Avalanche Level 1 (AIARE) Decision Making In Avalanche Terrain: Puget Sound

The AIARE Rec 1 is an introduction to avalanche hazard management for backcountry recreationalists. Students can expect to develop a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a backcountry trip to understand basic decision making while in the field and to learn techniques required to locate and rescue a buried partner. At the end of the AIARE Rec 1 course the student should be able to: develop a plan for travel in avalanche terrain demonstrate the ability to identify avalanche terrain effectively use the AIARE Decision Making Framework to make terrain choices in a group setting and demonstrate effective companion rescue. This course consists of 1 classroom day at an REI location and 2 field days near Snoqualmie Pass for a total of 24 hours of instruction. For the field portion students will need appropriate alpine touring (AT) telemark splitboard or snowshoe equipment. Participants should be able to ascend moderate slopes (using skins if sking/splitboarding) and descend effectively in a variety of snow conditions. The AIARE 1 is for anyone regardless of method of travel who wants to recreate in or near avalanche terrain. Participants may have attended some awareness classes or workshops or completed the Avalanche Rescue course but none are a prerequisite for this course. This course is taught by Pro Guiding in partnership with REI and meets AIARE 1 certification requirements.