Students practicing rescue drills during an AIARE 1 +Rescue Avalanche course. A beacon is buried to simulate a burial victim.

AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche Course in Tahoe

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Prices for the 2025/26 winter season will be increasing soon. Book today to lock in the best rate of the season and guarantee your spot before courses fill.

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The Blackbird AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche Course 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 lift-assisted avalanche rescue training in our innovative 3-day Tahoe based course.

Includes our Lift-Accessed Avalanche Rescue Course

Please let us know if you would like to be in the same group as other participants in the notes section when booking! We cannot accommodate last minute group switches.

Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear

During your AIARE 1 + Rescue course, we'll cover the following topics and skills:

AIARE 1 Course Curriculum

  • Mountain Snowpack
  • Mountain Weather
  • The Avalanche Problems
  • Trip Planning
  • Snow and Weather Observations
  • Terrain Choice
  • Human Factors and Assembling your Team
  • Trailhead Departure Check
  • Route Finding
  • Track Setting
  • Descent Choices
AIARE Rescue Course
  • What to do if you're caught in an avalanche
  • What to do if your partner is caught in an avalanche
  • How to use your beacon, shovel and probe
  • Rescue equipment technology
  • Rescue techniques for companion and small team rescue
  • How terrain affects an avalanche rescue and how to use terrain to your advantage
  • Visual search, transceiver search and spot probing
  • Strategies for using your gear effectively

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between AIARE 1 and AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche courses?

    AIARE 1 is a 24 hour program, typically with 8 of those hours devoted to classroom study. Of the remaining 16 hours, eight is typically devoted to planning and executing a ski tour and 4 hours are for a snow pit, observations, terrain, decision making, etc (full list below), and 4 hours are for avalanche rescue practice.

    Our AIARE 1 + Rescue adds a day of field work, which not only provides more comprehensive rescue training, but it allows us to cover the rest of critical the AIARE 1 topics in much more depth than a normal AIARE 1 course since none of the 16 hours devoted to AIARE 1 time are used for rescue practice (there is a full day for this built in!).

    You'll walk away with vastly superior avalanche rescue skills and more firsthand knowledge of terrain, snowpack and observations. For more benefits of the AIARE 1 + Rescue course check our blog post: What's the difference between AIARE 1 and AIARE 1 + Rescue?

Why choose an AIARE 1 + Rescue avalanche course in Tahoe?

    Tahoe is an ideal location for the AIARE 1 + Rescue course due to its diverse terrain, deep snowpack, and dynamic weather conditions. The area’s steep bowls, couloirs, tree-lined slopes, and open meadows provide real-world scenarios for assessing avalanche risks.

    Tahoe's consistent snowfall creates a layered snowpack, allowing students to practice stability tests and rescue techniques in varied conditions, from fresh powder to wind slabs. Its rapidly changing weather offers hands-on experience in reading avalanche forecasts and adapting to evolving conditions. Accessible from the Bay Area and major cities, including Sacramento and Reno, Tahoe combines convenience with an immersive backcountry learning environment, supported by a strong local avalanche community and top-tier guides.

What is a lift-accessed Avalanche Rescue course and what are the benefits vs. a regular Avalanche Rescue course?

    A lift-accessed avalanche rescue course is designed to maximize practice and learning by using ski resort lifts for quick access to realistic avalanche terrain. This approach allows participants to focus on essential skills such as transceiver searches, team rescue coordination, and descending while searching, without the time-consuming transitions of backcountry courses. The ease of access ensures more rescue scenarios are covered, improving proficiency in life-saving techniques. Additionally, the varied terrain and safe environment of ski resorts enhance the learning experience.

