AIARE 2 Avalanche Course: Jackson, WY

Location Grand Teton National Park

Season Winter

Difficulty Advanced

Duration Pre-course Online Learning and Two Field Days

Overview

Join Jackson Hole Mountain Guides for your AIARE 2 Avalanche Course. This advanced course builds on curriculum from the AIARE 1 and is designed for skiers and riders who travel regularly in avalanche terrain. Let our AMGA-trained and certified ski and splitboard guides help you develop your hazard evaluation, decision-making and terrain management. Learn the skills necessary to make decisions in complicated situations like leading a small travel group, traveling in challenging or complex avalanche terrain, or developing a travel plan without adequate resources.

All AIARE 2 courses at our Jackson Hole location utilize a hybrid learning model. The course starts as soon as you enroll with an online learning module. Then you’ll meet with your instructor via an evening video chat session two days before the course starts. If the field days start Saturday, you would meet with your instructor Thursday evening to review the online learning, discuss the current avalanche hazard forecast and plan the tours for the field days.

Participants must complete an AIARE 1 and Avalanche Rescue prior to taking this course, and be comfortable ascending and descending 4,000 feet per day in backcountry snow conditions on black diamond or steeper slopes. These courses are for downhill skiers and boarders. All participants must travel on touring skis or splitboard during the course.

Learning to negotiate the backcountry takes years of dedication and practice. We encourage all backcountry travelers to continue their avalanche education yearly. In addition to the AIARE 2, we also offer Avalanche Rescue courses as well as a number of camps and clinics that get you into the mountains!

Season Winter

Trip Planner

Itinerary

Evening Session: Welcome and Intro, L1 Review, Mountain Weather/ Formation of New Snow, Layered Snowpack, Trip Planning using local avalanche Bulletin

DAY 1: Interpreting Weather Data, Snow Surface conditions, and Snow Profiles, Risk Management for small groups, Avalanche Release, Snowpits, Field Session with Departure Check, Snow Profiles and Tests

DAY 2: In the Field: Ski Tour, Beacon Range Check, Group Management, Communication, and Human Factors; Terrain Selection, Travel Techniques, Gathering Field Obs, Analyzing Snow Instability and Avalanche Hazard.

AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Course: $700/person

The Mountain Guides does not provide transportation for its clients into the park. Clients will be responsible for paying the $35 vehicle fee at the park entrance unless they have a Golden Eagle Pass  or equivalent .

CLICK HERE to check availability and sign up for a course.

 

UPPER LAYERS

BOTTOM LAYERS

HEAD AND HANDS

ACCESSORIES

SKI/SNOWBOARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE BACKCOUNTRY (Packages available for rent)

SNOW SAFETY EQUIPMENT (REQUIRED and available for rent from TMG)

The Mountain Guides does not provide transportation for its clients into the park. Clients will be responsible for paying the $35 vehicle fee at the park entrance unless they have a Golden Eagle Pass  or equivalent .

Grand Teton National Park is located roughly 30 minutes from our Jackson, WY headquarters. Our Jackson office is located in the south part of Jackson at 1325 S. Highway 89, Suite 104 and shares a parking area with Smith’s. Our phone number is (800) 239-7642 or (307) 733-4979. Most trips and classes will meet at this office for gear checks, preparation, and classes. The Jackson Hole airport is the closest, but Idaho Falls (a 2 – 2.5 hour drive) is a cheaper option and Salt Lake City (4 – 5 hour drive) are also air travel options. It is helpful to arrive a couple of days prior to your trip/class in order to acclimatize. Otherwise, you should arrive the day before and stop by our office for an equipment check. Do not plan on traveling the day after a significant climb – you will be tired and there are no guaranteed times when we will return to the trailhead. Plan on having accommodations for the night prior to and the night you return from a significant climb. There are a plethora of hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts in Jackson and the surrounding area. Accommodations near our office make your transitions convenient. It is highly advisable to make reservations as early as possible. Lodging recommendations and many more details can be found in the downloadable document below.

 

VIEW PDF

Testimonials

  • JHMG knows there stuff! My instructors provided a wealth of knowledge for us to learn from and an awesome attitude that kept everyone stoked.

    — John Howland

  • Knowledgable instructors and in a setting that inspires.  I learned a lot during my course and look forward to putting my new knowledge to use exploring on snow in the Tetons and beyond.

    — Ben Weaver

  • Very professional! Excellent instructors with a wealth of knowledge and most importantly, they know how to facilitate growth of one’s mountain sense.

    — Clinton Culp

Community Partners

As the signature sponsor of our AIARE Level 1 and Level 2 courses, all students enrolled will be able to test and demo all Mammut safety equipment for the duration of their course for no charge. Students who elect to take advantage of this program will be expected to fill out a review of the equipment they demo. Once submitted, they will receive a discount code for %15 off any full-priced Mammut airbag, beacon, shovel or probe.

Talk To Us

Here you’ll find online tools and information about joining us for a trip of a lifetime! To sign up for a trip, or if you have any questions, please call us. Listed on the left side of these pages are links that you may find useful, including printable forms and policies concerning a trip with TMG. We encourage ALL prospective climbers to read our Preparation advice. Our office can help place you with others who are looking to climb.

By Phone 800.239.7642

By Email Inquire Now

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AIARE Avalanche Level 2: Jackson, WY

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