AIARE 2 Avalanche Course Colorado

AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Course

• Format: 1 evening online session + 2 full field days
• Location: Rocky Mountain National Park & surrounding Colorado backcountry
• Discipline: Backcountry skiing and splitboarding

AIARE 2 builds on the concepts introduced in Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue, focusing on applied decision-making, leadership, and terrain management in real-world conditions. Instruction emphasizes practical tools you can use both with and without local avalanche forecasts.

Who This Course Is For

The AIARE Level 2 is intended for experienced backcountry skiers and splitboarders who:

• Have completed AIARE Level 1 and AIARE Avalanche Rescue
• Have at least one season of backcountry travel experience after Level 1
• Regularly make terrain decisions for themselves or others
• Want to step into a leadership role within their touring group

This course is ideal for motivated recreationalists and aspiring backcountry leaders seeking a deeper understanding of avalanche hazard assessment.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of the AIARE Level 2 course, students will be able to:

• Differentiate where specific avalanche hazards exist within the landscape
• Identify avalanche terrain where consequences may be more severe
• Use and interpret weather, snowpack, and avalanche observations to select terrain before and during a tour
• Demonstrate leadership skills within a small team, including facilitating discussion and guiding terrain choices
• Apply simple, repeatable risk management strategies in complex terrain
• Implement a basic forecasting framework that can be used with or without local avalanche information

These skills help bridge the gap between following established guidance and making independent, defensible decisions in the backcountry.

Prerequisites & Experience Requirements

Participants must:

• Be capable of traveling efficiently in avalanche terrain
• Have completed AIARE Level 1 (or equivalent Level 1 avalanche training)
• Have completed an AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course

A full winter season of practical backcountry experience after Level 1 is strongly recommended before enrolling in AIARE 2. This experience allows students to fully engage with the advanced concepts presented in the course.

Why Take AIARE Level 2 with The Mountain Guides Colorado

• AIARE-certified instructors with extensive Colorado backcountry experience
• Small group sizes that support discussion-based learning
• Instruction in complex, real-world terrain
• Emphasis on leadership, communication, and decision-making
• Tools you can apply beyond guided or forecast-supported environments

Take the Next Step in Your Avalanche Education

The AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Course in Colorado is a major step toward confident leadership and independent decision-making in avalanche terrain.