A private version of our Blackbird AIARE programs, just for you & your team. Using the same content as our classic AIARE courses, we tailor the venue & field days to your group's specific abilities & needs. It's a great way to bond with your backcountry ski partners & dial the course to your needs.
Pricing is based on groups of 6 participants for each AIARE Instructor. The price is fixed regardless of groups size, so for private groups of 6 the pricing is the same as our open enrollment courses. For groups of less than 6 participants, the cost will be more for each participant.
AIARE Avalanche Courses in Washington - Private
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear
Choose your AIARE course type from:
- AIARE 1: Our AIARE 1 Avalanche Course features two full days in the field and an interactive online course built by Blackbird Mountain Guides. It provides a foundation for assessing and managing avalanche hazard as well as finding the best turns in the backcountry!
Don't need a Private Course? Book an Open Enrollment AIARE 1 Course
- AIARE Rescue: Our Avalanche Rescue Course allows you to practice avalanche rescue scenarios to learn how to effectively perform a companion rescue for a teammate buried in an avalanche.
Don't need a Private Course? Book an Open Enrollment AIARE Rescue Course
- AIARE 1 + Rescue: The Blackbird AIARE 1 + Rescue delivers all of the essential skills you need to make sound decisions in avalanche terrain and be a great backcountry skiing partner including, field observations, travel techniques, decision-making, and avalanche rescue training in a comprehensive 3-day course.
Don't need a Private Course? Book an Open Enrollment AIARE 1 + Rescue Course
- AIARE 2: Building on AIARE 1 and the Avalanche Rescue Course, we dive deeper into weather, snow, route planning, human dynamics, and avalanche terrain to give you more confidence leading your group and making decisions in avalanche terrain. These skills will help you tackle bigger tours, higher peaks and the great snowy ranges of the world!
Don't need a Private Course? Book an Open Enrollment AIARE 2 Course
- AIARE 2 + Rescue: Competing the Avalanche Rescue course is a pre-requisite for AIARE 2. This combination will enable you to first complete your Rescue course on Day 1 and then AIARE 2 curriculum on Days 2 and 3. The AIARE 2 + Rescue is only available as a Private Course.
The itinerary for your course depends on the type of course you choose:
- AIARE 1: 2 Days
- AIARE Rescue: 1 Day
- AIARE 1+ Rescue: 3 Days
- AIARE 2: 2 Days
- AIARE 2 + Rescue: 3 Days
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Advanced Resort Riding skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions
- Basic Backcountry Touring Skills - Including familiarity with equipment and avalanche gear
- Basic Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 3-5 miles and climb 1,000-1,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
- Ski/Split Touring & Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
- National Forest Permit
- Interactive Online Course with lifetime access (For AIARE 1 and 2)
- AIARE Field Book (a $30 value)
- AIARE Certification/Student Fees (a $35 value)
- Group Safety Gear - Snow Science, First Aid Kits
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal, in compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Ski & Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear
- Transportation
- Meals
- Winter Parking Passes
- Guide Gratuities
- Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski/Split Touring Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Backcountry Essentials in Bellingham, Evo in Seattle, or Evo in Snoqualmie.
Know Before you go
Mt Baker
Price/Person
$625.00
Private Programs
Duration: 1-3 Days
View Full Itinerary
Private Programs
Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.
Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.
Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.
Full Itinerary
Itinerary varies according to your course selection
Choose your AIARE course type from:
- AIARE 1: Our AIARE 1 Avalanche Course features two full days in the field and an interactive online course built by Blackbird Mountain Guides. It provides a foundation for assessing and managing avalanche hazard as well as finding the best turns in the backcountry!
Don't need a Private Course? Book an Open Enrollment AIARE 1 Course
- AIARE Rescue: Our Avalanche Rescue Course allows you to practice avalanche rescue scenarios to learn how to effectively perform a companion rescue for a teammate buried in an avalanche.
Don't need a Private Course? Book an Open Enrollment AIARE Rescue Course
- AIARE 1 + Rescue: The Blackbird AIARE 1 + Rescue delivers all of the essential skills you need to make sound decisions in avalanche terrain and be a great backcountry skiing partner including, field observations, travel techniques, decision-making, and avalanche rescue training in a comprehensive 3-day course.
