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.

Backcountry riders booting up Shuksan Arm after ducking the ropes at Mount Baker Ski Area. Photo by Coley Gentzel

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

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 snow pits is one of the techniques used to determine snowpack stability. Photo by Andy Bourne

A sign warns skiers and boarders exiting the Mt. Baker Ski Area of the dangers of the backcountry. Photo by Rick Kaiser

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.

Avalanche Gear
AAI rents avalanche gear, including beacons, probes, and shovels. Pricing for two days is as follows:
Avalanche Kit (beacon, probe, shovel): $35
Beacon only: $25
Probe only: $14
Shovel only: $12

We also have packs and ski poles for rent, see AAI rental pricing sheet.

We don't have skis or snowboards for rent, so if you need to rent these items you can call Fairhaven Bike and Ski at 360-733-4433.

There are also skis and snowboards available for rent at the Glacier Ski Shop at 360-599-1943.

Note: Since Fairhaven Bike and Ski is located near our office it is preferable to take care of your rentals there.

The course runs 8am to 5pm each day, you must provide your own transportation, food and lodging throughout the course. The classroom session takes place in AAI's equipment shop. We are located 90 miles north of Seattle on I-5. To get to AAI, take Exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Pkwy) and turn west toward Fairhaven. After 1 mile you will reach a stoplight at 12th Street. Turn right on 12th Street and park immediately. AAI's administrative office is the first building on the right, the equipment shop is the second house on the right.

• Day 1 - We meet at 8am at the AAI equipment shop for the classroom session. After finishing at 5pm, you will have an hour to deal with any rental equipment needs for the next three days in the snow.
• Day 2 - Meet at 8am at Mount Baker Ski Area which is a 1 hr 15 min drive from Bellingham, for a day spent in the field. See the Mount Baker Ski Area website .
• Day 3 - Meet at 8am at Mount Baker Ski Area for the second field day, practicing the skills you learn in the previous days, and executing a planned backcountry ski tour.

Lodging Options

1. Stay each night in a Bellingham hotel and commute both to AAI and Mt. Baker Ski Area each day. The Best Western Heritage Inn provides discounts to all AAI program participants; just let them know you are on an AAI course. The address and phone is 151 East McLeod Road - (360) 647-1912. Anther option is the Days Inn at 215 Samish Way, Bellingham - (360) 734-8830.
2. Camp for approximately $20 per night at Larrabee State Park, located 5 miles south of AAI right on the beach.
3. There are plenty of vacation rental cabins in the town of Glacier, 20 minutes from Mount Baker Ski Area. See Mount Baker Lodging for cabin options. There is usually a two-night minimum.
4. You can check availability for the Mount Baker Lodge, which is owned and operated by The Mountaineers. This is the only place to stay that is actually at the ski area, and is very economically priced. It's a rustic place, and you must pitch in with chores. Go to the Mountaineers website for more information on the lodge.
5. It's also possible to snow camp just outside the upper parking lot at the Mount Baker Ski Area (at approximately 4000 feet elevation). This would be the cheapest option, but you should be prepared for long, cold nights and possibly stormy weather.

"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)