AIARE Level 2 Course with Irwin Guides

Course Description

The AIARE Avalanche Level 2 course has been designed specifically to meet the needs of advanced students who have taken an AIARE Level 1 and AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course.

The American Institute of Avalanche Safety and Education (AIARE) Level 2 is a 3-day/24-hour course that provides backcountry travelers the opportunity to advance their decision-making skills in more complicated situations such as: leading travel in small groups, traveling in more challenging terrain, and developing travel plans with limited resources.

This course builds on the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in the AIARE Level 1 and adds to the evaluation of critical hazard assessment factors. Students will describe and discuss the weather, snowpack, and avalanche processes and identify how these processes relate to observations and travel within avalanche terrain.

Course Objectives

Students can expect to learn about the following topics:

– 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 includes 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 or in the absence of local supporting avalanche information.