AIARE 1 Avalanche Education - Salt Lake City

AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Education – Utah

Red River Adventures’ AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course is a three-day introduction to avalanche hazard management designed for backcountry skiers and snowboarders. This hybrid course includes a virtual session on the evening of Day 1 and two full field days in Big & Little Cottonwood Canyons, giving participants the skills and confidence to safely navigate avalanche terrain. Taught by highly experienced ski and splitboard guides who are both AIARE providers and AMGA certified, this course ensures you learn from instructors with real-world expertise and teaching experience.

Throughout the course, students learn how to plan backcountry trips, recognize avalanche terrain, use the AIARE Decision Making Framework, and perform effective companion rescues. The course is suitable for beginners or those who have already attended awareness workshops or the Avalanche Rescue course, and special women-only sessions and low-ratio sessions are also available.

Students can expect to develop a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a backcountry trip; to understand basic decision-making while in the field; and to learn rescue techniques required to find and dig out a buried person, if an avalanche occurs and someone in the party is caught. By completion, you’ll be prepared to plan safe backcountry outings, identify avalanche hazards, and confidently practice companion rescue techniques under the guidance of professional instructors.

AIARE 1 Learning Outcomes

• Develop a plan for travel in avalanche terrain.
  
• Demonstrate the ability to identify avalanche terrain.
  
• Effectively use the AIARE Decision Making Framework to make terrain choices in a group setting
  
• Demonstrate effective companion rescue.
  

Duration

Location / Where to Meet

Ages & Requirements

LOW RATIO AIARE Level 1 is for skiers and riders that have already acquired backcountry experience and now want to add accredited avalanche training to the quiver. Participants must have previous touring experience, good fitness and downhill ability and a command of how their touring equipment works. Participants should have the ability to ski 3000+ vertical feet a day, ride black diamond terrain in any condition and have a solid command in the use of backcountry touring equipment.

What's Included

1. Expert instructors
   
2. AIARE Blue Book
   
3. Avalanche beacons, shovels, probes, and packs for those who need them
   
4. Transportation from meeting point to trailheads
   

Not Included

1. Ski & splitboard touring equipment. We can help with discounted rentals through our partner Black Diamond, if needed. 
   
2. Food
   
3. Lodging
   
4. Transportation to meeting point
   

What to Bring / Wear

1. Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe, and pack
   
2. Ski & splitboard touring equipment. 
   
3. Shell – Jacket/pants (soft shell or gortex with little to no insulation)
   
4. Insulating layer – Down or synthetic puffy coat
   
5. Mid Layer – Synthetic or wool zip shirt
   
6. Base layers: Synthetic, wool or silk bottom, underwear and top
   
7. 2 pairs of gloves
   
8. Hat or hats
   
9. Buff
   
10. Wool or synthetic ski socks
    
11. Helmet
    
12. Google & Sunglasses
    
13. Bottle/thermos for hot tea
    
14. Sunscreen
    
15. Handwarmers/Toe warmers
    

AIARE 1 in Utah - Salt Lake City