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| Length - Varies |
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| Cost - See below |
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| Max Ratio - 5:1 |
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| Capacity - 10 |
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Location
Mt. Rainier |
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| Skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing ability |
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| Jan 13 - Jan 15, 2012 |
| Jan 27 - Jan 29, 2012 |
| Feb 10 - Feb 12, 2012 |
| Feb 24 - Feb 26, 2012 |
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Avalanche Course - Level 1 (Mt. Rainier) |
Course Introduction
Ready to step out of bounds and into the backcountry? Knowing how to judge avalanche conditions, where it's safe to travel and where it isn't, and being able to carry out a successful rescue if caught in an avalanche are essential skills that everyone should be aware of and familiar with before stepping under that boundary marker and heading for the backcountry.
On average 37 people are killed each year by avalanches in the United States alone. Almost all of these avalanches are started by the people caught in them. Some basic level or training and knowledge can dramatically increase your margin of safety while traveling in the backcountry.
In this three-day course, we will teach students what to look for in the snow pack, how to test stability, how to read terrain and avoid danger zones, and how to rescue themselves and partners if caught in an avalanche.
If you are unable to make any of the scheduled course dates, or are interested in any variation of the AIARE Avalanche program, please contact us.
The northern slopes of Mount Rainier
Course Goals and Objectives
The goals of this course are to:
- Provide a basic understanding of avalanches.
- Describe a framework for decision making and risk management in avalanche terrain.
- Focus less on providing "answers" and more on identifying the right questions.
- Provide lessons and exercises that are practically oriented, useful, and applicable in the field
The objectives of this course are to teach:
- Types of avalanches
- Characteristics of avalanches
- An introduction to how avalanches form and release
- Avalanche terrain
- Trip planning and preparation
- Travel techniques
- Decision making
- Avalanche rescue
This course does not cover snow science or avalanche technology in any detail. While it touches on and introduces advanced subjects such as snowpack development and metamorphism, these are discussed at a basic, non-technical level.
Instructor Lyle Haugsven demonstrates the use of a Rutschblock Test to determine slope stability. Photo by Rick Kaiser
Course Summary
When you leave this course you can expect to have a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a trip, basic decision making while in the field, and rescue techniques required to find and dig up a buried person if an avalanche occurs and someone in your party is caught. Most of these techniques require extensive practice before you can expect to be proficient and no course, this one included, can provide all that experience.
To establish and maintain proficiency in the knowledge and techniques covered in this course, you will have to practice extensively and regularly on their own after leaving the program.
Analyzing compression test results.
Photo by Dyan Padagas.
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AIARE Curriculum
The AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) was founded to provide instructors with the tools to educate students about the knowledge and decision making skills necessary to travel in avalanche terrain.
The American Alpine Institute's Avalanche Course instructors are AIARE trained and will teach the standardized AIARE curriculum on each course.
There is no nationally recognized curriculum for avalanche education in the USA. There are many avalanche courses and programs available but in large part, course providers operate according to their own personal beliefs and ideas. There are few means for the public to assess the quality of an avalanche course or instructor.
AIARE was formed to address this situation. They have developed and continue to develop standardized curriculum for a complete program of avalanche courses that meets the needs of students at all levels, from recreational to professional and from novice to advanced.
AIARE has created and will continue to create course materials for instructors and students to maximize the effectiveness of both teachers and learners. They require instructors to meet pre-requisites and attend a training session before they are allowed access to AIARE materials and curriculum. In addition, instructors are required to sign an agreement stating they will abide by the guidelines established by AIARE and they are required to attend regular refreshers to maintain and improve their avalanche knowledge, instructional skills, and their understanding of the evolving AIARE curriculum and materials.
Dates for 2012
- SPECIAL EVENING SESSION
Tuesday, January 10th, 6pm - 10pm, Classroom session in Seattle
Thursday, January 12th, 6pm - 10pm, Classroom session in Seattle
January 14th - 15th, all day field sessions @ Mount Rainier backcountry
Cost - $325
- Friday, January 27th, 7:30am - 5pm, Classroom session in Olympia
January 28th - 29th, all day field sessions @ Mount Rainer backcountry
Cost - $350
- Friday, February 10th, 7:30am - 5pm, Classroom session in Seattle
February 11th - 12th, all day field sessions @ Mount Rainier backcountry
Cost - $325
- Friday, February 24th, 7:30am - 5pm, Classroom session in Olympia
February 25th - 26th, all day field sessions @ Mount Rainier backcountry
Cost - $350
Client Comments
"The Avalanche Level 1 course was an awesome experience. The instructors were exceptional. The level of professionalism far surpassed any of my expectations. Thank you for a great opportunity. I look forward to taking the Level 2 course next!" - Erin Moriarty (Bellingham, WA)
"I thought the setup of the course flowed very well, with the first day of classroom instruction, the second day in the field reviewing the skills we covered the previous day, and finally the third day of applying everything as you would for a trip you were planning to do on your own." - Bryan Estes (Renton, WA)
Follow Up Programs
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| Avalanche Course - Level 2 |
| 4 days |
Intermediate |
Mount Baker backcountry and Bellingham, WA |
December - February |
| This course is designed for those who have an interest in expanding their knowledge and understanding of snow stability and snow stability factors. It is ideal for snow safety and guiding professionals and people interested in these and related careers. |
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| Backcountry Skiing |
| 2-5 days |
Beginner & Intermediate |
North Cascades, WA; Eastern Sierras, CA; San Juan Mountains, CO |
December - April |
| Develop a good working knowledge of backcountry skiing and snowboarding equipment, techniques, and avalanche safety among the beautiful alpine slopes of the Mount Baker backcountry. |
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| Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington |
| 1 Day and Up |
Beginner to Advanced |
Washington |
December - May |
| Join an expert ski guide on an ascent of one of Washington's volcanoes, or take a ski tour in the North Cascades. These private courses are open to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, depending on the tour. |
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| Ski Mountaineering |
| 6 day ski mountaineering clinic |
Intermediate |
North Cascades, WA |
March - June |
| Develop the good judgment and technical skills required for skiing on complex glaciers, while doing some of the best skiing available in the lower 48 states. |
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American Alpine Institute (AAI) |
1515 12th Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
info@aai.cc |
© 2011 American Alpine Institute, Ltd. All Rights Reserved
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