Avalanche Level 1 Hybrid

Avalanche Level 1 Hybrid Course curriculum brought to you by:

We teach a complete program of curriculum established and developed by the American Avalanche Institute (AAI).

You can expect to develop a solid foundation of how to prepare for and carry out a backcountry trip, understanding basic decision making while in the field, and avalanche rescue techniques required to locate and dig up a buried person.  

This course provides essential training for anyone traveling in or near avalanche terrain: snowboarders, ski tourers, snowmobilers, mountaineers, snowshoers, everyone!  For aspiring professionals, this course fulfills a prerequisite for the AAI Pro 1 course down the line.

By completing this course with the American Avalanche Institute, you will receive a certificate of completion from AAI and join a network of tens of thousands of Level 1 avalanche training graduates.

For 50 years, the American Avalanche Institute has provided one the most successful professional and recreational avalanche training programs. At the recreational and professional levels, their courses and curricula are fully approved by the American Avalanche Association (A3). AAI’s guides, avalanche professionals, and educators create the best recreational and professional avalanche courses in the world.

We believe that avalanche training is best taught by combining theoretical concepts and experiential learning.  Some topics are best learned in a classroom setting and others in the mountains, moving through terrain and digging into the snow. In this avalanche training course, you’ll have both.

The first portion of your hybrid course includes the AAI Avalanche Level 1 virtual workshop.  The virtual workshop consists of two, 3 hour long hosted sessions, during these sessions you will watch presentations of core material followed by small group learning exercises, Q & A, and review/feedback.  These sessions will be scheduled weekly and can be taken well in advance of your course for maximum convenience and engagement.  Students must attend both session 1 & 2 PRIOR to the first day of your field session.

Avalanche 1 Virtual Workshop: 

The AAI Avalanche Level 1 virtual workshop is a comprehensive 6 hour dive into the foundational concepts needed to safely and successfully navigate snow covered mountains.  The virtual workshop is divided into two, 3 hour sessions, hosted by one or more AAI Qualified Instructors and consists of video presentations, small group exercises and Q&A sessions to get you ready for the 2 day field session.

Virtual Session 1 – Hosted every Monday from Nov – Feb 5:30-8:30 PM MST

Welcome, review itinerary

Virtual Session 2 – Hosted every Wednesday from Nov – Feb 5:30-8:30 PM MST

Welcome

Field Day 1 – 8:00am – 4:30pm

Course meets at predetermined location
Morning avalanche, weather and safety briefing
Introduction to trailhead rescue gear checks
Introduction to AAI Backcountry Checklist
Companion rescue practice – demonstrations, practice and observation/coaching
Transition to instructor led tour and snowpack observations – introduction to snow pack tests
Terrain tour (ATES) – how to identify avalanche terrain and safely navigate it
Debrief observations in the field and return to trailhead
Assign parameters for day 2 tour plan

Field Day 2 – 8:00am – 4:30pm

Meet at trailhead
AM Meeting – Backcountry Checklist (avalanches, snowpack, weather)
Trailhead transceiver function check
Student/Instructor-led tour: Terrain Identification, recording observations in field books, snowpack tests / observations, weather observations, review companion rescue
Return to trailhead – Checklist debrief in small groups followed by large group discussion
Course wrap up & next steps

Optional Learning Resources — All Season Long

1 Virtual Sessions: Held every Monday and Wednesday prior to your field days. Links sent with confirmation emails.

2 Pre-Course Zoom: Short zoom meeting to discuss logistics for field session, night before class.  Links are sent out by the Course Leader

3 Field locations TBD

All of our courses can be run as custom outings.  If your group is interested in a custom avalanche training course, please call us at 720-387-8944.

The nature of this pandemic requires us to be flexible and adaptable in how we deliver a quality training experience. Rest assured, from the moment you enroll all the way up to your course field days and beyond, our instructors will be a part of your learning progression and will provide you with the tools and resources you need to best prepare for your winter backcountry adventures. If you’d like to learn more about what we are doing to manage COVID-19 risk for our students and guides, please view our COVID-19 FAQ page.

Why Take a course with the American Avalanche Institute?

• The AAI curriculum was developed, refined and honed by working Professionals in some of the most avalanche prone mountain ranges of North America.
• Our Instructors are educators, not just minimally qualified instructors
• We spend the majority of the course in the mountains, not indoors
• We provide valuable pre-course material to help you prepare
• We provide bonus education opportunities to help you keep learning
• Our Instructors are career guides, with decades of personal backcountry experience
• We have a full-time office staff of GUIDES to answer all of your questions
• Dozens of course dates to meet our guests scheduling needs
• Get avalanche training in the ski venue you ski in locally