Avalanche Rescue: Lakeside, MT (Blacktail Mountain Resort)
Overview
AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course at Blacktail Mountain, Lakeside, Montana
The Mountain Guides’ AIARE Avalanche Rescue is a one-day stand alone course that is intended to be retaken on a regular basis in order to keep abreast of best practices in rescue techniques and gear. New participants will learn the basics of companion rescue, while return participants will expand their skill set with advanced topics and realistic scenario practice to help improve their skills after the course.
Avalanche Rescue at a Glance
- Location: Blacktail Mountain Resort, Lakeside, Montana
- Course length: One day, stand-alone
- Prerequisites: None; required before AIARE 2 and Pro 1
- Format: About two hours of online curriculum, then a 9 AM–4:30 PM field day
- Season: Winter
- Certification: Rescue card acknowledging your completion date; retake every other year
What You'll Learn in Avalanche Rescue
- Companion rescue fundamentals: beacon search, probing, and strategic shoveling
- Single-burial scenarios with professional coaching on your technique
- Advanced topics, scenario practice, and patient care and evacuation considerations
- A rescue card acknowledging your completion date
Course Format
Each participant will have the opportunity to receive professional coaching their rescue skills and will receive a rescue card acknowledging completion date at course end. To optimize learning, we recommend completing 2 hours of online curriculum that is student led. This curriculum will set you up to get more out of the field day by creating a solid foundation to build off of.
The field day meets at 9 AM at Blacktail Mountain Resort in Lakeside and runs to about 4:30 PM, moving from an introduction and rescue demonstration through skills breakdown, burial scenarios, advanced topics, and scenario assessment. See the Itinerary tab for the full schedule and the Course Dates tab for this winter's dates.
Who This Course Is For & Prerequisites
AIARE Avalanche Rescue is a prerequisite for the AIARE 2 and Pro 1 courses. AIARE recommends that all backcountry travelers keep their skills current by taking an Avalanche Rescue Course and receiving a rescue card at least every other year.
Why Take Avalanche Rescue with The Mountain Guides
- Certified avalanche instructors coaching your individual rescue skills
- Realistic single-burial and advanced scenarios
- A resort-based venue that keeps the whole day focused on practice
Continue Your Avalanche Education
Rescue is a perishable skill. Pair this course with an AIARE 1 or use it to keep current before AIARE 2. See the Course Dates tab for this winter's dates.
Course Goals:
- Train backcountry travelers in Avalanche Rescue skills
- Increase participant likelihood of survival in an avalanche
- Emphasize that education and avoiding getting caught in an avalanche is the best plan; rescue is a backup in case everything goes wrong.
- Provide skills, practice methods for proficiency at the Avalanche Rescue standard
- Promote a culture of routine avalanche rescue practice and attendance of an Avalanche Rescue course every two years
Meet at 9 AM
- 9:00-9:10 Intro and Course Logistics
- 9:10-9:50 Intro to Avalanche Rescue
- 9:50-10:15 Departure Check
- 10:15-10:45 Rescue Demonstration
- 10:45-11:35 Rescue Skills Breakdown
- 11:35-12:15 Single Burial Scenarios
- 12:15-12:45 Lunch
- 12:45-1:30 Advanced Topics
- 1:30-2:30 Scenario Practice and Assessment
- 2:30-3:30 Patient Considerations and Evac
- 3:30-4:30 Course Close
Price: $195 Per Person
CLICK HERE to view available courses and book a spot
UPPER LAYERS
- Top Long Sleeve: Mid weight backcountry oriented top Guide Pick: Black Diamond Coefficient LT Hybrid Hoody
- Mid weight insulated Jacket Guide Pick: Black Diamond Solution Jacket
- Shell Jacket with hood. Guide Pick: Black Diamond Recon LT Stretch Shell
- Puffy Jacket: Hood Recommended. Guide Pick: Black Diamond Access Down Hoody
BOTTOM LAYERS
- Bottom Synthetic or Wool Long Underwear Bottoms Guide Pick: Black Diamond Solution 150 Merino Base Layer
- Shell Pant: full side zips and built-in gaiters Guide Pick: Black Diamond Recon Stretch LT 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: Black Diamond Legend 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: Black Diamond Jet Force Pro 35 Airbag Pack
- 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 Guides Pick: Black Diamond Cosmo 350 R Rechargeable
SKI/SNOWBOARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE BACKCOUNTRY (Packages available for rent)
- Boots: Alpine Touring, Telemark, or Snowboarding Boots
- Skis: Guide Pick: Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95
- Splitboard: Guides Pick: Black Diamond X Cardiff Co-Lab
- Climbing Skins: Guides Pick: Black Diamond Ascension Nylon Climbing Skins ( must trip to fit skis)
- Ski Poles: Guides Pick: Traverse Compactor Ski Poles
- Helmet (optional)
SNOW SAFETY EQUIPMENT (REQUIRED and available for rent from TMG)
Courses at Blacktail Ski Area take place near Lakeside, MT. Students are responsible for their own lodging transportation and meals during the course.
Because of Mountain Guides Montana’s location in beautiful Flathead Valley and proximity to Glacier National Park our venues for teaching are one of a kind. Flights come into Glacier International Airport (FCA) daily. Amtrak arrives once per day.
December Courses:
21st
January Courses:
4th
11th
25th
February Courses:
1st
22nd
March Courses:
1st