Avalanche Courses 2022/23

Your most important backcountry skill will always be education.  Let the Vail Valley’s original guiding service educate you on how to safely navigate the hazards of the winter snowpack with AIARE Avalanche Courses.

AIARE 1, AIARE Avalanche Rescue, and Avalanche Refresher Classes

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course…$595

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. 3 Student minimum for course to run.

Note: In an effort to protect the health and safety of both students and instructors, appropriate physical distancing is of vital importance. To avoid unnecessary close proximity, all students are required to know how to properly use and troubleshoot the equipment they are using for travel while in the field. This includes, but is not limited to skis, splitboards, bindings, and skins. It is also important that students are able to safely and proficiently climb and descend slopes while on course.

AIARE 1 Course Dates:

• December 17, 18, 2022 (Field Days)
  • Zoom Classroom (Evening): December 14, 15
• December 30, 31, 2022 (Field Days)
  • Zoom Classroom (Evening): December 28, 29
• GLIDE Project
  • For kids 12 – 18 years old
  • January 2-3 (Field Days)
    • Zoom Classroom (Evening): Dec 27
• January 14, 15, 2023 (Field Days)
  • Zoom Classroom (Evening): January 11, 12

SIGN UP HERE

What You Learn:

• Decision-making through proper planning and observation
• Terrain recognition and travel techniques
• Companion rescue including beacon use
• Snowpit introduction and analysis
• AIARE Level 1 Course Information

AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course…$225

This one-day (8-hour) course 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. 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. 3 Student minimum for course to run.

Note: In an effort to protect the health and safety of both students and instructors, appropriate physical distancing is of vital importance. To avoid unnecessary close proximity, all students are required to know how to properly use and troubleshoot the equipment they are using for travel while in the field. This includes, but is not limited to skis, splitboards, bindings, and skins. It is also important that students are able to safely and proficiently climb and descend slopes while on course.

AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course Dates:

• January 13, 2023

SIGN UP HERE

What You Learn:

• Current best practices in avalanche rescue
• Develop  a “muscle memory” of rescue technique that improves your response time
• Multi-burial rescue practice
• AIARE Rescue Course Information

Avalanche Refresher…$250

Open to experienced riders who want a pre-season tune-up. Prerequisite: AIARE 1 or multiple years of backcountry experience. 3 Student minimum for course to run.

Course Date(s):

• Monday, December 12

Topics Covered:

• Weather Forecasting
• Avalanche Forecast
• Route Planning
• Full Day Tour
• Hasty Pits
• Final Decision Making

Course Registration: (970) 926-5299 or trips@paragonguides.com