AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course at Snoqualmie Pass
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- 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
This program requires at least 3 participants to run.
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 8:30 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead
- 9:00 am - Cover fundamental avalanche rescue skills
- 10:30am -3:00pm - Instructor rescue demo and participant led scenarios
- 3:00-3:30 - Course ends
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
The AIARE Rescue Course can be taken either before OR after the AIARE 1 Course
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
- Mt Baker-Snoqualmie 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
Washington 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:
Know Before you go
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.
8:45 am Meet your guide at The Trailhead. Open with introductions, gear-up and tour into the rescue zone. We’ll begin with covering gear and fundamental skills before moving into an instructor rescue demo and participant-led scenarios.
4:00 pm We'll wind down the program to tour to the trailhead and debrief the major learning lessons of the day.
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- 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
This program requires at least 3 participants to run.
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 8:30 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead
- 9:00 am - Cover fundamental avalanche rescue skills
- 10:30am -3:00pm - Instructor rescue demo and participant led scenarios
- 3:00-3:30 - Course ends
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
The AIARE Rescue Course can be taken either before OR after the AIARE 1 Course
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
- Mt Baker-Snoqualmie 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
Washington 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:
the blackbird difference
We’re here to help. Our FAQs or Gear Lists might have the information you’re seeking. But If you’re not finding the information you need, we’d be happy to help!