    For more info, check out our blog post on the advantages of a lift-accessed rescue course

Why choose Blackbird Mountain Guides for your AIARE 1 + Rescue course?:

    Whether it's for our expert, AIARE-certified instructors, flexible online learning options, or practical, lift-accessed rescue training, there are many reason why students choose us. Our courses focus on real-world skills in varied terrain, making learning more efficient and applicable. Additionally, the combination of high-quality instruction and innovative course formats helps our students retain knowledge and stay prepared for real avalanche scenarios. This makes us a trusted choice for anyone serious about avalanche safety education.

    For more info check out our blog post about what makes Blackbird's AIARE courses different.

This program requires at least 3 participants to run.

*Early season courses (Nov-Dec ) are snowfall- and conditions-dependent. We will let students know 10-14 days ahead of their course date if there is a chance it will not run. If we are unable to run the course, students can reschedule to a later date at no cost. Keep in mind however, that courses fill up fast and we may not be able to reschedule you until later in the season!

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 at the end of your Field Day 1. Your logistics email the week of your course will confirm the day, time and Zoom link

  • Field Day 1 - AIARE Rescue - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the ski area (either Donner Ski Ranch or Tahoe Donner), 3:00-3:30pm end time.

  • Field Day 2 - AIARE 1 - 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

  • Field Day 3 - AIARE 1 - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead, 3:30-4:00pm end time. Course venue will be determined after Field Day 2, 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
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

Here's what's included with your course:

  • Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
  • Tahoe or Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Permit
  • Lift Ticket (a $50 value)
  • 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
Not Included
  • Ski/Splitboard Gear
  • Avalanche Gear
  • Transportation
  • Meals
  • Winter Parking Passes
  • Guide Gratuities

Tahoe Backcountry Skiing Gear List

Know Before you go

SKILL LEVELTouring Experience
ELEVATION6,000’-9,000’
LocationTahoe
Price/Person $925.00
Private Programs
Duration: 3 Days
View Full Itinerary

PRIVATE PROGRAMS

  • Custom Scheduling: Choose your dates and plan around your availability.
  • Tailored Experiences: Itineraries and objectives are adjusted to suit your goals, experience, and fitness.
  • Cost-Effective for Most Large Groups: Private programs are typically more cost-effective for groups of 3 or more.
  • Flexibility Comes at a Price: For groups of 1-2, private programs are generally more expensive.
  • AIARE Courses: AIARE course pricing is based on a group of 6. Running these as a private program with fewer than 6 participants will increase the per-person cost.

SCHEDULED PROGRAMS

  • Fixed Dates & Costs: Scheduled programs have set dates, itineraries, objectives, and pricing.
  • Great for Solo or Small Groups: Ideal for individuals or small groups looking to share costs with others.
  • Affordable for 1-2 People: Scheduled programs are typically less expensive for groups of 1-2.
  • Less Flexibility: Dates fill quickly, and group programs require adapting to the skill level and pace of all participants
  • Group Atmosphere: Meet others with similar interests and make some new backcountry buddies!

Note: Any scheduled program can also be run as a private program with customized dates and rates.

Both options offer exceptional guiding and experiences. Choose what works best for you!

Contact us
Full Itinerary

Day 1: Avalanche Rescue

8:00 am  Meet your guide at Donner Ski Ranch ski resort.  Open with introductions, gear-up and load the lifts.  If lifts are not available due to ski resort operations, we will use an alternative touring-based venue and will adjust the pricing accordingly to reflect unused lift tickets.  We’ll begin with covering gear and fundamental skills before moving into an instructor rescue demo and participant-led scenarios.

3:00-3:30pm  We'll wind down the program to exit the ski area before close and debrief the major learning lessons of the day.

7:00-9:00 pm  Webinar to cover AIARE 1 Avalanche Course content.  We may choose to do this section in person depending on where participants are staying for the evening, weather and other factors that will be worked out with the team.

 

Day 2: AIARE 1: Observations & Snowpack Tests

8:00 am  Meet your guide and review the plan for the day. The day will center around observations, assessment of weather and snowpack, and evaluating and moving through or near avalanche terrain.