Don't need a Private Course? Book an Open Enrollment AIARE 1 + Rescue Course
- AIARE 2: Building on AIARE 1 and the Avalanche Rescue Course, we dive deeper into weather, snow, route planning, human dynamics, and avalanche terrain to give you more confidence leading your group and making decisions in avalanche terrain. These skills will help you tackle bigger tours, higher peaks and the great snowy ranges of the world!
Don't need a Private Course? Book an Open Enrollment AIARE 2 Course
- AIARE 2 + Rescue: Competing the Avalanche Rescue course is a pre-requisite for AIARE 2. This combination will enable you to first complete your Rescue course on Day 1 and then AIARE 2 curriculum on Days 2 and 3. The AIARE 2 + Rescue is only available as a Private Course.
The itinerary for your course depends on the type of course you choose:
- AIARE 1: 2 Days
- AIARE Rescue: 1 Day
- AIARE 1+ Rescue: 3 Days
- AIARE 2: 2 Days
- AIARE 2 + Rescue: 3 Days
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Advanced Resort Riding skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions
- Basic Backcountry Touring Skills - Including familiarity with equipment and avalanche gear
- Basic Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 3-5 miles and climb 1,000-1,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
- Ski/Split Touring & Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
- National Forest Permit
- Interactive Online Course with lifetime access (For AIARE 1 and 2)
- AIARE Field Book (a $30 value)
- AIARE Certification/Student Fees (a $35 value)
- Group Safety Gear - Snow Science, First Aid Kits
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal, in compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Ski & Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear
- Transportation
- Meals
- Winter Parking Passes
- Guide Gratuities
- Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski/Split Touring Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Backcountry Essentials in Bellingham, Evo in Seattle, or Evo in Snoqualmie.
Blackbird runs more courses and trains more students than any other AIARE Avalanche Education provider in North America.
Skiers skinning up during their AIARE 1 + Rescue course as they learn to safety plan and execute a tour.
Students practicing rescue drills during an AIARE 1 + Rescue course at Snoqualmie Pass
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
9 reviews
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsNothing but professional!
From start to finish Blackbird guides were nothing but professional. I took my AIARE 2 with them and got what I was looking for and more. The virtual session and classroom was very informative and helped solidify the knowledge we applied in the field session. Our field instructor John was incredibly experienced and also made the class a lot of fun. He did a great job assessing our groups skill and experience and cultivating the course to suit our interests. I came from the course with a whole new tool kit of backcountry knowledge, from route choice, to snow pit profiles, to weather forecasting. If you're looking for a realistic hands on experience for your AIARE, Blackbird is the way to go.
Evan W. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsAbsolutely Critical Backcountry Learning Experience
I have spent decades venturing into the backcountry, but always with a professional guide. I felt like I had a lot of hands-on knowledge, but taking the AIARE 1 avalanche course from Blackbird Mountain Guides made me realize how much more I still have to learn. Our instructor, Even Haines, was so knowledgable and open for questions that I truly learned an immense amount of information about navigating the backcountry safely. I highly recommend this course to every backcountry enthusiast, beginner to advanced. I now have some many more tools in my backcountry toolbox to help me be a better informed participant in the backcountry. Thank you
Steve T.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsGreat learning and fun despite poor snow conditions!
Our guide John did a great job of keeping an experienced group engaged, and despite terrible snow conditions (and general lack of snow, super high winds, etc.) we had a great time. Great practice and review on some topics, and expanded knowledge based on foundations learned in previous courses and/or experiences.
Big thanks to John!
Chris C.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsAmazing and informational course
Our group crew booked a private AIARE 1 through Blackbird and had a fantastic time. Not only did they run a very well organized and informative course, but it was a lot of fun, and we all enjoyed exploring the backcountry with our guide, Evan. I would recommend BlackBird Mountain Guides for courses or expeditions to anyone interested in learning how to be safe in the backcountry. Thanks for an informative and fun couple of days in the field.
Luke D.Verified Buyer
the blackbird difference
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