- Most Popular
- Intermediate Skill Level Intermediate
- Ages 16+ Ages Ages 16+
Join us for a one-day course learning about the best practices in avalanche rescue techniques and how to use the types of equipment in realistic scenarios.
Quick Details
New for the 2022-2023 Season!
In addition to our regular curriculum with 2 field days, we are offering limited AIARE L1 courses with lodging and curriculum with 3 field days. Benefits of these offerings are:
Please note, most of our AIARE Level 1 courses this season include 2 field days. Please check the description and price of your course to determine it’s format. Only the following dates include lodging and extra education (Click the dates to book directly):
February 11-13: Mt Hood (Lodging in Government Camp, OR) Saturday and Sunday night lodging included in price. Only 12 spots available.
All other AIARE Level 1 courses have 2 field days with no accommdations. Click the date on the calendar to see its location.
Overview:
Traveling in a winter environment has inherent risk. Snow conditions dramatically change throughout the winter, affecting snow stability. The ability to recognize avalanche terrain and have a decision-making framework to travel in avalanche terrain is critical to your safety. This AIARE Level 1 avalanche course is designed to give students a basic understanding of why avalanches occur and to develop a framework for making decisions while traveling in avalanche terrain. Additionally, the course provides instruction in beacon use and companion rescue should an avalanche occur.
**All of our AIARE Level 1 courses require attendance at an online pretrip meeting 2 evenings before your course start date. Your instructor will reach out before the course with more information.**
**Please note any course operating within the Mt. Hood National Forest is run through the Northwest School of Survival. Kaf Adventures is a booking agent for their programming**
We have 2 different Level 1 itineraries this year. See below.
Our standard AIARE 1 Course will be one online learning day followed by 2 field days.
Our comprehensive AIARE 1 Course will be one online learning day followed by 3 field days, and includes group lodging!
AIARE is still rolling out details of the online learning day and we will forward those to you as they supply them. Please allow 8 hours for the online learning day.
Online learning day covers:
An overview of avalanche types and characteristics. We will introduce case studies to analyze avalanche incidents. Course progression includes:
Introduction to the Avalanche Phenomena:
Trip Planning and Preparation:
Two-Day Itinerary:
Day 1 (Saturday) – Meet in the field 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Day 2: Meets in the field 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Comprehensive, Lodging-Included (3 field days) Itinerary:
Day 1 – Meet in the field 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Day 2: Begins at the lodge, full field day 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Day 3: Begins at the lodge, full field day 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Location Notes:
Washington 2-day courses happen at Snoqualmie Pass. Washington comprehensive (3-field day) courses happen at Mt Baker or Mt Rainier. Each course has its location and duration listed on our calendar. Please click the date to see the location.
All Oregon courses happen on Mt Hood, on the south side of the mountain near Timberline. (Government Camp is a great place to find convenient lodging for this course.)
Our 3-field-day comprehensive course on Mt Hood is here.
The Level 1 Avalanche Course is a stand-alone course. Some backcountry snow travel is highly recommended.
You will need to provide one of the following snow travel tools:
Transportation and times will be coordinated by email when the pre-trip announcement is sent to all registrants.
Consider joining a Skiing/Splitboarding: Intermediate course to spend more time with a professional instructor in the field.