AIARE Avalanche Courses — Find the Right Course for Your Experience Level
Which Avalanche Course Is Right for You?
The Mountain Guides offer AIARE and Recreational avalanche courses at four locations across the Rocky Mountain West: Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado), Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming), the Wasatch Range (Utah), and Whitefish (Montana). Whether you’re new to backcountry travel or looking to advance your avalanche skills, we have a course that fits. All courses are taught by AMGA-accredited guides with extensive backcountry experience and follow a hybrid online-plus-field format for maximum learning efficiency.
Course Levels
AIARE Level 1 / Recreational Level 1: Your foundation for backcountry decision-making. Learn terrain assessment, snowpack observation, companion rescue, and trip planning. No prior avalanche education required. The essential first step for any backcountry skier, snowboarder, or snowmobiler. Available in CO, WY, UT, and MT.
AIARE Level 2 / Recreational Level 2: Build on your Level 1 foundation with deeper snowpack analysis, weather interpretation, and advanced decision-making frameworks. For experienced backcountry travelers with at least one season of post-Level 1 touring. Available in CO, WY, and MT.
Avalanche Rescue / Companion Rescue: Focused training on beacon search, strategic shoveling, probe technique, and multi-burial scenarios. Essential annual refresher for anyone traveling in avalanche terrain. Available in CO, WY, UT, and MT.
Women’s AIARE / Recreational Courses: The same rigorous curriculum taught in a supportive, women-focused environment by experienced female instructors. Available in CO, WY, and MT.
Locations & Season
All avalanche courses run during the winter season (typically December through April). Choose the location that works best for your travel plans: Colorado courses operate out of RMNP/Estes Park, Wyoming courses out of Jackson Hole, Utah courses in the Wasatch near SLC, and Montana courses in Whitefish near Glacier NP. Contact us at (800) 239-7642 for specific dates and registration.
