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 California - 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.
Lift-Assisted AIARE Rescue - North Lake Tahoe Only
Blackbird Blog: Why your Rescue course should be Lift-Assisted
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
California 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
South Lake
Mammoth
Price/Person
$645.00
Private Programs
Duration: 1-3 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!
Full Itinerary
Itinerary varies according to your course selection/strong>
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.
Lift-Assisted AIARE Rescue - North Lake Tahoe Only
Blackbird Blog: Why your Rescue course should be Lift-Assisted
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
California 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.
Blackbird runs more courses and trains more students than any other AIARE Avalanche Education provider in North America.
Students learning to perform snow pit shear test during an AIARE 1 Avalanche course.
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
11 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
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