3:30 pm  We will close the day with a margin of daylight remaining when we hit the trailhead.  Safely back at the cars, we’ll review the day and debrief the decisions we made.  Debriefs are very helpful for building useful experience quickly!

 

Day 3: AIARE 1: Backcountry Tour

8:00 am  Meet your guide at the trailhead, ready with weather and avalanche hazard forecasts.  We’ll review the plan for the day, including a discussion of the day’s avalanche problem, the proposed route up and options for the ascent and descent.  The guide will facilitate a Trailhead Departure Check/Beacon Check.

8:30 am  We’ll begin the tour, making decisions based on our trip plan, weather forecast and the avalanche advisory for the day.  Along the way, we’ll make snowpack and weather observations and open discussions on where we should go and how we should travel. Your guide will provide insights and foster sound decision making as the group navigates the challenges of the terrain, snowpack and weather.  

3:30pm  We will once again close the program with a margin of daylight remaining when we hit the trailhead and we’ll debrief the day.  Once we’ve covered the decisions and outcomes of the day, we’ll close the course with thoughts on the best ways to move forward with your backcountry progression! 

During your AIARE 1 + Rescue course, we'll cover the following topics and skills:

AIARE 1 Course Curriculum

  • Mountain Snowpack
  • Mountain Weather
  • The Avalanche Problems
  • Trip Planning
  • Snow and Weather Observations
  • Terrain Choice
  • Human Factors and Assembling your Team
  • Trailhead Departure Check
  • Route Finding
  • Track Setting
  • Descent Choices
AIARE Rescue Course
  • What to do if you're caught in an avalanche
  • What to do if your partner is caught in an avalanche
  • How to use your beacon, shovel and probe
  • Rescue equipment technology
  • Rescue techniques for companion and small team rescue
  • How terrain affects an avalanche rescue and how to use terrain to your advantage
  • Visual search, transceiver search and spot probing
  • Strategies for using your gear effectively

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between AIARE 1 and AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche courses?

    AIARE 1 is a 24 hour program, typically with 8 of those hours devoted to classroom study. Of the remaining 16 hours, eight is typically devoted to planning and executing a ski tour and 4 hours are for a snow pit, observations, terrain, decision making, etc (full list below), and 4 hours are for avalanche rescue practice.

    Our AIARE 1 + Rescue adds a day of field work, which not only provides more comprehensive rescue training, but it allows us to cover the rest of critical the AIARE 1 topics in much more depth than a normal AIARE 1 course since none of the 16 hours devoted to AIARE 1 time are used for rescue practice (there is a full day for this built in!).

    You'll walk away with vastly superior avalanche rescue skills and more firsthand knowledge of terrain, snowpack and observations. For more benefits of the AIARE 1 + Rescue course check our blog post: What's the difference between AIARE 1 and AIARE 1 + Rescue?

Why choose an AIARE 1 + Rescue avalanche course in Tahoe?

    Tahoe is an ideal location for the AIARE 1 + Rescue course due to its diverse terrain, deep snowpack, and dynamic weather conditions. The area’s steep bowls, couloirs, tree-lined slopes, and open meadows provide real-world scenarios for assessing avalanche risks.

    Tahoe's consistent snowfall creates a layered snowpack, allowing students to practice stability tests and rescue techniques in varied conditions, from fresh powder to wind slabs. Its rapidly changing weather offers hands-on experience in reading avalanche forecasts and adapting to evolving conditions. Accessible from the Bay Area and major cities, including Sacramento and Reno, Tahoe combines convenience with an immersive backcountry learning environment, supported by a strong local avalanche community and top-tier guides.

What is a lift-accessed Avalanche Rescue course and what are the benefits vs. a regular Avalanche Rescue course?

