AIARE 2 Avalanche Course Jackson, Wyoming
Overview
AIARE 2 avalanche training in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — for skiers and riders who travel regularly in avalanche terrain.
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!
AIARE 2 Avalanche Course Overview
Advanced Avalanche Education in Jackson Hole
- Location: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Level: AIARE 2 — advanced, building on the AIARE 1 curriculum
- Prerequisite: AIARE 1
- Season: Winter
- For: Skiers and splitboarders who travel regularly in avalanche terrain
What You Will Learn in AIARE 2
- Hazard evaluation in complex and changing conditions
- Decision-making when the picture is not clear-cut
- Terrain management and route selection in avalanche terrain
- Leading a group and making decisions in complicated situations
Who Should Take AIARE 2
- Backcountry skiers and splitboarders who have completed AIARE 1 and are travelling regularly in avalanche terrain
- Riders who are now making the decisions for a group rather than following
- Anyone preparing for bigger, more committing backcountry objectives
Why Take Your AIARE 2 Course with The Mountain Guides
- AMGA-trained and certified guides: Learn from working ski and splitboard guides who make these decisions professionally
- Teton terrain: Train in the same terrain you want to ride
- Real decisions, real conditions: Field days focused on applying the curriculum, not just reciting it
Advance Your Avalanche Education
Take the next step from AIARE 1 and build the judgement to travel confidently in serious terrain. Check availability and course dates below.
AIARE Avalanche Level 2: Jackson, WY
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
- 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)
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.