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CMC AIARE_Denver AIARE L2, C1 March 11-13, 2025

Risk Management & Avalanche Education Course

AIARE 2 - Denver

The Club's AIARE Level 2 course combines on-line pre-course work, classroom assignments, and field days. The course is about taking the next step in honing your winter BC forecasting skills, snowpack evaluation, a safe, but more challenging touring agenda. For backcountry travelers wanting to advance their decision-making skills, travel in more complicated terrain, and build a travel plan for a small group, this course is going to be good for you. If your goal is to have a deeper understanding of all things snow, improving your planning, communications, risk management and leadership skills, this is the course that can help build it. PREREQUISITES: REQUIRED BADGES - AIARE 1 & AIARE COMPANION RESCUE. IF YOU HAVE TAKEN THESE, BUT DO NOT HAVE THE BADGES, CONTACT office@cmc.org AND HAVE THEM ADD THE BADGES TO YOUR MEMBER PROFILE.

Contacts

Uwe Sartori
Uwe Sartori
Leader

Who Should Take this Course

The AIARE 2 is a three-day course for those who have taken an AIARE 1 and Avalanche Rescue and since then have had at least a year of backcountry travel experience. The AIARE 2 provides backcountry leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision-making skills.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Differentiate where specific avalanche hazards exist within the landscape and identify avalanche terrain where consequences may be more severe.
  • Use and interpret weather, snow, and avalanche observations to locate appropriate terrain prior to entering and while in the field.
  • Demonstrate leadership skills within a small team that include facilitating small group discussion, promoting appropriate terrain selection, and utilizing simple risk management strategies.
  • Implement a basic forecasting framework that can be used in conjunction with and in the absences of local supporting avalanche information.

Prerequisites

  • Participants must have the ability to travel in avalanche terrain.
  • An AIARE 1 Course (strongly recommended) or equivalent Level 1 training is required.
  • A winter of practical experience after the Level 1 course is highly recommended before taking the AIARE 2 course.
  • AIARE or AAA approved one-day Avalanche Rescue Course.

The AIARE Program Leader is Karin Pocock, a 20+ year snow industry professional, and an exceptional educator and guide. Check her out at skylinebackcountryguides.com

Club Membership is required to participate in this course. If you are not currently a member, please sign up for membership prior to registering with this course. Benefits of club membership include gear and event discounts as well as access to more classes, trips and events that enhance your experience of backcountry and mountaineering adventures.

Cost $600

Course Location & Schedule

 Berthoud Pass

Day 1: Georgetown Old School Building. Start time 08:00.  Be prepared to go in the field

Days 2 & 3  Touring led  by students, supported by instructors.  

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

Clothing:  Be prepared to bundle up folks. Even though the course is in mid-March, field days can be very cold with snowy weather. In Colorado that means layers and back-ups. Hand and toe warmers. Extra gloves.

Helmet for skiers and splitboarders

Sunglasses and/or ski goggles

Mode of Travel: AT Skis, Tele skis, split-boards

Food for the day, consider hot drink, water, energy snacks.

Sunblock, personal med kit, your normal repair kit suitable for your gear 

Think 10 essentials to keep you alive in the cold Colorado winter.  We'll cover it and questions in the zoom lectures.

Avalanche Gear - 3-antenna avalanche beacon, avalanche probe, (280cm recommended), and a non-plastic, collapsable avalanche shovel.

If you have questions, please ask.

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.