AIARE 2 Hut Trip
- Price:
- Duration: 3 Days, 2 Nights
Our 3-day AIARE 2 Hut Trips take place at various huts throughout Colorado. Enjoy the luxury of a warm hut and easy access to alpine skiing with the best AIARE instructors around.
Overview:
Take your avalanche education to the next level with our one-of-a-kind hut trips! Our AIARE 2 Hut Trip run at various huts throughout Colorado. We’ll head into the hut, settle into basecamp, and spend three days and two nights covering AIARE 2 curriculum and exploring backcountry terrain.
Our team is made of experienced AIARE instructors and professional mountain guides with decades of experience in avalanche terrain. This experience comes from the Alps to Alaska to right here in the Front Range of Colorado. Colorado is one of the country’s premier backcountry skiing and splitboarding destinations. This AIARE 2 Hut Trip course combines classroom and field instruction.
Details:
Why our AIARE Courses Are Worth It!:
- Colorado Mountain School is the country’s largest AIARE Provider for a reason
- Our Instructors are educators, not just minimally qualified instructors
- We spend the majority of the course in the mountains, not inside
- We provide valuable pre-course material to help you prepare
- Our Instructors are career guides, with decades of personal experience
- Our Instructors are AMGA Ski Guide trained or Certified
- We have a full-time office staff to answer all of your questions
- Variety of course offerings to meet our guests scheduling needs. Huts, Splits, 3-Day, Level 2’s
- Get avalanche training in the ski venue you ski in locally
- Fully sponsored by industry leaders Dynafit, Scarpa, Backcountry Access
- Full snow safety rental fleet
- Neptune Mountaineering ski shop support with rentals of ski equipment.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1
7:45 – Meet and greet at TBD trailhead – Fowler-Hilliard/ Peter Estin/ Willow Creek
- Waivers (10th Mountain, Colorado Mountain School)
- Equipment rentals if needed
- Gear checks (boots, puffy, food, avalanche equipment)
8:45 – Beacon Check & Approach to Hut ( approach times differ between huts )
10:00 – Hut Orientation
10:15 – Introduction
- Colorado Mountain School (who we are and what we do)
- AIARE (who they are and what they do)
- Course overview (daily schedule, course goals)
- Course logistics
- Student manual, field book, pencil
- Risk management (explain waiver, specific hazards; mitigation
strategies – everyone is a risk manager)
11:15 – Companion Rescue Review – single & multiple burial scenarios
- Advanced marking functions
- Micro-strip vs. 3 circle method
- Group rescue response
- Triage, Evac
11:35 – Lunch Break
12:00 – Instructor led ski tour to gather observations ( Avy, Wx, Snpx )
3:00 – Return to Hut and Debrief Obs
3:20 – Human Factors, DMF; Case Study
- Intro to Human Factors (as reason for DMF)
- DMF
- Case Study
4:45 – Debrief & Dinner Planning
Day 2
7:00- 8:00 – Breakfast
8:00 – Overview of Upcoming Day; Review of Previous Day
8:10 – Avalanche Types, Character, and Problems of the day
- Types; Characters
- Define Problems along with typical problem traits (i.e. spatial
distribution, surface vs. deep, consequence/size, directly related
weather/season, trigger types, etc.) - R scale; D scale
- Avalanche Motions
9:10 – Avalanche Terrain
- SEATTL acronym: Slope, Elevation, Aspect, Trigger
points, Terrain traps, Location within range - Move outside to identify SEATTL components in the field
- Choose terrain exercise
10:00 – Avalanche Forecast & Online Observations
- Introduce Colorado Avalanche Information Center; online Wx resources
- Fill out field books
10:10 – Field Observations
- Advanced observations in the field: Avalanches, Weather, Snowpack
- Critical Red Flag Observations
- Pre-draw Pit Profile graphs in Field Book for stratigraphy
- Field Wx obs
10:40 – Field Obs Tour; Advanced snowpack tests
- Weather observations
- Hand shear, Shovel tilt, Shovel Shear
- Snow pit: layer identification, hand hardness, CT, point out a facet, point out a round, fracture character
& shear quality for CTs. Extended Column test, PST. - Graph stratigraphy when identifying layers and hand hardness
- Travel wisely techniques
4:00 – Share Observations; Review; Q&A
- Share Obs: Avalanche, Weather, Snowpack; Stratigraphy
- Why do we dig pits
4:25 – Human Factors Case Study
- Introduction to heuristics / facets
