- 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
Avalanche Safety
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:
- More time to cover the AIARE framework, as it was intended
- In-depth bonding, connection and team building in a group setting
- Access to instructors in the evening for questions and homework support
- Easier carpool options/flexible timing with meetups
- Lodging already planned, included in price
- Easy food prep
- Plus, the accommodations we have booked are sweet! (Click for details)
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):
January 14-16: Mt Baker (Lodging in Glacier, WA) Saturday and Sunday night lodging included in this price. Only 12 spots available.
January 28-30: Mt Rainier (Lodging in Ashford, WA) Saturday and Sunday night lodging included in this price. Only 12 spots available.
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.
**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**
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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:
- Types and characteristics of avalanches
- Avalanche motion
- Size classification
- The mountain snowpack: an introduction to metamorphism and layering
Trip Planning and Preparation:
- Avalanche terrain recognition, assessment, and selection
- Route finding and travel techniques
- Decision making and Human Factors
Two-Day Itinerary:
Day 1 (Saturday) – Meet in the field 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- This day will involve a combination of indoor and outdoor training. The day will start with a discussion of weather observations and how to use a daily avalanche bulletin to assess risk. After the initial discussion, we will travel to an outdoor location to introduce beacons and companion rescue. The day ends with a route planning session as we prepare for our final day, a full day in the mountains.
Day 2: Meets in the field 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- The day will start with a discussion of weather observations and how to use a daily avalanche bulletin to assess risk. We will then carpool to an outdoor location to travel into the backcountry. During the day we focus on appropriate travel techniques, features of the snowpack, and terrain identification. We end the day with a mock rescue scenario and debrief.
Comprehensive, Lodging-Included (3 field days) Itinerary:
Day 1 – Meet in the field 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- This day will involve a combination of indoor and outdoor training. The day will start with a discussion of weather observations and how to use a daily avalanche bulletin to assess risk. After the initial discussion, we will travel to an outdoor location to introduce beacons and companion rescue. We will check into our lodging for the next 2 nights, the end the day with a route planning session as we prepare for a full day in the mountains.
Day 2: Begins at the lodge, full field day 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- The day will begin with a weather and snowpack discussion over coffee and breakfast at the group housing location. We will then carpool to an outdoor location to travel into the backcountry. During the day we focus on appropriate travel techniques, features of the snowpack, and terrain identification.
Day 3: Begins at the lodge, full field day 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- This is a student led mentorship day in the terrain. Under the supervision and coaching of your instructor, you will practice facilitating team observations, hazard assessments, and plan execution. We end the day with a course debrief.
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. -
- 18+ for adult courses or 16+ with consent from a guardian and Kaf approval
- 12-18 for youth courses
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The Level 1 Avalanche Course is a stand-alone course. Some backcountry snow travel is highly recommended.
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- Describe a basic framework for making decisions in avalanche terrain.
- Plan and prepare for travel in avalanche terrain.
- Identify avalanche terrain.
- Learn and apply effective companion rescue.
- Describe a basic framework for making decisions in avalanche terrain.
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- 16 hours of professional field instruction** 24-hours of field instruction in the complrehensive course
- 8 hours of online curriculum (delivered in email, 2 weeks before your course start date)
- AIARE Level 1 curriculum handouts to add to your home library
- An AIARE field book
- A group snow study kit
- AIARE 1 Certificate
- 16 hours of professional field instruction** 24-hours of field instruction in the complrehensive course
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- Winter travel equipment
- Transportation
- Lunch
- Personal layers
- Personal avalanche safety gear: beacon, probe, and shovel
- Winter travel equipment
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You will need to provide one of the following snow travel tools:
- Snowshoes with waterproof boots (we recommend insulated boots)
- Skis, boots, and bindings (Metal edge skis, plastic boots, and Randonee/alpine touring/downhill Telemark bindings). Please note: Cross-country skis will not work for backcountry tours.
- Splitboard with adjustable bindings that move into “tour” mode efficiently (Soft boots are okay, and hard boots are preferred)
- Additional equipment needed:
- Personal avalanche safety gear: beacon, probe, and shovel.
- Personal layers
- Personal avalanche safety gear: beacon, probe, and shovel.
- Snowshoes with waterproof boots (we recommend insulated boots)
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Transportation and times will be coordinated by email when the pre-trip announcement is sent to all registrants.
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Consider joining a Skiing/Splitboarding: Intermediate course to spend more time with a professional instructor in the field.
