Avalanche Education
The Colorado Mountain Club has been an American Institute of Avalanche Research Education, (AIARE), Course Provider since 2011.
AIARE Level 1 This 24-hour course is an introduction to managing avalanche hazard. You will learn how to use a repeatable process to manage your risk and learn from your experiences in the backcountry. You will also practice preparing for and carrying out a backcountry trip, keeping track of, communicating, and making decisions about hazards while in the backcountry, and learn rescue techniques if an avalanche occurs and someone is caught. Students should be able to travel off-trail on ungroomed or unmaintained terrain and bring appropriate equipment for traveling on snow, but there are no other prerequisites for this course.
AIARE Level 2 The AIARE 2 builds on your experience as a backcountry traveler. You will learn tools to apply The AIARE Framework, the repeatable process you learned in an AIARE 1, to new situations and to self-direct your learning after the course. You will learn more skills to connect weather, snowpack and avalanche processes, and identify how these processes relate to observations and travel within avalanche terrain. This can enable you to act as a leader within a small travel group and to identify and target reducing uncertainty about the terrain or conditions. (No scheduled class for 2026. If there is enough interest, we will work to schedule it.)
AIARE Avalanche Rescue This one-day (8-hour) course 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 companion rescue, and returning students will expand their skills with advanced topics and realistic scenario practice. You should be able to travel off-trail on ungroomed or unmaintained terrain and bring appropriate equipment for traveling on snow, but there are no other prerequisites for this course.
For any questions on these courses please contact Uwe Satori (uwesartori@mac.com), State Director for AIARE programs.
Avalanche Awareness Programs
Two courses are offered for club members who want to learn to recognize avalanche terrain, and how to plan travel to avoid it during their winter outings.
Avalanche Aware, a free online avalanche education course available to all members. Developed by American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) in partnership with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), this interactive e-learning module provides essential avalanche safety training you can complete at your own pace. Whether you’re planning winter hikes, snowshoe outings, or simply want to better understand avalanche risks, this course is designed for everyone.
Avalanche Awareness Hybrid (formerly known as Avalanche Terrain Avoidance), teaches you where to find information on avalanche conditions and how to avoid avalanche terrain while in the backcountry. This course is required for all leaders who plan to lead trips on snow but are not planning to lead trips into avalanche terrain.
For information on these courses please contact Keith Stinebaugh (Keith@cmcboulder.org), State Director for Avalanche Awareness programs.
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE for CMC trip leaders and instructors who are interested in or currently lead winter backcountry trips. Details on scholarships for the 2026-27 Winter season are being finalized and will be released soon.
We’re thrilled to announce that Rocky Talkie is a proud sponsor of the Colorado Mountain Club’s Rock Climbing, Intro to Backcountry Ski & Splitboard, and Avalanche Education programs. Rocky Talkie's dedication to equipping adventurers with reliable communication tools aligns perfectly with CMC’s mission to foster safety, education, and exploration in the outdoors. Together, we’re empowering outdoor enthusiasts to stay connected, prepared, and informed.
Thank you, Rocky Talkie, for supporting the next generation of climbers, skiers, and backcountry adventurers!
CMC recognizes the generous support of RAB Equipment,
official sponsor of CMC Avalanche Education.