- Brainstorm strategies to combat human factors
4:55 – Debrief & Dinner Prep
Day 3
7:00-8:00 – Breakfast
8:00 – Plan
- Describe the steps of planning a tour (online obs, group goals,
choose destination, create run list/tour plan, emergency response)
8:30 – Field Group Planning
- Field group planning session
- Maps
9:15 – Transition
- Pack personal gear; stash in building
- Hut Clean-up
10:00 – Student-Led Ski Tour
- Students lead the day – out in front, setting pace, making
navigation decisions - Goals for the day: group leadership, pacing practice, group
communication in circles, field observations, pits, companion rescue,
identifying avalanche terrain, choosing terrain and practicing travel
wisely techniques, navigation skills, self-care - Choose terrain and travel wisely: students practice what
they’ve been shown, and show more when appropriate (1 at a time,
spread out, safe zone to safe zone, buddies in the trees, 5 second gaps,
spotters, stacking tracks, avoiding trigger points) - Companion Rescue practice
- Debrief the day back at the hut.
3:00 – Course Debrief (at hut)
- Next steps: where to go from here?
- Getting out there – what can you do on your own? What do you need a
more skilled partner for? What skills should a mentor have? - Resources: Mountain Hub, BCA website, CMS, CAIC, Front Range Ski
Mo, NOLS/WMI
3:40 – Transition (Hut to Trailhead)
- Pack up
- Ski to trailhead
- Check in rental gear
4:45 – Course Close
Meeting location:
Each AIARE 2 Hut trip offered has a separate meeting location in the nearest town prior to heading to the trailhead.
Lodging:
Two nights of lodging is included.
Notes:
We believe that avalanche training is best taught by combining theoretical concepts and experiential learning. Some topics are best learned in a comfortable classroom setting and others in the mountains, moving through terrain and digging into the snow. You’ll have both.
The majority of your course will take place in the mountains where we will learn in an open-air environment. You should be prepared, mentally and physically, to stay immersed in the backcountry for up to 6 hours. You will be assigned to a small pod consisting of one AIARE Instructor and a maximum of six students to allow intimate instruction and physical distancing.
The nature of this pandemic requires us to be flexible and adaptable in how we deliver a quality training experience. Rest assured, from the moment you enroll all the way up to your course field days and beyond, our instructors will be a part of your learning progression and will provide you with the tools and resources you need to best prepare for your avalanche training course. If you’d like to learn more about what we are doing to manage COVID-19 risk for our students and guides, please view our FAQ page.
Willow Lodge
The Willow Lodge Cabin is located beside the entrance of the State Forest State Park. This drive-up cabin, just off Highway 14, provides a bit more luxurious way of roughing it. It allows for a conveniently short approach to both comfortable, rustic lodging and stellar, alpine skiing.
Furnishing: Almost 1000 sq ft. Two queen beds in a private upstairs room, six queen beds bunk style (3 and 3), one single futon chair, a folding couch for two+ additional sleeping spots, kitchen table/chairs, solar lights and fully stocked cooking area. The cabin accommodates up to 20, has a giant deck with fire pit, and a double outhouse with water system.
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Includes: Mattresses and pillows, propane, propane light, propane cooktop, wood burning stove, snow melt pot, all kitchen pots and pans, all kitchenware, limited paper towels, limited toilet paper, limited matches and newspaper, limited dish soap and sponges, kitchen towels, snow shovel, maul and axe, coffee percolator, fire extinguisher, outdoor charcoal grill (charcoal not included), outside food storage box, table and chairs, outhouse, and yurt journal.
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Students are responsible for bedding, food, and water.
- Willow Lodge does not have running water or electricity.
All Upcoming Dates and Locations:
- No dates found
This three-day course emphasizes field observations, documentation and the science of snow. You’ll learn advanced snow stability analysis, avalanche forecasting and how to observe and record weather, snowpack, and avalanche activity.
