Avalanche Aware - Hybrid Course for CMC Winter Leaders & Instructors- CMC State - 2025

Avalanche Education Course

Avalanche Aware - Hybrid Course for CMC Leadership

The Avalanche Terrain Avoidance hybrid course is an online-seminar and 1/2 field-day to help you recognize when and where avalanche danger may exist and how to avoid it. Sources of information and methods for planning routes to mitigate avalanche risk will be presented.

This course is required for CMC leaders who wish to lead trips in snow covered, non-avalanche terrain. 

This is a 1-hour online-seminar and a 4-hour field day 2 separate required events for those who wish to AVOID avalanche terrain. After registering for the course, you will receive access to the online portion. You will select a field day to participate in after you have completed the online course. Students should bring the regular 10 Essentials and be prepared for winter conditions in the field.

The Field Session is a required part of the ATA seminar: however You MUST sign up for the Field day as an activity selection in this course.


In order to AVOID avalanche terrain, you must be capable of RECOGNIZING IT. This is why you take Avalanche Aware.

Our Learning Objectives are:

  • Understand why Colorado has the most dangerous avalanche conditions in the US.
  • Learn what an avalanche is and what factors contribute to an avalanche.
  • Understand and apply current avalanche forecast.
  • Recognize & avoid avalanche hazards.
  • Use tools for planning a successful trip.
  • Learn from a case study of an avalanche accident.
  • You will learn how to use slope meters to assess slope angles and determine routes that would allow you to avoid avalanche terrain
  • We will give a short map tutoring session. Being able to read maps is critical to the content of the materials presented.
Course Requirements
Course Activity Date Availability Leader
ATA Hybrid Lecture & Field Day
Large Classroom / Climbing Wall West
Sat, Jan 10, 2026
Registration closes Jan 8
10 participants
0 instructors
Large Classroom / Climbing Wall West
Sat, Feb 7, 2026
Registration closes Feb 5
13 participants
1 instructor
The Lodge
Sat, Mar 21, 2026
Registration closes Mar 19
12 participants
1 instructor
Roster
Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.