We are SO excited to partner this year with Cascade Mountain Ascents to provide winter programming for the Shifting Gears community.
Important Course Dates:
January 14-15: Evening Zoom Classroom sessions
January 18-19: Full Field Days
Tiered pricing system available based on income.
Register now for this program on CMA’s website.
About this Program:
Continue your avalanche education with our Women’s Affinity AIARE 2 course. This course is for women (queer, trans, and cis-gendered) who are ready to deepen their understanding of the avalanche phenomenon and hone their skills in decision making, terrain management, and tour planning.
AIARE 2 curriculum provides students with the tools and resources to become strong leaders within their touring groups. We’ll dive into facilitation of effective decision processes in the backcountry, up and downhill group travel techniques, and terrain management. Students will build upon the introductory hazard management tools used in their AIARE 1 course and expand their skill set around snowpack, weather, and avalanche processes.
The course is taught by female instructors with specific training in facilitating affinity spaces. The AIARE 2 course is for students who have completed their AIARE 1 (or equivalent), AIARE avalanche rescue course, and possess at least one year of touring experience. Participants who complete this course can also access our discounted Alumni Mentorship Tours for ($100 for a day of professional mentorship) to further develop your skills.
Course Details:
Classroom Sessions: The course begins with two evening Zoom classroom sessions, during which we’ll form as a group and get ready for the field. Lectures and breakout sessions build upon pre-course materials and cover avalanche basics, terrain, decision making, human factors, and more. Classroom sessions are interactive and engaging, and provide the foundational knowledge that we’ll build upon on our field days.
Day 2: Field Day. We’ll spend a full field day covering avalanche rescue and snowpack observation skills. We will learn how to properly use our avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes to effect a companion rescue, both as a single rescuer and member of a group. As we travel to our rescue site, we’ll build snowpack and weather observation skills and discuss avalanche terrain identification.
Day 3: Field day. Our second field day is all about touring. The group will create and implement a tour plan, practice appropriate travel techniques, and hone our decision making skills. We’ll focus on avalanche terrain recognition, communication, and group management. We’ll also make some good turns and have some fun! The day concludes with a debrief and feedback to help students continue learning beyond the course.