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We are offering two Avalanche education 3-day classes again this year, and the new 1-day AIARE “Rescue Course.”  AIARE, (the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) has now more clearly defined recreational skier/rider education as a separate track from the professional education track with their AIARE 1/AIARE 2/Rescue Courses VS the Pro 1, Bridge, and Pro 2 courses.

NASTC is an AIARE school. We are one of the oldest AIARE schools in Tahoe/Truckee. We offer the AIARE 1 on two holiday weekend dates (AVOID the crowds at the resorts on MLK or Pres Wkend!): Saturday-Sunday-Monday Jan 13-15  (MLK Jr weekend) and  Feb 17-19 (Presidents’ weekend) 2018.  These are 3-day, (8 hours/day) courses in which you achieve your AIARE 1. Both classes are based in Truckee at the Cedar House Sport Hotel for the indoor classroom lectures, and up on Donner Summit for field work.

AIARE 1 Course Description

In the AIARE 1 students can expect to develop a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a backcountry trip, to understand basic decision making while in the field, and to learn rescue techniques required to find and dig up a buried person (if an avalanche occurs and someone in the party is caught).

Student learning outcomes for AIARE 1

At the end of the AIARE 1 course the student should be able to:

• Develop a plan for travel in avalanche terrain.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify avalanche terrain.
• Effectively use the AIARE Decision Making Framework to make terrain choices in a group setting
• Demonstrate effective companion rescue.

Who Should Take the AIARE 1 Course

The AIARE 1 is for anyone, regardless of method of travel, who wants to recreate in or near avalanche terrain. Participants may have attended some awareness classes or workshops or completed the Avalanche Rescue course, but none are a prerequisite for this course.

Aspiring professionals will need to take the AIARE 1 and Avalanche Rescue as a prerequisite for the Pro 1.

Prerequisites for the AIARE 1

Students must be able to travel in avalanche terrain and bring appropriate equipment for traveling on snow to class. There are no other prerequisites.

The AIARE 2 follows the AIARE 1, you must take the AIARE 1 first, as well as the new Avalanche Rescue 1-day class.

***In the past the AIARE 2 was designed to be an entry level professional course. New for 2017, the redesigned AIARE 2 is designed specifically to meet the needs of advanced recreational students who have taken an AIARE 1 and Avalanche Rescue class.***

NASTC’s AIARE 2 is February 23-25, 2018.  This course is now only 3 days long, not 4.

AIARE 2 Course Description

The AIARE 2 is a three-day/24-hour course that provides backcountry travelers an opportunity to advance their decision making skills in more complicated situations such as being a leader within a small travel group, traveling in more complicated terrain, and/or developing a travel plan where online resources are scarce.

The AIARE 2 builds on the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in the AIARE 1 and adds to it the evaluation of critical hazard assessment factors. Students will describe and discuss weather, snowpack and avalanche processes, and identify how these processes relate to observations and travel within avalanche terrain.

AIARE 2 Student learning outcomes

• Differentiate where specific avalanche hazards exist within the landscape and identify avalanche terrain where consequences may be more severe.
• Use and interpret weather, snow, and avalanche observations to locate appropriate terrain prior to entering and while in the field.
• Demonstrate leadership skills within a small team that include facilitating small group discussion, promoting appropriate terrain selection, and utilizing simple risk management strategies.
• Implement a basic forecasting framework that can be used in conjunction with and in the absences of local supporting avalanche information.

Who Should Take the AIARE 2 Course

The AIARE 2 is a three-day course for those who have taken an AIARE 1 and Avalanche Rescue and have had at least a year of backcountry travel experience. The AIARE 2 provides backcountry leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision making skills.

Prerequisites for the AIARE 2

Participants must have the ability to travel in avalanche terrain. An AIARE 1 Course (strongly recommended) or equivalent Level 1 training is required. A winter of practical experience after the Level 1 course is required before taking the AIARE 2 course.
AIARE or AAA approved one-day Avalanche Rescue Course.

Another change AIARE made this year is the addition of the new AIARE Avalanche Rescue, a 1-day refresher which is suggested every other year for backcountry enthusiasts.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE NASTC AVALANCHE EDUCATION COURSES & MAKE YOUR RESERVATION with NASTC BY CLICKING HERE: AIARE 1, AIARE 2, AIARE Avalanche Rescue

YOU CAN ALSO GO STRAIGHT TO OUR PAYPAL DEPOSIT ($200) BELOW TO HOLD YOUR SPOT (AIARE 1 or 2)