AIARE Level I

Mt Shasta, California - 3-Days

Course Overview

The AIARE Level 1 Avalanche course is the industry standard avalanche education every recreational winter backcountry user needs to complete. A hands-on and complete course that builds a foundation for skiers and snowboarders to learn the basics of how to evaluate avalanche terrain and make good decisions in the backcountry. This will be a three-day course split into online pre-course work and 2 full days in the Mt. Shasta backcountry. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Upon completion of this level one course you will have an understanding of:

  • Trip Planning and Preparation 

  • Characteristics of avalanches 

  • Types of avalanches, and danger scale

  • An introduction to snowpack metamorphism and layering 

  • Field observation techniques 

  • Stability tests

  • Terrain recognition, assessment and route finding

For lodging in the town of Mount Shasta before and after your trip we recommend our partners at Summit Lofts and LOGE Mt. Shasta. They offer a discount to our climbers and guests.

    • No backcountry experience is required.

    • Intermediate-Advanced skiing or boarding skills are required.

    • must be in good physical condition.

  • All dates are subject to route change in the event of adverse conditions.

    • February 16-18, 2024

  • $595 per person

    INCLUDES

    • Professional instruction with an instructor-to-student ratio of 1:5

    ** Ski equipment is not included but rentals are available in the town of Mt. Shasta.

The difference is in our Instructors

Our instructor, Rich Meyer, has over 20 years guiding in the backcountry and saw a need to offer an extra day to tour while debriefing the course content with real world scenarios. This will be a great opportunity to learn and practice the details of avalanche hazard assessment and mitigation with plenty of time in the field ski touring.