AIARE 1 Avalanche Safety Course: Hut Based - Sisters, Francie's or Broome

Spend the weekend with avalanche professionals in the backcountry, learning about snow safety while sipping tea in front of a crackling wood stove. Backcountry ski or snowboard right to the hut to enjoy a cold beer while debriefing the day. Students will practice preparing for and carrying out a backcountry trip, keeping track of conditions, communicating, making decisions about hazards while in the backcountry, and will learn rescue techniques, as well as how to execute a winter backcountry hut trip!

• One Month Prior - E-learning materials and Student Manual for AIARE Level 1 are sent
• Day 1: Classroom & Field Session - travel to hut, settle in, and learn companion rescue
• Day 2: Classroom & Field Session - Classroom in hut and afternoon field session to learn how to make relevant observations in the field
• Day 3: Field Application: Hut breakdown, student-led tour, course close

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.

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.

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%.

Huts Foundation, Francie’s Cabin is the most popular hut in Colorado. Francie’s Cabin, built in 1994, is situated near 11,300ft in the popular Crystal Lakes drainage of the Ten-Mile Range. This stunning cabin is named for Frances Lockwood Bailey, a former resident of Breckenridge who died in a tragic plane crash in 1989.

Francies books up very quickly and is a sought after hut experience. The cabin is equipped with firewood, propane cook tops, cooking and eating utensils (pots/pans/plates/flatware/mugs/glasses), toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies. As with most winter huts, snowmelt is used for a water supply. Capacity at Francies is 18 students.

The fifth overnight backcountry hut in the Summit Huts system, the 14-person Sisters Cabin was built in 2018 and currently operates as a winter-only hut from November through April. Funded by the The Sturm Family Foundation, Sisters Cabin celebrates the close bonds amongst Sue Sturm, an avid backcountry hut user, and her close-knit group of female friends that have formed and flourished in the shared joys of backcountry skiing adventures, hence the “Sisters” moniker.

Sisters Cabin incorporates state-of-the-art design and green-building techniques to minimize environmental impact and offer guests an experience similar to those they have come to expect at Summit Huts larger flagship huts. Sisters hut capacity is 12 students.

Owned and operated by the Grand Huts Association, the Broome Hut, originally called the Second Creek Hut, in the Second Creek Basin on the west side of Berthoud Pass, Colorado is one of the finest high altitude skiing and hiking locales in Colorado. Ease of access and great skiing make for excellent backcountry recreation opportunities.

The Broome Hut has some unique amenities which include a pellet stove instead of a woodburning heat stove. It is very easy to operate and has clear instructions posted at the hut. The hut has indoor composting toilets similar to Janet’s Cabin and Francie’s Cabin. There is also a day-use room at the hut but it is totally separated from the overnight area and they share no amenities. Broome Hut capacity is 12 students.