CW Adventure Education: Avalanche Education - AIARE Level 1, Level 2, Rescue

admin171125
5 days ago
3 min read

Learn avalanche awareness, snowpack evaluation, and decision-making skills in the Colorado

backcountry with our accredited avalanche education programs.

Colorado Wilderness Rides & Guides is an Accredited AIARE (American Institute for

Avalanche Research and Education) Provider, an Approved A3 (American Avalanche

Association) Avalanche Education Provider, and a Friends of CAIC (Colorado Avalanche

Information Center) Educational Partner.

Climber in blue jacket and helmet scales rocky cliff with snowy mountains and a lake below, conveying focus and determination. — A skier navigates a challenging alpine route on one of Colorado's high peaks, surrounded by stunning rugged terrain and deep snow.

In this article:

AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Education: Decision-Making in Avalanche Terrain

For any outdoor enthusiast or backcountry traveler, safe winter travel begins with understanding avalanches. The AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course introduces participants to avalanche hazard management and field-based decision-making in winter mountain environments.

Course Overview

Students gain a solid foundation in:

• Preparing for and carrying out a backcountry trip

• Recognizing avalanche terrain and red-flag conditions

• Making sound decisions in avalanche-prone areas

• Performing essential companion rescue techniques

You’ll Learn To

• Identify avalanche terrain and recognize warning signs

• Interpret avalanche forecasts and weather data

• Conduct beacon, shovel, and probe rescue drills

• Apply the AIARE Decision-Making Framework in real terrain

Format

• 2 Full Field Days (16 hours) – Roosevelt National Forest or Rocky Mountain National Park

• 2 Evening Classroom Sessions (6–8 hours total, 6–9/10 p.m.)

• 4 Hours of Pre-Class Online Learning

• Group Size: 6–18 participants | Instructor Ratio: 1:6

• Taught by: Certified AIARE Instructors

Sample Schedule

• Tuesday / Thursday Evenings: Avalanche types, snowpack formation, human factors, and

enhanced training in mapping and decision-making.

• Saturday / Sunday Field Days: Terrain assessment, snowpack observation, rescue drills, and

guided travel in avalanche terrain.

Included

• Professional instruction and AIARE course materials (AIARE Blue Book and e-student

manual, pre-class online learning)

• Use of BCA avalanche safety gear (beacon, shovel, probe) – available for the first 10

registrants

• Certificate of Completion

• Upon registration, a full CWRAG Student Packet will be sent, including all course resources, maps, weather tools, and additional online learning links.

Not Included

• Transportation, meals, or personal gear

• Assistance available for arranging backcountry ski or snowshoe gear rentals

BOOK AIARE LEVEL 1

AIARE Level 2: Snow Stability & Avalanche Hazard Analysis

The AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Course builds on your Level 1 foundation and is designed for

experienced backcountry travelers. This three-day advanced course deepens your understanding of snowpack dynamics, stability analysis, and avalanche forecasting.

Course Overview

Participants refine their skills in snow, weather, and avalanche observation, while gaining

leadership experience managing teams in avalanche terrain.

Prerequisites: AIARE Level 1 and AIARE Avalanche Rescue (with at least one year of

backcountry experience).

You’ll Learn To

• Analyze snowpack layering and metamorphism

• Apply SWAG (Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Guidelines) observation techniques

• Advance leadership and risk management in complex terrain

• Develop a systematic snow stability analysis and forecasting process

• Enhance travel techniques and receive personalized coaching on backcountry leadership and trip planning

Format

• 3 Days / 24 Hours of classroom and field instruction with nightly assignments

• 4–6 Hours of Pre-Class Online Learning

• Group Size: 6–12 participants

• Taught by: Certified AIARE Instructors

Schedule

Friday–Sunday

• Classroom: Stability theory, weather interpretation, and data analysis (Boulder-based sessions)

• Field: Applied snowpack and weather observations in RMNP or Roosevelt National Forest

Included

• Instruction, AIARE Level 2 manual, and weatherproof field notebook

• Use of BCA beacon, shovel, and probe

• Upon registration, a full CWRAG Student Packet will be sent, including all course resources, weather links, mapping tools, and additional online resources.

• Certificate of Completion

Not Included

• Transportation, meals, or personal gear

BOOK AIARE LEVEL 2

AIARE Avalanche Rescue (1-Day Add-On)

AIARE Avalanche Rescue is designed for all backcountry travelers — from beginners learning

transceiver use to experienced riders refining their rescue efficiency. This one-day, hands-on course covers advanced beacon drills, multiple burial scenarios, search strategies, and rescue management techniques. It provides in-depth training in organized rescue procedures and serves as the required prerequisite for AIARE Level 2. We also recommend this course as an excellent way to refresh or update your rescue skills annually.

Included

• All instruction, course materials, and rescue scenarios

• Use of BCA beacon, shovel, and probe

• Upon registration, a full CWRAG Student Packet will be sent, including all rescue-specific

resources and supplemental training materials

• 8 Hours of Field Training

• 2–4 Hours of Pre-Class Online Learning

• Certificate of Completion

Not Included

• Transportation, meals, and personal gear

BOOK AIARE RESCUE