One Day Avalanche Rescue Program
Avalanche rescue skills are an absolute must for all individuals recreating on snow in the mountains. This one-day Avalanche Rescue Course is specifically designed to help educate backcountry users on how to respond if you or your partners are caught in an avalanche. Whether you are new to backcountry travel or are a seasoned veteran, this course is for you.
Avalanche rescue, like all skills, must be refreshed and diligently practiced. AIARE recommends that all backcountry travelers keep their skills fresh by taking an Avalanche Rescue course and at least every other year. If this is your first avalanche education course, you will learn the basics of companion rescue and a broad overview of the avalanche phenomenon. If it’s been a few years since you last took a course, you can expect to improve your avalanche rescue skills and expand your tool kit with more advanced topics. Grab your favorite backcountry buddy and make sure you are both dialed and ready for the flakes to fly this winter.
Avalanche Rescue Course objectives
This course has been successfully used for educating skiers, snowboarders, split-boarders, snowshoe travelers, climbers, and mountaineers around the world on how to travel safely in the backcountry.
The course will cover:
- Basic overview of avalanches
- Avalanche rescue principles
- Avalanche safety equipment
- Techniques for executing a backcountry avalanche rescue
- Companion rescue process
Students will come away with the tools to:
- Describe what to do if they or a member of their party is caught in an avalanche
- Identify and be able to use gear necessary for avalanche rescue.
- Set up a realistic scenario in order to practice an avalanche rescue response.
- Improve their response skills and times during and after the course with feedback from instructors and peers.
- Develop a plan for continued practice
Prerequisites – There are no prerequisites for this course. If you are traveling on a ski touring or split board setup, it is helpful if you are familiar with how to use the equipment and have practiced prior to the course.
Alpine Ascents and AIARE – American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education
Alpine Ascents is proud to partner with The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) to provide avalanche education courses. AIARE is a nonprofit established in 1998 specializing in the development of an avalanche education curriculum. AIARE’s mission is to save lives through education for recreationalists and professionals. Our instructors are certified by AIARE to teach avalanche rescue courses.
1 Day Avalanche Rescue Program FAQS
Please note you will be mailed specific information for your climb upon registration. The following is to serve as a helpful guideline.
The best way to reserve space on a program is to call our offices and place the deposit on a VISA/MC/AMEX. Our climbs and courses fill quickly on a first-come, first-served basis, and registering over the phone is the best way to ensure reserving the climb dates you want. You may also submit an application by mail with a check, money order or credit card number.
When you sign up for a course we will send you a confirmation package that includes an equipment list detailing each piece of equipment you will need. Please read your equipment list very carefully. You are required to bring every item on the list so be as precise as possible when packing. Alpine Ascents rents quality technical equipment at reasonable rates. If you have any equipment-related questions please call us (206-378-1927). You can also email us at: [email protected] We have a full-time gear expert on staff.
Between November 1 and May 1, all vehicles in Mount Rainier National Park are required to carry tire chains. This requirement applies to all vehicle types in all weather and road conditions. Weather in the park is notoriously quick to change, and sudden storms can appear with little or no warning.
Tire chains are available for rent at:
Whittaker Mountaineering
30027 State Route 706 E
Ashford, WA 98304
(360) 569-2142
whittakermountaineering.com
You can read more about the Mount Rainier National Park Tire Chain Requirement here.
For courses at Mount Baker, Snoqualmie Pass, and Steven’s Pass, chains / all weather tires are encouraged but not required.
You can either pick up your rental equipment from our Seattle office during business hours or your instructors can bring your rental equipment directly to the course venue.
We run our own retail climbing shop and online gear store, where all Alpine Ascents climbers receive a discount and can receive personalized advice from our gear experts.
You should be in good physical condition for this course.
We highly recommend checking with your physician before embarking on strenuous physical activity. We reserve the right to turn away those climbers who we determine to be in inadequate physical condition.
No previous backcountry ski touring / splitboarding experience is required. This course is designed for aspiring backcountry travelers in good physical condition or as a refresher course for those with prior experience. If you are new to backcountry touring, it is helpful if you have practiced with your set-up prior to the course.
You are responsible for your own food during the course. Students typically bring a bag/box lunch, two liters of water, and several high energy snacks.
This course has a maximum 6:1 student to instructor ratio.
Reading List
This is a highly recommended shortlist and we would be happy to pass on a longer reading list for those interested. These links will bounce to Amazon.com with reviews.
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain
Bruce Tremper, Mountaineers Books
The Avalanche Handbook
Peter Schaerer and David McClung, Mountaineers Books
Snow Sense
Jill Fredston and Doug Fesler
I was very impressed with the high level of skill, professionalism and knowledge of all of the guides. I felt very safe with the guides and was very entertained by their mountain and personal stories. The guides had great people skills and seemed to have an almost immediate understanding of the needs and likes of each individual in our group.
