A private version of our Blackbird AIARE 1 program, just for you & your team. Using the same content as our classic AIARE 1 avalanche course, 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 1 Avalanche Course in California - Private
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- Mountain Snowpack
- Mountain Weather
- The Avalanche Problems
- Trip Planning
- Snow and Weather Observations
- How to Practice Small Team Avalanche Rescue
- Terrain Choice
- Human Factors and Assembling your Team
- Trailhead Departure Check
- Route Finding
- Track Setting
- Descent Choices
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 6 Hour Online Course - can be completed any time prior to the pre-field webinar
- 2 Hour Pre-Field Zoom Webinar - 7:00-9:00pm the Wednesday before the field days
- Field Day 1 - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead, 3:30-4:00pm end time. Course venue will be determined after the pre-field webinar, based on weather and snow conditions
- Field Day 2 - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead, 3:30-4:00pm end time. Course venue will be determined after Field Day 1, based on weather and snow conditions
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
- 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
Tahoe Backcountry Skiing Gear List
- 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 Tahoe Sports Hub - use code BLACKBIRD10 for 10% off at checkout.
Know Before you go
Price
$625.00
Private Programs
Duration: 2.5 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
Online Coursework (6 hours)
Immediately after signing up for Blackbird AIARE 1, you can begin learning. Take the Online Coursework whenever it makes sense for you. You’ll need roughly 6 hours to complete this portion of the course. This education is for your own development and understanding, so study hard and come up with some good questions for your instructor. The more knowledge you have before you arrive to the field, the more you and your fellow participants will get out of the course.
Please take notes and write down questions as you progress through the online coursework so that we can review them in the “Pre-Field Webinar.”
Pre-Field Webinar (2 hours)
Before the course, you’ll be invited to a “Pre-Field Webinar” where you avalanche instructor will tie the lessons of the online coursework together with some fun and helpful exercises. After that, there will be time available for questions.
Field Day 1: Avalanche Rescue and Field Observations
8:00 am Meet your guide and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the avalanche problem for the day, the proposed route up and options for the ascent and descent. The guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure Check/Beacon Check.
8:30 am Tour to a zone where we can make snowpack observations pertinent to the current avalanche problem, including a Snow Pit.
12:30 pm Tour to a zone that is appropriate for practicing small team avalanche rescue.
3:30 pm We will close the program at the trailhead with a quick review of the skills that we learned, a synopsis of the avalanche observations that we made and an overview of what to expect the following day in the field.
Field Day 2: Ski Tour with Avalanche Observations and Decision Making
8:00 am We’ll meet at the trailhead for our objective and students will lead us through the weather overnight and forecast for the day, the current avalanche advisory, our route plan and options, an emergency action plan and perform the trailhead beacon check.
Throughout the day we will practice the skills that we’ve learned throughout the program in real time to execute our tour in good style. We’ll practice gathering observations, prioritizing information and making decisions with our teams.
3:30 pm We’ll regroup at the trailhead to debrief the tour and discuss the lessons of the day. Then we will close out the program by providing some guidance on good choices for your next steps in avalanche education and ski touring progression.
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- Mountain Snowpack
- Mountain Weather
- The Avalanche Problems
- Trip Planning
- Snow and Weather Observations
- How to Practice Small Team Avalanche Rescue
- Terrain Choice
- Human Factors and Assembling your Team
- Trailhead Departure Check
- Route Finding
- Track Setting
- Descent Choices
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 6 Hour Online Course - can be completed any time prior to the pre-field webinar
- 2 Hour Pre-Field Zoom Webinar - 7:00-9:00pm the Wednesday before the field days
- Field Day 1 - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead, 3:30-4:00pm end time. Course venue will be determined after the pre-field webinar, based on weather and snow conditions
- Field Day 2 - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead, 3:30-4:00pm end time. Course venue will be determined after Field Day 1, based on weather and snow conditions
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
- 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
Tahoe Backcountry Skiing Gear List
- 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 Tahoe Sports Hub - use code BLACKBIRD10 for 10% off at checkout.
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
4 reviews
- 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 stars5/5 Private AIARE 1 Course!
5/5 Private AIARE 1 Course!
Nancy B. - 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 - Rated 5 out of 5 starsPrivate AIARE 1 In Tahoe
Evan from BlackBird was a super knowledgeable and friendly guide. Full of information from years of experience. The whole group had a great learning experience with him.
I would recommend doing any trips that Evan guides.
Greg T.Verified Buyer
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