Avalanche Safety

Avalanche awareness and safety training is a must for anyone who engages in winter activities in the backcountry, including backcountry skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, climbing, and backpacking to name a few. 

The Colorado Mountain Club offers courses from the American Institute of Avalanche Research Education (AIARE). AIARE Level 1, Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain, teaches you to recognize avalanche terrain, how to assess when it is safe to be in the area, and rescue techniques. Topics coverd include: snow pack evaluation, hazard analysis, safe travel techniques, companion rescue using beacon, shovel, probe.  

In 2021, AIARE is moving to online webinars and videos for student self-paced instruction replacing previous classroom time. Field sessions are held each of the three days of the 24-hour course. 

If you're not planning to travel in avalanche terrain, then we recommend you start by taking an Avalanche Terrain Avoidance (ATA) seminar. This course teaches you where to find information on avalanche conditions and how to avoid avalanche terrain while in the backcountry. 

AIARE Companion Rescue is an 8-hour field course that teaches usage of beacon/shovel/probe and techniques to extract a burried victim. 

Scholarships are available to support continued education and training for CMC trip leaders and instructors. Click here for more information

2020 Schedule:

AIARE Level 1

• December 2-3 and 5-6 (Boulder Group)
• December 9-10 and 12-13 (Boulder Group)
• December 16-17 and 19-20 (Boulder Group)

AIARE Companion Rescue

• December 11 (Boulder Group)

2021 Schedule:

AIARE Level 1​

• January 6-7 and 9-10 (Boulder Group)
• January 8-10 (Denver Group)
• January 13-14 and 16-17 (Boulder Group)
• January 20-21 and 23-24 (Boulder Group)
• January 22-24 (Denver Group)
• February 3-4 and 6-7 (Boulder Group)
• February 11-14 (Boulder Group)
• February 17-18 and 20-21 (Boulder Group)
• March 3-4 and 6-7 (Boulder Group)
• March 10-11 and 13-14 (Boulder Group)
• March 22-24 (Denver Group)
• March 26-28 (Denver Group)

AIARE Level 2

• March 12-14 (Boulder Group)

AIARE Companion Rescue

• January 30 (Boulder Group)
• February 27 (Boulder Group)
• March 13 (Boulder Group)

Seminar via Zoom January 13 6:30-8:30 pm - Limit 40

Four Field Exercises - Limit 10 per session

• January 15 from 8:00 am - 11:30 am
• January 15 from 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
• January 16 from 8:00 am - 11:30 am
• January 16 from 12:30 pm- 3:30 pm

Seminar via Zoom February 2 6:30-8:30 pm - Limit 40

Four Field Exercises - Limit 10 per session

• February 5 from 8:00 am - 11:30 am
• February 5 from 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
• February 6 from 8:00 am - 11:30 am
• February 6 from 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Students must register for both the seminar and one of the field sessions applicable to the seminar date for which they register.