Search courses
AIARE 1 Level 1 - Denver - 2022 Session 5

Course

AIARE Level 1

ONE MORE CHANCE! Colorado has had a super snow year. Take advantage of it by enrolling and obtaining your AIARE Certificate of Competition before the snow is gone and you have to wait and pay higher fees in the 2023-2024 season. The Club's AIARE Level 1 hybrid course combines on-line pre-course work, on-going assignments in Google Classroom, 1 day of zoom lectures and 2 field days. The course focuses on teaching you how to use the AIARE Decision Making Framework to reduce your exposure to the avalanche hazard while traveling in avalanche terrain. You'll acquire knowledge, tools and build skills that will help you better prepare for your awesome backcountry trips that may involve avalanche terrain. CMC has been an AIARE course provider since 2011 and hundreds of our members have gone through this course. Love snow, the mountains and willing to learn? AIARE 1 is for you.

Contacts

Uwe Sartori
Uwe Sartori
Leader

CMC-DEN AIARE Level 1 Session 5

We're excited about being able to offer up one more AIARE 1 course; the latest CMC has ever offered it.  The snow has been so good, we're going for it. Granted the Front Range is not as blessed as the other zones, but April in Colorado is typically snowy and there is plenty on the ground right now. Things are looking real good for a great course in awesome spring snow.

We encourage CMC winter trip leaders to enroll, especially those who need this course under their belt to continue leading CMC winter backcountry trips that involve traveling in avalanche terrain and possibly being exposed to the avalanche hazard. CMC's new winter leader policy will require Leaders to have AIARE 1, and periodic refresher courses like AIARE Avalanche Rescue.

It's a 3 day course designed to expose you to a proven method to use in your planning, executing and reflecting on your backcountry ski, snowshoe, mountaineering and other snow adventures that involve moving in avalanche terrain.  You will learn about, and practice the AIARE Decision Making Framework in recognizing and understanding the avalanche hazard and managing your exposure to it while traveling in avalanche terrain.

Through instruction, on-line learning and field work, you will gain knowledge and skills to build trip catalogs, track the season(s), observe and understand the changes in the snowpack, recognize avalanche terrain and travel options, improve your situational awareness while in the field and learn to debrief, a powerful tool in the AIARE Decision Making Framework.

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 21 year snow industry professional, and an exceptional educator. (skylinebackcountryguides.com)

All participants will receive an AIARE Certificate of Completion, the AIARE Field Book student manual, access to the AIARE 1 on-line course and Google Classroom.

Note - 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.

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

Clothing:  Think Colorado high alpine country in the spring. That means layers and back-ups. Extra gloves are a good idea. While the temps are warmer than in winter, still bring hand and toe warmers.

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 snack. Whatever fuel keeps you going. 

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

Think 10 essentials to keep you alive in Colorado's high alpine country, late April. We'll cover gear in the zoom meeting. If you have questions now, please send them in to cmcaiarecoursedirector2@gmail.com.

Avalanche Gear - The Club has Transceiver/Probe/Shovel kits available to loan, at no cost, to students who do not have their avy kit.  

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.