We are SO excited to partner this year with Cascade Mountain Ascents to provide winter programming for the Shifting Gears community.
Important Course Dates:
February 25-26: Evening Zoom Classroom sessions
February 28- March 1: Full Field Days
Tiered pricing system available based on income.
Register for this course on CMA’s website.
About this Program:
Join our Women’s Affinity AIARE 1 course and take your first steps towards becoming a confident and informed backcountry traveler. This course is for women (queer, trans, and cis-gendered) aiming to begin their avalanche education journey in a supportive and community-focused learning environment.
This three-day course meets the highest standards in avalanche education and provides students with a thorough introduction to avalanche hazard management. The AIARE 1 curriculum equips students with tools for decision making, avalanche terrain recognition, snowpack and weather observation, and avalanche rescue.
Completing this course qualifies participants for our deeply discounted Alumni Mentorship Tours ($100 for a day of professional mentorship) so that you can continue to build 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.