this course, students should be able to plan and prepare for travel in avalanche terrain, recognize avalanche terrain, describe a framework for making decisions in avalanche terrain, and apply effective companion rescue techniques. During this Level 1 Avalanche course taught by AAIRE certified instructors each student will experience:

• Observations of avalanche activity, weather, snowpack and slope configurations and how they directly correlate to avalanche potential.
• 2 full days (15 hours) in the backcountry of Roosevelt National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park traveling in avalanche terrain with highly trained AAIRE guides practicing safe travel techniques and good group decision-making practices
• 2 evenings (8 hours) of classroom review and discussion led by our experienced AAIRE avalanche educators
• Training and practice with beacons and rescue techniques.
• Snow pit location, excavation, and analysis.
• Understand the right questions to ask when planning on traveling in the backcountry and provide useful lessons and exercises that are applicable in the field.
• This course is a great building block for those that have taken an avalanche awareness course (such as an REI avalanche course) or those having no previous avalanche education or training.

The course operates with a minimum of six participants and a maximum of 24. The AIARE Course Leader(s) will be Joshua. AIARE Instructors will be based on the number of participants, with a maximum seven to one ratio of students to instructor.

Dates and Times: Indoor classes are held Thursday, and Friday, from 6:00-10:00 p.m. in Boulder. Field days, which are either in Rocky Mountain National Park or Roosevelt National Forest, are Saturday, and Sunday, from 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

AIARE Level 1 2017 and 2018 Dates: 1. November 30 – December 3, 2017; 2. December 7 – 10, 2017, 3. December 14 – 17, 2017, 4. January 11 – 14, 2018, 5. February 8 – 11, 2018, 6. March 8 – 11, 2018. All course fill up, so register early.

Instructors: Joshua Baruch – Course Lead (and Course Instructors)

Rate: $455 per participant.Please note: Refer a friend who registers and receive a $25 credit for each referral for the course.

Included in our rates: All instruction and AIARE course materials for AIARE Level 1 avalanche course. Course materials will be provided the first evening of the class. Note: Our partners at Backcountry Access (BCA) provides us will 10 sets of beacons, shovels, and probes for participants to use for the course with any fees. We also have some BCA airbags for participants to try and familiarize with this important backcountry tool.

Not included in our rates: Transportation, meals, personal gear, or avalanche gear (such as beacon, shovel, and probe). A gear list will be sent upon confirmation of the course, and we are happy to help arrange for personal gear if you do not have it.