- Photo by: Colin Wann
- Photo by: Colin Wann
Overview
With the most stunning terrain in North America, the Wasatch offers a lifetime of lines to ski and snowboard. Learning to negotiate the backcountry takes years of practice, but an AIARE 1 Avalanche Course with The Mountain Guides Colorado can jumpstart your learning. We designed our avalanche courses to give you tools to make real decisions in avalanche terrain.
In our AIARE avalanche courses we’ve taken it to the next level by providing students with an ideal learning environment for avalanche education. This 3 day course has a perfect balance of classroom and field time. To prevent the spread of infectious disease on these courses, we will be using a virtual classroom. Students must have access to a Zoom-enable device and a stable internet connection throughout the course.
Anyone who travels in the backcountry needs to continue their education every year. An AIARE 1 or avalanche rescue course is a great place to start or review if you’re feeling rusty. An AIARE 2 course is best for skiers and snowboarders comfortable with their skills and looking for the next step. Along with our AIARE Courses, we offer a number of clinics and opportunities that get you into the mountains!
Season Winter
Minimum Age 18
Trip Planner
Itinerary
Our AIARE Level 1 Courses are designed for people looking to build a foundation for safe backcountry travel. This comprehensive 3-day course focuses on hazard evaluation, decision-making and companion rescue in avalanche terrain. The first two days are split between the classroom and the field while the third day is devoted to slope evaluation, route finding, and risk management in the field. These courses include proper instruction for basic safety and protocols for safe backcountry travel. Over the 3-days you will learn the skills and tools needed to navigate the winter mountains and evaluate the snowpack when traveling through avalanche terrain.
Pricing
$495 / person
Private trips available
Schedule
Check back in the summer for our 21-22 schedule!!
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
Travel
Participants are responsible for their own lodging during the course.
Trip Sponsors
Try before you buy!!! If you are coming to take a class and don't have avalanche safety equipment, no problem. Our partnership with Mammut means you can try out the best in avalanche safety equipment while taking your class FOR NO CHARGE! All we ask is that you repay this generosity by submitting a review of the equipment and your experience with it. Maybe submit a photo of you using your Mammut beacon, shove, probe, airbag!
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.