    A lift-accessed avalanche rescue course is designed to maximize practice and learning by using ski resort lifts for quick access to realistic avalanche terrain. This approach allows participants to focus on essential skills such as transceiver searches, team rescue coordination, and descending while searching, without the time-consuming transitions of backcountry courses. The ease of access ensures more rescue scenarios are covered, improving proficiency in life-saving techniques. Additionally, the varied terrain and safe environment of ski resorts enhance the learning experience.

    For more info, check out our blog post on the advantages of a lift-accessed rescue course

Why choose Blackbird Mountain Guides for your AIARE 1 + Rescue course?:

    Whether it's for our expert, AIARE-certified instructors, flexible online learning options, or practical, lift-accessed rescue training, there are many reason why students choose us. Our courses focus on real-world skills in varied terrain, making learning more efficient and applicable. Additionally, the combination of high-quality instruction and innovative course formats helps our students retain knowledge and stay prepared for real avalanche scenarios. This makes us a trusted choice for anyone serious about avalanche safety education.

    For more info check out our blog post about what makes Blackbird's AIARE courses different.

This program requires at least 3 participants to run.

*Early season courses (Nov-Dec ) are snowfall- and conditions-dependent. We will let students know 10-14 days ahead of their course date if there is a chance it will not run. If we are unable to run the course, students can reschedule to a later date at no cost. Keep in mind however, that courses fill up fast and we may not be able to reschedule you until later in the season!

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 at the end of your Field Day 1. Your logistics email the week of your course will confirm the day, time and Zoom link

  • Field Day 1 - AIARE Rescue - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the ski area (either Donner Ski Ranch or Tahoe Donner), 3:00-3:30pm end time.

  • Field Day 2 - AIARE 1 - 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

  • Field Day 3 - AIARE 1 - 8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead, 3:30-4:00pm end time. Course venue will be determined after Field Day 2, 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
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

Here's what's included with your course:

  • Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
  • Tahoe or Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Permit
  • Lift Ticket (a $50 value)
  • 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
Not Included
  • Ski/Splitboard Gear
  • Avalanche Gear
  • Transportation
  • Meals
  • Winter Parking Passes
  • Guide Gratuities

Tahoe Backcountry Skiing Gear List

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Blackbird runs more courses and trains more students than any other AIARE Avalanche Education provider in North America.
Snowboarders hiking a ridge during an AIARE 1 avalanche course with Blackbird Guides in North Lake Tahoe
A skiier makes turns in thick powder during the tour portion of their AIARE Avalanche course.
Skiers skinning up during their AIARE 1 + Rescue course as they learn to safety plan and execute a tour.

Epic Reviews From Adventurers

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99 reviews
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Can't imagine a better experience!

    Had a really awesome time doing my AIARE 1 with Jason at Blackbird Mountain Guides. Couldn't have imagined a better experience--learned a ton and got some really great skiing in along the way!

    Trent R.
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  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5 Avy Course!

    5/5 Avy Course!

    Weiqi Z.
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  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Super informative and made me feel a lot safer!

    I did the avy rescue course + AIARE 1 last week. Zeb was the instructor for the first day where we focused on avalanche rescue specifics. It was super informative and made me feel a lot safer about venturing into the backcountry. Zeb was really easy to listen to and learn from. The 2nd day was out in the field with John, who was an amazing instructor. He was super patient with us and extremely knowledgeable. We've gone out and done two expeditions since finishing the course last week, and I could not be more grateful for what we learned and the experience we had with Zeb and John.

    Nick C.
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  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Fantastic instruction and guidance!

    My group did a private AIARE Level One course with Mark and received fantastic instruction and guidance. Mark was attentive to what we wanted to learn while following the AIARE 1 curriculum. He brought a great level of stoke throughout the 2 days and inspired us to build good backcountry habits while having fun. Furthermore, Zeb the business owner worked closely with us to accommodate the group, follow COVID policies and meet our needs. I would highly recommend Blackbird for an AIARE course and will certainly sign on with them for future adventures.

    Eli Y.
    Flag of United States
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