Search courses
AIARE Level 1 - Denver - 2022 Session 3

Avalanche Education Course

AIARE Level 1

AIARE 1 is a 24-hour course focusing on learning and practicing the AIARE Decision Making Framework. It also introduces Avalanche Rescue. 1 Day of Lectures via Zoom. 2 Days in the field in the Berthoud Pass area. We meet at 8:00am at Berthoud Pass Summit Parking Lot on Day 1. Day 2, Location TBD. (We remain in the Berthoud Pass Area.) The field days end by 4:00pm each day.

Contacts

Placeholder Contact Profile
Ken Yaphe
Leader

CMC-DEN AIARE Level 1 Session 3

A 3 day course designed to give you a proven approach in planning, executing and evaluating your backcountry ski, snowshoe, mountaineering and other snow adventures involving avalanche terrain.  You will learn about, and practice the AIARE Decision Making Process in managing your risk in avalanche terrain.

Topics include building trip catalogs, tracking the season, observing and understanding the changes in the snowpack, recognizing avalanche terrain and travel options, improving your situational awareness while in the field, and evaluating the day's decisions when finished.  Tools and resources such as noaa.gov, mountain-forecast.com the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, (CAIC), Snotel, GAIA, Caltopo -the list is long - will become part of your toolbox as you plan and execute your trips. If you are a BC skier, a winter and snow mountaineer, snowshoer, cross-country tourer traveling in avalanche terrain, this course will be a benefit to you.

Our AIARE Program Leader is Karin Pocock, a 20+ year snow industry professional, and an exceptional educator and AIARE Program Leader. Check her out at skylinebackcountryguides.com

All participants will receive an AIARE Certificate of Completion, the AIARE Field Book and student manual.

Successful completion of this course is a pre-requisite for the AIARE Level 2 course. 

Club Membership is required to participate in this course. If you are not currently a member, please sign up for membership prior to registering with this course. Benefits of club membership include gear and event discounts as well as access to more classes, trips and events that enhance your experience of backcountry and mountaineering adventures.

Consider overnighting in either Georgetown or Winter Park for the field days. Get more rest and save drive time on I-70.

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

Clothing:  Bundle up folks. Field days will commence even during cold and snowy weather. In Colorado that means layers and back-ups. Hand and toe warmers. Extra gloves are a good idea.

Helmet for skiers and splitboarders

Ski goggles and sunglasses.

Mode of Travel: AT Skis, Tele skis, split boards, snowshoes.

Food for the day, consider hot drink, water, energy snacks.

Sunblock, personal med kit, your normal repair kit suitable for your gear 

Think 10 essentials to keep you alive in the cold Colorado winter.  We'll cover it and questions in the zoom lectures.

Avalanche Gear - The Club expects to have Beacon/Probe/Shovel kits available for loan to those students who do not possess personal items.  If you do not presently own the gear, you may hold off on purchasing it if you are considering borrowing this gear from the club--especially if you have not made any decisions about the extent of your backcountry winter forays, whichever winter discipline you are contemplating pursuing.

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.