AIARE 1 Avalanche Education Course

Synnott Mountain Guides offers AIARE 1 courses in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The AIARE 1 course is an introduction to avalanche hazard management. Photo: AIARE Instructor Nick Aiello-Popeo demonstrating a compression test on Mount Washington, by Brian Post.

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). The AIARE 1 course is for anyone, regardless of method of travel (this is an avalanche education course, not a backcountry ski course), 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 course. Upon finishing the course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion and be ready to move onto more advanced courses.

The SMG AIARE Course Leaders & Instructors are able to not only teach the AIARE standard curriculum, but also draw on their own personal experiences and passion for avalanche education to prepare you for your own adventures.

The AIARE 1 course costs $685 (on sale through October 15, 2026). Avalanche safety equipment (transceiver/shovel/probe) will be provided by SMG for use during the course (however, you are encouraged to bring your own). The course is best booked online below, but you may also book via email or phone. You may book multiple people and pay in one order, but please complete this booking form for each person so we have full details.

For the Winter 2026/2027 season, we are offering this course in two formats. The Standard AIARE 1 course consists of 1 in-person classroom day and 2 days in the field. The Hybrid AIARE 1 course consists of an online learning module, an online lesson/meeting, and 2 days in the field. After booking your course, you’ll receive an email with details about the course schedule, online learning, the online meeting/training, and other resources.

Original price was: $685.00.Current price is: $650.75.

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Phone(Required)
Mailing Address(Required)
What will be your mode of travel during the course (ski or board w/ skins, snowshoes)?
Do you have or plan to purchase avalanche rescue gear (beacon/shovel/probe) or will you need to borrow from SMG?
We'll be in touch to work out specific details, but please briefly describe your outdoor background (relative to the course or guiding objective) and goals. If you're signing up for a course with a friend(s) and would like to be in the same group, please note their name(s) in this section.
Policies(Required)
Please read and check the box if you agree to the policies.

Online Bookings
Online bookings are subject to guide availability and other factors such as weather and climbing conditions. After receiving your online booking, we will get back to you within 1 business day via phone or email to confirm your booking. In the event that we cannot accommodate your booking, you have the option of having your payment refunded or applied to a future/alternate booking.

Payment
Payment is due in full at the time of booking or when SMG confirms your booking (in the case of programs that offer a deposit option). Specialized or international programs may have different payment policies. SMG accepts most major credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, checks, and cash (payment methods are subject to change and may differ for online vs offline bookings).

Cancellations
If you have to cancel your booking, please give us as much notice as possible. If you cancel 30+ days before the booking, your payment can be applied towards another booking up to one year after your originally scheduled program or you can request a refund. If you cancel from 7-29 days before the booking, your payment can be applied towards another booking up to one year after your originally scheduled program. If you cancel 6 days or sooner from the booking, for any reason, the deposit/payment is forfeited.

Weather & Conditions
Winter courses/trips are rain or shine. If SMG cancels a booking due to weather, we will reschedule you for an alternate date of your choice.

AIARE 1 Avalanche Education Course

Course Information

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, splitboard, snowshoes, etc.) for traveling on snow to class. There are no other prerequisites.

The 2026/2027 Standard AIARE 1 courses will consist of 1 in-person classroom day and 2 full days in the field.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

  • Classroom Day – Meet at 9:00 AM and finish around 4:00 PM.
  • Field Day #1 – Meet at the Synnott Mountain Guides office at 8:00 AM, dressed and packed for a field day. We’ll conclude the day between 3-4 PM.
  • Field Day #2 – Meet at 8:00 AM (or time given by instructor) at location designated by instructor. We’ll conclude the day between 3-4 PM.

Your instructor will be in touch before your course with full specific schedule and location details.

The 2026/2027 Hybrid AIARE 1 courses will consist 4 hours of online learning (at a time of your choosing), a live online 3 hour evening lesson, and 2 full days in the field. The online learning and live online lesson replace the traditional in-person classroom day.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

  • Complete the AIARE 1 online learning module on your own time before the online meeting and field days.
  • Lesson and online meeting with all participants before the course, see dates listing below.
  • Field Day #1 – Meet at the Synnott Mountain Guides office at 8:00 AM, dressed and packed for a field day. We’ll conclude the day between 3-4 PM.
  • Field Day #2 – Meet at 8:00 AM (or time given by instructor) at location designated by instructor. We’ll conclude the day between 3-4 PM.

Your instructor will be in touch before your course with full specific schedule and location details.

ZOOM DATES
Two days before your course begins, there will be a mandatory, live online meeting with an AIARE Course Leader or Instructor from SMG. This meeting will take place from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. See the list below for Zoom dates for each course:

  • December 19-20, 2026 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on December 17, 2026
  • January 2-3, 2027 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on December 30, 2026
  • January 9-10, 2027 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on January 7, 2027
  • January 13-14, 2027 (Hybrid, Wednesday-Thursday) | Zoom on January 11, 2027
  • January 23-24, 2027 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on January 21, 2027
  • January 30-31, 2027 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on January 28, 2027
  • February 13-14, 2027 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on February 11, 2027
  • February 17-18, 2027 (Hybrid, Wednesday-Thursday) | Zoom on February 15, 2027
  • February 20-21, 2027 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on February 18, 2027
  • March 6-7, 2027 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on March 4, 2027
  • March 13-14, 2027 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on March 11, 2027
  • March 27-28, 2027 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) | Zoom on March 25, 2027

2026/2027 FAQs.

How do I know when the 3 hour online lesson/meeting will be for the Hybrid course?

Two days before your course begins, there will be a mandatory, live online meeting with an AIARE Course Leader or Instructor from SMG. This meeting will take place from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. For example, a course scheduled for Saturday, January 9th, would have an online meeting at 6:00 PM on Thursday, January 7th.

How large will groups be?

Our field groups typically consist of seven people, including the instructor. Private courses are available if you inquire very early in the season, and pricing will vary.

2026/2027 Gear List.

Please see the SMG AIARE Gear List (PDF). We will supply you with beacon, probe and shovel, but if you have your own, please let us know.

Mountains, Cliffs, & Routes

Conditions permitting, this course will take place in a variety of terrain on Mount Washington. We may also utilize other steep/open terrain in the White Mountains such as Crawford Notch.

Difficulty

Beginner - Advanced

Length

3 Days (Standard) or 2 Days+Online (Hybrid)

Season

Winter

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