AIARE LEVEL 2 BACKCOUNTRY
Take your backcountry skiing to the next level this winter with an AIARE Level 2 course. Start by refreshing the skills you learned in your AIARE Level 1 course, then continue on to more advanced concepts and skills. Prepare your team to travel farther, higher and with greater efficiency into new terrain with increased confidence.
Topics covered will include:
- In-Depth Avalanche Anatomy
- Complex Weather
- Snowpack Analysis
- Advanced Terrain Management
- Progressive Travel Techniques
BOOKING
Ready to start your avalanche education? Our guides are excited to work with you. Register on this page with the accompanying calendar. For more information, please visit our Contact Page.
AIARE LEVEL 2 – QUICK INFO
Learn the decision-making skills necessary to evaluate and travel in avalanche terrain in an AIARE Level 2 course with the Vail Valley’s #1 Recommended Apex Mountain School. The prerequisites for this course include an Avalanche Rescue course and any AAA certified Level 1 course.
Also available by private – visit our private avalanche education page
2022-23 DATES
- January 20-22 (4 available)
- February 10-12 (4 available)
COST
Max ratio 1 instructor to 6 clients
Course: $645
Includes:
- Student Manual
- AIARE Field Book
- Apex Mountain School SWAG (Stuff We All Get)
- 3 Full Field Days
- AIARE Certificate of Completion
DIFFICULTY
Moderate – Difficult
DURATION
Three 8-hour days
LOCATION
Classroom Location – Eagle-Vail, CO (see How to Find Us)
Vail Valley, Vail Pass, Fremont Pass and/or surrounding areas
*Courses run regardless of snow/weather conditions*
NOTE: Participants must complete an AIARE Level 1 and Rescue course before taking the level 2
See our inclusion policy for special group requests.
PREREQUISITES
This course is available to all ages 12 and up. (Ages 12-14 requires parents to attend also. All minor registrations must contact the office in advance of booking for prescreening approval.)
NOTE: Participants must complete an AIARE Level 1 and Rescue course before taking the level 2
Students should be prepared to travel in backcountry terrain by ski or splitboard (or snowshoe, if no other option). The course takes place in mountainous terrain, at altitude. At times, weather can be harsh. As a result, we urge that students come prepared for unfavorable conditions. Suggestions for proper attire are located in the “to bring” tab.
Registration for the course is required. Furthermore, we offer Private Courses in which you will be taught in a personal setting with your own instructor.
TOPICS INCLUDE:
- Route/Trip Planning
- Communication
- Navigation
- Terrain Management
- How to assign a leader
- Organize a group
- Implement structured search patterns
- Recovery
Similarly, we adapt to the individual and collective skill levels of the participants. As a result, we provide the greatest value to the participant based on where they are with their combined rescue skills. Altogether, these skills may include the subsequent rescue techniques.
- Avalanche rescue
- Multiple burial
- Deep burial
- Triage
- Other aspects of backcountry rescue
Additionally, winter travel in the Colorado Rockies and beyond demands a strong knowledge of the following items in order to appropriately assess and manage risk.
- Avalanche terrain
- Avalanche types and characteristics
- Human characteristics
- Group dynamics
WHAT TO BRING
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
- Beacon/probe/shovel (rental available)
- Clothing for activities and standing in cold/snowy weather (no cotton
- Long underwear
- Insulating layers
- Outer layer (wind/waterproof shell pant and top)
- Down puffy
- Warm gloves, mitts, headband, and hat/facemask/buff
- Goggles and sunglassesSmall personal first aid kit (sunscreen/lip-balm, moleskin, band-aids, medication, etc.)
- Helmet (recommended)
- Water Bottle
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- Pack
- Food and water/hot liquid!
ALIPINE TOURING, TELEMARK OR SPLITBOARDING EQUIPMENT
- • You are required to arrive with equipment. Whether yours or rental, understand how to use your equipment in advance, how to transition the equipment, skins are cut and all equipment is functional and in working order PRIOR to our field days.
RESCUE EQUIPMENT
- Avalanche probe – 260 cm or longer, no integrated ski pole probes or shovel-packed probes
- Collapsible metal shovel
- Digital avalanche transceiver (457 kHz frequency)
- Air bag (optional)
- Personal first aid kit (blisters, meds, wound care, gloves/face shield, splinting material, sugar etc.)
- Repair kit, specific to your mode of travel (consider multi-tool, bit driver, hose clamps, straps, spare screws, tape, zip ties, spare basket, pole repair, spark plugs, drive belt etc…)
- Insulating pad (can be part of pack)
- Rescue sled, portable w/ supporting slings/straps (OPTIONAL, one per group is sufficient)
- Emergency shelter as appropriate (OPTIONAL, space blanket, guide’s tarp, bivy sac / bothy bag etc…)
SNOW STUDY / OBSERVATION EQUIPMENT
- CLINOMETER/inclinometer
- 2 mechanical pencils
- Field notebook (Apex provides these)
- 3m long intermittently knotted cord (2-4mm thick) or manufactured Rutschblock cord
- Snow saw (min 35cm blade). 70-100cm folding long-saw may replace Rutschblock cord.
- Snow thermometers (qty 2, graduated in degrees Celsius, not Fahrenheit). Dial stem and/or glass/alcohol types are commonly used. Electronic thermometers are acceptable – be sure to have extra batteries.
- Crystal identification screen; dark color
- Magnifier (Otherwise known as Loupe), 10x-15x
- Folding ruler (graduated in centimeters. 2 meter length)
- You will need a laptop, tablet or smartphone for accessing weather stations and submitting observations (bring to class each day).
NAVEGATION TOOLS
- Terrain Images (optional)
- Local maps
- Compass
- Altimeter/GPS or smartphone
- Small binocular or monocular for distance viewing
- Communications equipment (all optional, as Apex has):
- Two-way radio, GMRS or VHF
- Satellite phone or transponder (SPOT, DeLorme)
BOOKS
- Avalanche Handbook (2006 3rd Edition, available for purchase from Apex)
- SWAG book (Snow, weather, and avalanches: observation guidelines for avalanche programs in the US, 2010, available for purchase from Apex)
- You will need a laptop, tablet or smartphone for accessing weather stations and submitting observations (bring to class each day).
When Federally, Statewide, or Locally mandated and/or recommended, or when deemed appropriate by Apex staff, all students will be required to wear a COVID-apprioprate face covering at all times.
CURRICULUM
- Reinforcement of Level 1 fundamentals
- Snow profiles, surface condition analysis, and the formation of snowpack over time
- Theory and observation of skier-triggered slides
- Forecasting, avalanche observation and recording guidelines per U.S. and International guidelines
- Small group travel and decision making
APPLYING SKILLS
Following classroom sessions, we will travel by backcountry ski or splitboard to apply learned skills in a mountain environment, with a focus on:
- Analysis of snow stability
- Route selection and terrain analysis
- Slope tests
- Reinforcement of level 1 probe and shovel techniques, as well as rescue techniques for single and multiple burials.
