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AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Truckee Tahoe CA

695

Location - Truckee, California

Dates
December 2, 2023 - December 3, 2023 December 9, 2023 - December 10, 2023 December 16, 2023 - December 17, 2023 January 6, 2024 - January 7, 2024

Overview

Come take your AIARE Level 1 with Backcountry Babes in our all women’s avalanche course! Backcountry Babes is an AIARE Course Provider and we teach the time-tested and regularly updated AIARE avalanche curriculum.  Additionally, we create a community that inspires, educates, and promotes leadership for women in the outdoors.  Our courses are taught by Backcountry Babes Guides (of all genders) who are experienced educators and AIARE qualified instructors. Our guides support our mission of providing women with the knowledge, skills and encouragement to take on leadership roles in the outdoors.

We cater specifically to women, providing a comfortable, fun learning atmosphere to gain knowledge and skills that help you become more confident in the backcountry. Our AIARE Level 1 course covers awareness of hazardous conditions, dynamics of snowpack and weather, effective teamwork, and how to plan for travel in avalanche terrain. We’ll build knowledge in the online classroom evening sessions, and apply it to our two full field days outside to give you the information and knowledge to make better decisions in the backcountry.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will obtain their AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Certificate of Completion.

Scholarships

Need help paying for an AIARE Course or Beginner Backcountry Tour? Please see if you meet the criteria and apply on our Scholarship Page: https://backcountrybabes.com/scholarship/

Duration: 2 online evening sessions, 2 field days
Activity Level: Moderate
Required Skill Level: You must be comfortable descending ungroomed blue/black terrain at the resort. Your skiing doesn’t have to look pretty, but we do need everyone to be comfortable skiing and riding in control and avoiding obstacles on the descent. You must also be able to hike several miles, at elevations above 7000ft., and can spend time outside in inclement winter weather. If you haven’t used your touring equipment before, we recommend taking our Beginner Backcountry Tour before your AIARE Level 1.

2023-2024 Course Dates Available for Signup:

Nov 28 & 30 Online Sessions and Dec 2 & 3 Field Days

Dec 5 & 7 Online Sessions and Dec 9-10 Field Days

Dec 5 & 14 Online Sessions and Dec 16-17 Field Days

Dec 5 & Jan 4 Online Sessions and Jan 6-7 Field Days

 

About the AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Course

Schedule

Two Online Classroom Sessions

6pm - 9pm

Our course begins with 2 online classroom sessions on weeknight evenings.  Here we’ll learn about avalanche terrain, snowpack, avalanche problems, case studies of real avalanche accidents, human factors in decision making, interpreting the avalanche bulletin and weather forecast, developing a route plan with online mapping tools, and creating a trip plan.  These sessions will include live presentations with our Backcountry Babes instructors, Q&A sessions, small group breakouts and self-paced work.

During the second online session, we’ll discuss the current avalanche conditions, weather conditions, snowpack, parking information, field touring location, and discuss our trip plan.

Homework assignments will be essential to explore online resources at your own pace and to incorporate new knowledge into your backcountry routines.  We will make real trip plans and instructors will provide feedback.  The online learning sessions are the foundation of success for our two full field days on Saturday and Sunday– and will help you incorporate knowledge and build good habits for your future backcountry touring days.

Field Day 1

8:00am - 5:00pm

Today we’ll meet at the trailhead for an all day field day in a small pod of students and your instructor.  Objectives for our field time include learning how to use your beacon, shovel and probe and the daily habit of trailhead checks. We’ll practice up-to-date and efficient techniques for avalanche rescue and learn how to travel together as a group, including conducting moving observations and digging snow pits. Additionally we’ll learn about avalanche terrain recognition and selection, visual clues and red flags.  The day will end with a facilitated group debrief with touring partners.

Field Day 2

8:00am - 5:00pm

Bring all your skills and knowledge from the week into your second field day.  Students will practice leading a tour under the guidance and supervision of instructors.  Come prepared with your tour plan, and ask as many questions as possible of your highly experienced instructors!  We’ll practice decision making in the field and reassessment of the plan by ongoing observations, and skiing and riding techniques.  We’ll wrap up our final field day with the daily debrief.

The goal is to send all our students into the world with a great foundation for continually improving decisions in the backcountry.  Backcountry travel is a lifelong learning experience.  It’s important to keep up your education with future Backcountry Babes events, an AIARE Rescue, our AIARE Level 2, a guided backcountry international trip, a local intermediate tour, reading, avalanche conferences, and more.  : )

What to Expect

  • Comfortable and fun learning atmosphere
  • Attentive, experienced, & professional AIARE qualified instructors.  Your instructor team may include teachers of all genders who support our mission of women becoming leaders in their backcountry pursuits
  • Engaging online classroom and field sessions
  • Appropriate and applicable avalanche safety knowledge
  • Practical experience in the field
  • Includes AIARE Field Book, online Student Manual, and pre-course AIARE Online Learning Module
  • Self-empowerment regarding backcountry travel & decision-making

Gear Needed

Backcountry skis or splitboard, ski poles, ski or snowboard boots, climbing skins, avalanche beacon, avalanche probe, avalanche shovel, backcountry backpack, and proper outerwear and warm layers for field time. A limited quantity of shovels, probes, and BCA beacons in an Osprey Ski Pack are available to rent for the course on a first-come, first-serve basis. These are available at the online checkout and will be brought to the course by your instructor. We recommend Alpenglow in Tahoe City or Tahoe Mountain Sports Tahoe Sports Hub, The Backcountry in Truckee if you need to rent any other gear.

Field Time

Classroom Time

Getting There

FLY: To Reno-Tahoe airport and take a shuttle or car to Truckee, CA.

DRIVE: To trailheads in the Truckee, CA area. Field sessions typically take place in our USFS permitted zones on Donner Summit, Castle Peak or Pole Creek. Exact touring location is weather and condition dependent. You will receive specific touring location information during our online evening sessions.

Backcountry Babes is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. Backcountry Babes operates under special use permit from the USDA Forest Service, Truckee Ranger District, White Mountain National Forest Ranger District and Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District.

Testimonials

This course was unbelievably beneficial. I now feel so much more comfortable with slope aspects, angles, problems, and what to be aware of. I am by no means an expert, and I’m cautious and aware of problems, but now I’m less in the dark and more confident of what factors are in play while traveling in avalanche terrain. The pacing of the class was great, and the instructor's openness to questions was awesome. I never felt like I was asking a stupid question. It was so empowering! Thank you times 100,000!

Kacey R.AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Student

I feel way more confident using my beacon, shovel and probe. I feel more confident about making more conservative decisions about routes to take, things to look for, and whether or no to even go out. It also made me realize how much more I have to learn!

Jenny L., San Francisco, CAAIARE Avalanche Level 1 Student

There is an incredibly positive and high energy stoke level of the female-empowered AND co-ed classroom environment. It is cool to hear our students discuss the value of the learning environment–enjoying growth through our women’s empowerment focus and recognizing the reality that future teamwork will consist of co-ed teams in the backcountry.

Anne St. ClairLead Instructor

This co-ed setup is so cool, as it allows couples to take an AIARE class together in a stigma-free environment where both partners can feel empowered instead of the “token” female among males or vice versa taking an avalanche course. It really flows well with what AIARE tries to accomplish and I think everyone in the group really enjoyed this format and how well the group dynamics worked.

Mike BortnowskiAIARE Avalanche Level 1 Instructor