- Photo by: Guide Colin Wann
Overview
With the most stunning terrain in North America, Rocky Mountain National Park offers a lifetime of opportunities to ski and snowboard. Learning to negotiate the backcountry takes years of practice. An AIARE 1 Avalanche Course with The Mountain Guides Colorado can jump start your learning. We designed our avalanche courses to give you the tools to make real decisions in avalanche terrain.
Course Description
Our AIARE 1 is a 1 evening online/2 field days introduction to avalanche hazard management.
Students can expect to develop a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a backcountry trip, to understand basic decision making while in the field, and to learn rescue techniques required to find and dig up a buried person (if an avalanche occurs and someone in the party is caught).
Who Should Take this Course
The AIARE 1 is for anyone, regardless of method of travel, who wants to recreate in or near avalanche terrain. Participants may have attended some awareness classes or workshops or completed the Avalanche Rescue course, but none are a prerequisite for this course.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of the AIARE 1 course, the student should be able to:
- Develop a plan for travel in avalanche terrain.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify avalanche terrain.
- Effectively use The AIARE Risk Management Framework to make terrain choices in a group setting.
- Demonstrate effective companion rescue.
Prerequisites
Students must be able to travel in avalanche terrain and bring appropriate equipment for traveling on snow to class. There are no other prerequisites. If you have limited time using your ski touring equipment, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND you take one of our Intro to Backcountry Ski and Splitboard Touring classes. This 1 day class will teach you the basics of how to use your AT gear, move efficiently, and create a fundamental baseline of knowledge in order for you to maximize your time in the AIARE 1 Course. An AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course is also highly recommended, either soon before or after an AIARE 1 Course.
Season Winter
Minimum Age 18
Trip Planner
Itinerary
All AIARE 1 courses at our Rocky Mountain 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.
AIARE 1 Schedule (subject to change)
Day 1 Online Evening
5:30 – 6:30 Introduction
6:30 – 7:30 Reading the Avalanche Bulletin
7:30 – 8:30 Tour Planning
Day 2 – Meet at Field Venue (TBD)
8:00 – 8:30 Departure Check, Beacon Range and Function
8:30 – 11:30 Avalanche Rescue, Beacon and Probe Use, Strategic Shoveling
11:30 – 2:30 Monitor Conditions, Weather and Snow Observations, Snowpit Tests
2:30 – 3:30 Return from Field
3:30 – 4:00 Debrief
Day 3 – Meet at Field Venue (TBD)
8:00 – 8:30 Review
8:30 – 3:30 Ride Safely Participant Led Tour
3:30 – 4:00 Debrief + Course Close
Pricing
$595 per 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 .
Schedule
CLICK HERE to see current availability and sign up for a course!
Equipment
UPPER LAYERS
- Top Long Sleeve Synthetic: medium to expedition weight long underwear Guide Pick: Mountain Hardwear Butterman 1/2 zip
- Soft Shell or Fleece Jacket Guide Pick: Mountain Hardwear 32 Degree Jacket
- Shell Jacket with hood. Guide Pick: Mountain Hardwear Cloudseeker Jacket
- Puffy Jacket: Hood Recommended. Guide Pick: Mountain Hardwear Ghostwhisperer Jacket
BOTTOM LAYERS
- Bottom Synthetic or Wool Long Underwear Bottoms Guide Pick: Mountain Hardwear Butterman Tight
- Shell Pant: full side zips and built-in gaiters Guide Pick: Mountain Hardwear Highball Pant
- Socks: Synthetic or wool. Sized for your boots and blister protection. Liners recommended.
HEAD AND HANDS
- Gloves 3 pair: 1 light, 1 medium, 1 heavy pair Guide Pick: Mountain Hardwear Cyclone GTX Glove
- Hat: medium weight ski hat
- Hat: baseball or visor for sun
- Buff/neck gaiter
ACCESSORIES
- Back Pack: 30 to 40 Liter ski pack, Guide Pick: Mammut Pro Short Removable Airbag System Backpack
- Water & Food: Thermos or insulated water bottles are best. Lot’s of snacks.
- Sunglasses/ Sunglass Case
- Ski Goggles
- Extra Prescription Glasses/Contact Lens
- Sunscreen/Lip balm
- Headlamp-Extra batteries
- Laptop Computer — for Avalanche Courses only
SKI/SNOWBOARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE BACKCOUNTRY (Packages available for rent at JHMG)
- Boots: Alpine Touring, Telemark, or Snowboarding Boots
- Skis or Splitboard with compatible binding for boots
- Climbing Skins (fit to skis)
- Ski Poles
- Helmet (optional)
SNOW SAFETY EQUIPMENT (REQUIRED and available for rent at JHMG)
- Transceiver Guide Pick:Mammut Barryvox S
- Shovel Guide Pick: Mammut Alugator Twist shove
- Probe Guide Pick: Mammut Fastlock Probe 240
Trip Sponsors
As the signature sponsor of our Avalanche Safety Courses, all students enrolled will be able to test and demo Mammut avalanche safety equipment during the course at no charge. In exchange, participants provide five photos of the gear in use it as well as a review of the gear OR a post on social media tagging @jhmtnguides and @mammutna.
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 JHMG. We encourage ALL prospective climbers to read our Preparation advice. Our office can help place you with others who are looking to climb.
