Alaska Statewide Avalanche Awareness
and Course Offerings
Need Financial Assistance to Attend an Avalanche Course this winter? Mike O'Leary Avalanche Education Scholarship
January
- Level 1 Backcountry Avalanche Hazard Evaluation Course - 3 day program, $345 Per Person January 6-8, 2012: Friday-Sunday, Location: Hatcher Pass, January 14-16, 2012: Saturday-Monday, Location: Girdwood & Turnagain
- Level 1 Avalanche Refresher Workshop - January 7-8, 2012, Saturday: 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM Location: Alaska Avalanche School, Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Location: Turnagain, 1.5 day program, $165 Per Person, Anchorage
- Companion Rescue Workshop- January 7, 2012: 10am-2pm, PWSCC, Valdez
- Avalanche Awareness Training - January 14, 2012, Saturday: 10 AM to 4 PM. Location: Eagle River Nature Center Educational Yurt. Free.
- Snowmachiners Module 2: Green Lights: Core concepts in Avalanche Safety January 15, 2012, Saturday, 1 day program, $155.00 Per Person, Location: Turnagain Pass Area
- Level 2 Backcountry Avalanche Hazard Evaluation Course - January 20-23, 2012, Friday-Monday,4 day program, $495 Per Person, Location:Turnagain & Hatcher Pass
- AIARE Level 1: Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain - January 27-29, 2012, 3 day program, $350, Location: Turnagain Pass
- Avalanche Awareness Training - January 28, 2012, Saturday: 11 AM to 5 PM. Location: Glennallen School. Free.
- Avalanche Awareness Training - January 29, 2012, Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM. Location: Anchorage, Arctic Valley Ski Area. Free.
- Weekend Warriors Level 1 Backcountry Course - January 18, 25 and February 1 Saturdays 9 AM to 6 PM, Field Days, January 21, 28 and February 4 Wednesdays: 6 PM to 9 PM, $345 Per Person, Location: Alaska Avalanche School, Hatcher Pass, Turnagain Pass, TBA
February
- Snowmachiners Module 1: Red Flags: Recognition of Avalanche Hazard- February 4, 2012, 1 day program, $155.00 Per Person, Location: Turnagain Pass Area
- Snowmachiners Module 2: Green Lights: Core concepts in Avalanche Safety - January 15, 2012, Saturday, 1 day program, $155.00 Per Person, Location: Turnagain Pass Area
- Avalanche Rescue Workshop - February 4, 2012, Saturday: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, 1 day program, $110 Per Person, Location:Glen Alps Trailhead
- Recognition of Avalanche Hazard Lecture Series - February 5, 2012, Sunday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM, 1 day program, $50 Per Person, Location: Alaska Avalanche School, Anchorage
- AIARE Instructor Training 2 - February 17-19, 2012. 3 day program, $450 per person, Location: Girdwood
- Avalanche Awareness Training - February 18, 2012, Saturday: 10 AM to 4 PM. Location: Seward Fire Department. Free.
- Level 1 Backcountry Avalanche Hazard Evaluation Course 3 day program, $345 Per Person February 10-12, 2012: Friday-Sunday, Location: Girdwood & Turnagain February 18-20, 2012: Saturday-Monday, Location: Girdwood & Turnagain
- AIARE Level 3: Advanced Avalanche Training For Professionals And Recreational Leaders- February 23 to March 1, 2012, 7 day program $1500 per person, Location: Hatcher Pass
- Avalanche Mentors Workshop - February 11, 2012, Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm,1 day program $110.00 per person, Location: Hatcher Pass
- Avalanche Mentors Workshop - February 25, 2012, Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm,1 day program $110.00 per person, Location: Turnagain Pass
March
- Level 1 Backcountry Avalanche Hazard Evaluation Course 3 day program, $345 Per Person March 10-12, 2012: Saturday-Monday, Location: Hatcher Pass March 16-18, 2012: Friday-Sunday, Location: Girdwood & Turnagain
- AIARE Level 2, March 25-28, 2012, 4 day program, $495, Location: Valdez, Thompson Pass
April
- AIARE Level 1, April 3-5, 2012, 3 day program, $350, Location: Valdez, Thompson Pass
- Wet Snow Evaluation Workshop - April 7-8, 2012, Saturday: 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM, Location: Alaska Avalanche School, Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Location: Turnagain Arm,1.5 day program, $165 Per Person, Anchorage
- Be Snow Smart at Arctic Man - April 12-15, 2012. Location: Summit Lake
National Ski Patrol also offers Avalanche Classes: see Additional Training page for each ski patrol's website link
High quality avalanche awareness and education courses are also found across the border. Take a look at the Canadian Avalanche Association's offerings <here>
If you would like your course added or need to add the correct links, please contact us.
Do you offer a woman specific avalanche hazard evaluation course? I recall seeing posters for something similar to this and it seems like it was often offered the last weekend of November, right after Thanksgiving. Any information you can provide would be a big help. Thanks.
Question: investigating educational programs.
What information do you have for IWLS (International Wilderness Leadership School)? I am looking for Back Country Heli Education along with avi cert & wilderness emt.
IWLS offers Level 1 & 2 Avalanche certification how does this compare to AIARE, would I be able to take AIARE testing if taken classes through IWLS? Are they transferable?
Hi Summer, I forwarded your question on to AIARE and this was their response:
“IWLS is not an AIARE course provider. We have no means of knowing what their courses cover nor are we inclined to do “comparisons” of curriculum or comment on other organizations approach to avalanche education.
We recommend that AIARE course providers have their curriculum/program, reviewed/approved by the American Avalanche Association (AAA) and consequently listed on the AAA web site as a way to insure that individual AIARE providers are meeting national criteria for avalanche courses. This gives the public an unbiased method to ascertain a particular provider’s compliance with national standards.
If a particular L1 course meets the AAA guidelines that would meet the requirement for entering an AIARE L2 however the student may be at a disadvantage given the distinct structure and focus on decision making and specific tools that AIARE provides the L1 student and the building of those concepts at the L2.
Taking a non-AIARE L2 can be a disadvantage should the student wish to partake in an AIARE L3 as we require an AIARE L2 as a pre-req for the L3 course. The idea behind that is since the L3 is a pass/fail certification course, the AIARE L2 provides the foundation for the recording and observation standards expected to be displayed at the AIARE L3 course. We want the student to be successful at the L3 and this requires a solid understanding of the SWAG as well as all the L2 material.
Hope this helps – let me know if you have any questions.”