AIARE 1 Avalanche Safety Course - Front Range

One Month Prior - E-Learning materials and Student Manual are sent approximately one month prior to course start. Students submit questions relating to E-Learning or Student Manual to prepare for the online Zoom or Classroom portion of the course.

Day One – Classroom Presentations and Trip Planning Lesson (Virtual and in-person classrooms)

• 8:00am – 12:00pm: Classroom presentations and hands-on activities
• 12:00pm – 1:00pm: Lunch
• 1:00 pm – 4:00: Presentations, activities and Instructor-led trip planning lesson

Day Two - On Snow

• 7:30am – 3:30pm: Field Session. Companion Rescue and Making Relevant Observations

Day Three - On Snow

• 7:30am – 4:00pm : Student-led tour and course close

Colorado Adventure Guides’ priority is keeping our patrons and students safe. Our instructors are trained to recognize potentially hazardous situations in the backcountry; they plan and operate accordingly. Prior to the start of any course or backcountry trip you will complete a brief health history. The failure to disclose pertinent information on the health history form could result in serious harm, even death, to the signing participant, other guests and/or the guide. All information submitted is completely confidential; it is for the guide’s use and would only be shared in the event of an emergency with medical and/or rescue personnel directly caring for the guest. This can be a physically demanding course, and your ability to enjoy the adventure depends on your health and fitness, thus it’s recommended that you are in good physical condition.

This course can be taken on alpine touring skis or a splitboard. No prior backcountry experience is required but it is highly recommended that participants with touring gear have experience on their setup prior to taking this course and be comfortable in steep blue to black terrain at a ski resort.

Our front range zone courses will be based between Loveland and Berthoud Passes. The classroom portion will be held in Dumont, Colorado and the field days will be spread between Loveland and Berthoud Pass. These areas are excellent zones to start or continue your avalanche and backcountry education in and offer a wide variety of terrain for all user types and experience levels.

Instructors will contact students no later than 1 week prior to course start to finalize meeting time and place details. For field-based days, students will be encouraged to use our CAG company vans or to carpool to help alleviate trailhead overcrowding.

The AIARE 1 course is developed for new to intermediate backcountry users, or for those looking to formalize their education. This course is for experienced resort skiers/riders that have knowledge of how to use their backcountry touring equipment. Not quite there yet? Check out our 1-day Intro to Ski/Splitboard Courses.

The AIARE 1 course is part 1 of the Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain program. The Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain program is a recreational program that consists of 3 courses spanning a total of 7 days. While there is no actual certification after taking all the courses, you will obtain course completions. With that said, the AIARE 1 course is a prerequisite to the AIARE 2 course, and so you must attend the AIARE 1 course to continue with the program.

The AIARE 1 certificate does not have an expiration date, however, it is strongly encouraged that you practice and maintain the skills and knowledge covered in this course. Colorado Adventure Guides offers Avalanche Refresher and Rescue Courses to help keep your backcountry knowledge and skills fresh.

Your instructors work hard before, during, and after your course to provide you with the best safety education and a great experience, and while not expected, gratuities are always highly appreciated. If you had a safe, educational, and fun experience, gratuities typically range from 15-20%.