The AIARE Level 2 course is a 3-day program that provides avid backcountry skiers and riders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision making skills. Led by the top instructors in the field, this is an advanced avalanche safety course for the general public. This is not for snow safety professionals, that’s the new AIARE PRO 1 and 2 path. The focus in the Rec 2 is on analyzing snow stability and avalanche hazard. The Rec 2 builds from the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in the Rec 1 and adds to it the evaluation factors critical to stability evaluation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: • Advance understanding of avalanche terrain, particularly from the perspective of stability analysis. • Discuss how the snowpack develops and metamorphoses over time; and discuss the factors that contribute to spatial variability. • Learn standard observation guidelines and recording formats for factors that influence or indicate snow stability. SWAG MODULE. • Advance understanding of avalanche release and triggering mechanisms. • Introduce a snow stability analysis and forecasting framework. The students will dig a snow pit and study the snow pit profile. • Improve companion rescue skills including multiple and deep burials.
REQUIRED READING: Snowpack, Weather, & Avalanches: An Observational guideline SUGGESTED
READING BEFORE THE COURSE: Snow Sense by Jill Fredston and Doug Fesler; Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper; Avalanche Aware by John Moynier; The Avalanche Handbook
EQUIPMENT SUGGESTIONS: Alpine touring gear, telemark gear, splitboard, or snowshoes, backpack, avalanche beacon, shovel and probe – see the equipment/packing list below for a complete list of necessary equipment. This course is 100% Off Piste. SAMPLE DAY SCHEDULE: 9:00am – Meet at the NASTC classroom for indoor session of avalanche safety course 12:00pm – Lunch break 1:00pm – Head outside for the on-hill practical portion 4:00pm – End of training day PACKING LIST: • Climbing skins • Randonnee (AT) or Telemark boots, or snowboard boots • Probe with cm ruling • Adjustable ski poles (if no probe ski poles) • Alpine Touring set-up or Telemark skis orsplit board • Avalanche beacon • Pack (2500-3000 cubic inches) • Snow shovel • Complete snow study kit incl 2 m folding rule, grain card and loupe, 2 C thermometers, 2 m length of knotted cord/rope, compass, slope meter, writing tools. • GPS recommended not mandatory • Snow density kit • Altimeter watch • Printed copy of the SWAG (Snow, Weather, and Avalanches: Observational Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States). Published by the American Avalanche Association. • Water bottle • Small first aid kit (moleskin, bandaids, aspirin, personal meds.) • Lunches • Note book & pen for note-taking and pencil for filling in observations in logbook • Ski/Snowboard clothing • Light touring gloves (heavy liners etc.) • Warm gloves (waterproof) • Warm hat, baseball cap, headband, face mask, and neck warmer • Goggles and sunglasses (2 pair goggles if you have them) Though it is acceptable to plot your snow profile data by hand, we strongly recommend using SnowPilot (snowpilot.org) or Avanet (avatech.com) snow profile plotting software. SnowPilot is free; Avanet requires a paid subscription. If you have any old or current field books in which you’ve recorded avalanche, snowpack, or weather data please bring them to our first meeting.
