This AIARE 1 class is led by Mark Synnott (AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide). Mark is able to not only teach the AIARE standard curriculum, but also draw on his own personal experiences and passion for avalanche education to prepare you for your own adventures.
AIARE 1 is a 3 day introduction to avalanche hazard management. 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). 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 course. Upon finishing the course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion and be ready to move onto more advanced courses.
Participants should ideally have their own avalanche safety equipment (transceiver/shovel/probe), but Mark may have some loaner sets. Participants should have backcountry skis or a splitboard.
This is a Standard AIARE 1 course consisting of 1 in-person classroom day and 2 days in the field.
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Student Learning Outcomes
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 Risk Management Framework to make terrain choices in a group setting.
- Demonstrate effective companion rescue.
Prerequisites
Students must be able to travel in avalanche terrain and bring appropriate equipment (backcountry skis or splitboard) for traveling on snow to class. There are no other prerequisites.

