AIARE AVALANCHE RESCUE COURSE

This 1-day course is intended to be retaken on a regular basis in order to keep abreast of best practices in rescue techniques and gear. New participants will learn the basics of companion rescue, while return participants will expand their skill set with advanced topics and realistic scenario practice to help improve their skills after the course.

 

Available 23-24 Season Course Dates:

January: 1st, 15th, & 26th

February: 19th

 

 

$269.00

Pay a 50% deposit per item

Have questions? Ask one of our guides!

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(720) 282-9235 |Β Info@saiguides.com

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See below for more details

Details

Course Description

This one-day (8-hour) course is intended to be retaken on a regular basis in order to keep abreast of best practices in rescue techniques and gear. New participants will learn companion rescue, and returning students will expand their skills with advanced topics and realistic scenario practice.Β 

Why Take Avalanche Rescue with Us?Β 

We take pride in having some of the best instructors in the business. We will go above and beyond the standard curriculum and offer a lifetime of advice.Β 

Who Should Take this Course

This course is appropriate for both new and experienced recreational backcountry travelers, as well as aspiring avalanche professionals. AIARE recommends that all backcountry travelers keep their skills current by taking an Avalanche Rescue course and receiving a rescue card at least every other year.

You should be able to travel off-trail on ungroomed or unmaintained terrain and bring appropriate equipment for traveling on snow, but there are no other prerequisites for this course. AIARE Avalanche Rescue is a prerequisite for the AIARE 2 and Pro 1 courses.Β 

What You’ll Learn

During an Avalanche Rescue course, you’ll spend time in the field learning skills like:Β 

  • Knowing what to do if you or a member of your party is caught in an avalanche
  • Identifying and using the gear necessary for avalanche rescue
  • Participating in realistic scenarios to practice an avalanche rescue response
  • Improving your response skills and times during and after the course with feedback from instructors and peers
  • Developing a plan for continuing practice

Itinerary

1 Full Day in Rocky Mountain National Park

  1. Meet at 7am at Rocky Mountain National Park Visitors Center
  2. Caravan to the trailhead
  3. Practice Rescue Skills!
  4. back to the trailhead by 3pm

Gear List

Snow/ski gear:Β 

  • Alpine Touring (AT) skis, Tele-skis, Splitboard. Make all binding adjustments for fit prior to day 1. Climbing Skins for skis and splitboards. Ensure that the skins are fitted to your skis or splitboard prior to day 1.Β 
  • Snowshoes, if not skiing. Make sure bindings fit your boot prior to day 1.
  • Ski Poles (collapsible), required for all backcountry travelers on this course.Β 

Safety gear:

  • Avalanche Transceiver. Digital beacon transmitting on 457 kHz.Β 
  • Probe. Collapsible probe made of aluminum or carbon fiber.Β 
  • Shovel. Aluminum shovel (not plastic) designed for backcountry use.Β 
  • Avalung and/or Airbag (optional).Β 
  • Ski Helmet, for ski descents (optional, but recommended, be sure you can fit in, or carry on backpack).Β 
  • Notebook and Pencil for making field notes and observations. I also carry map, altimeter, compass and slope meter.
  • Β Spare door and ignition key, for groups carpooling. It’s a real bummer to lose a key on a tour.Β 

Footwear:

  • Ski Boots, Snowboard Boots or Tele Boots.
  • Gaiters (optional but nice to have when we step out of skis or snowshoes).Β 
  • Wool or synthetic socks. No cotton.Β 
  • Liner sock. This is a personal preference, not required.Β 
  • Winter Hiking Boot. Something you can wear in the classroom or in the parking lot for rescue drills.Β 

Clothing (all to be wool or synthetic, no cotton):

  • Base Layer, long underwear, top and bottoms.
  • Insulation Layer, Softshell Pants and Jacket.Β  Fleece is ok if you have hardshell outerlayer.
  • Hardshell Pants (full side zip) and Jacket with hood. This is a wind and waterproof layer (Gore-tex) or similar.Β 
  • Insulated β€œpuffy” Jacket w/ hood. Down or Synthetic. This layer is meant to be worn on outside of all other layers combined.Β Β 


Headwear:Β 

  • Synthetic or wool hat (beanie).Β 
  • Buff or neck gaiter.Β Β 
  • Sunglasses with dark lens and wraparound sun and wind protection.
  • Goggles.Β 

Handwear:Β 

  • Softshell glove, water and wind resistant.Β 
  • Warm glove – leather/gore tex is best
  • Mittens, good to have in your pack for colder temps.Β Β 
  • Two pairs or warm gloves/mittens minimum.Β Β 

Other gear:Β 

  • ~35L Backpack, make sure your gear fits in pack prior to course day.Β 
  • First-aid kit (small), blister bandages, band-aid and personal medications.Β 
  • 1L waterbottle (2L max), leakproof bottle like Nalgene works best. I bring a 24oz Thermos with warm drinks for the cold days.
  • Sunscreen and lipscreen, 30SPF minimum.Β Β 
  • Ski strap(s), small knife/multitool, headlamp w/new batteries, lighter, a few zip ties, & a short sections of bailing wire for field repairs.Β 
  • Camera, camera phone.Β 
  • Snacks/Lunch – About 1000 calories for the day. Sandwich, candy bars, and trail mix, etc; Bring what tastes good to you.Β Β 
RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk managementΒ is SAI’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent in the mountains such as avalanches, ice fall, rock fall, inclement weather, and high winds, but they cannot eliminate them. SAI guides draw from their wealth of experience and training to make sound decisions that maximize your experience without compromising the necessary margin of safety. Please clearly understand that mountaineering and all other mountain adventures are inherently hazardous sports. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which participants have been injured and killed. While those accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge the risk and hazards of these sports, and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in these activities.

FAQ

Q:What am I responsible to bring?

A: Each one of course pages has information on what to bring under the tab β€œPrice Includes”. We will also send you additional info on how to prepare for your guided day once via email once we have received your payment.Β 

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Q:How fit should I be for my course?

A: Our courses vary from absolute beginner to more advanced techniques on the sharp end.Β  While a base level of fitness (moderate hiking) is generally necessary to get to the climb, all courses can be tweaked to match your level of fitness.

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Q: What if the weather is bad and we need to cancel/reschedule?

A: Read our cancellation policy on our policies page.

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Q: Do I need to have prior climbing experience?

A: Each course/objective has different experience requirements. This information can be found under the Prerequisites tab at the bottom of our course pages.Β  For example, you do not need any prior experience to enroll in our Intro to Mountaineering Course but would need some prior climbing experience to participate in our Learn to Lead Trad Course.Β 

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Q: Is there an age minimum? Can I bring my kids?

A: No, there is not an age minimum and yes you can bring your kids! However, there are some courses where children would not be suitable. You can find more information under the β€œcourse details” tab on our course pages. Also, check out our custom guiding options where we can create custom itinerary for you and your family.Β 

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Q: Will I need transportation to get to the climb?

A: Yes, we do not provide transportation. We encourage carpooling with other course participants whenever possible though to save the environment and parking space! Meeting times and locations will be sent out via email once you have booked a course with us.Β 

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Q: Do you offer lodging options?

A: No. We offer recommended lodging options and sometimes discounted rates depending on the course or trip. Feel free to call us if you have any questions about lodging!



POLICIES

Please review ourΒ cancellation policy here.

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Advanced registration is required to book this course. We have a limited amount of guides and book up regularly. Simply book online if you’re ready to secure a date or, give us a call during business hours if you have any questions.