Topics include:
- More about avalanche terrain, particularly from the perspective of stability analysis
- How the snowpack develops and metamorphoses over time; and discuss the factors that contribute to spatial variability
- The standard observation guidelines and recording formats for factors that influence or indicate snow stability
- An advanced understanding of avalanche release and triggering mechanisms
- How to use snow stability analysis and a forecasting framework
Student learning outcomes:
- Differentiate where specific avalanche hazards exist within the landscape and identify avalanche terrain where consequences may be more severe.
- Use and interpret weather, snow, and avalanche observations to locate appropriate terrain prior to entering and while in the field.
- Demonstrate leadership skills within a small team that include facilitating small group discussion, promoting appropriate terrain selection, and utilizing simple risk management strategies.
- Implement a basic forecasting framework that can be used in conjunction with and in the absences of local supporting avalanche information.
- Apply a routine to foster TEAMWORK while planning for and travelling in avalanche terrain.
- PREPARE for backcountry travel with seasonal and daily routines.
- Create a PLAN to manage a group travelling in avalanche terrain.
- Apply the RIDE SAFELY checklists to promote situational awareness, to foster group communication, and to use terrain to reduce risk.
- Review decisions and the decision-making process to intentionally develop experience through a daily DEBRIEF.
- Practice Avalanche Rescue and effectively use personal avalanche rescue equipment.
- Develop and use a life-long learning plan.
By the end of an AIARE 2 course, Participants will be able to:
- As a facilitator of a group, apply The AIARE Framework to plan a trip, communicate, manage risk, and reflect on the trip.
- PREPARE for backcountry travel each season by practicing rescue skills, and by developing a personal catalog of terrain options that relate to the seasonal snowpack history, weather, and avalanche danger.
- Facilitate the creation of a PLAN with the advisory or available relevant data that enables a group to limit exposure while travelling in avalanche terrain.
- Apply the RIDE SAFELY checklists to evaluate conditions and facilitate the process of communicating hazard and risk within a group.
- Apply the RIDE SAFELY checklists to evaluate avalanche terrain and choose terrain that matches the conditions and skills of the group.
- Promote discussion within a team that travels together, decides together, listens to every voice, challenges assumptions, and respects any veto.
- Facilitate a DEBRIEF that summarizes conditions, reviews decisions, and discusses ways to improve the plan in order to intentionally develop experience.
- Develop a plan that assesses personal knowledge, skills and abilities and creates a strategy for continued development and learning.
Prerequisites:
–AIARE 1 Course or equivalent Level 1 training is required.
–AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course
-Participants must be on an AT setup, Tele setup, or splitboard.
-Participants must know how to skin, ski hard blues/blacks at the resort, and ski in powder.
Preparation:
Who Should Take this Course:
The AIARE 2 is a three-day course for those who have taken an AIARE 1 and Avalanche Rescue and have had at least a year of backcountry travel experience. The AIARE 2 provides backcountry leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision making skills.
Time:
Duration:
Maximum Ratio:
Minimum Age:
| Experience Level | Advanced |
|---|---|
| Activity Level | Moderate |
| Category | Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding |
| Duration | Multi-Day |
Price Includes:
- AIARE Certified Course Leader and Instructor/s
- Lodging During Hut Days
- Digital AIARE Course Manual
- AIARE Field Book (yours to keep)
- CMS Field Pencil (yours to keep)
- AIARE Certificate of Completion provided by AIARE
- Use of Backcountry Access Avalanche Equipment during course
- BCA Beacon
- BCA Shovel
- BCA Probe
- Snowshoes
Price Excludes:
- Food
- Transportation
- Lodging Outside of Hut Days
- Clothing, backpack and non-technical personal items
- Skiing Equipment (Recommend Neptune Mountaineering)
- Park Entrance Fees (where applicable)
- Rescue Insurance
- Trip Insurance
- Gratuity
- Misc. Charges
- Rescue Fees
- Helicopter Fees
- Trip Insurance
- Expenses due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of Colorado Mountain School
| Item | Description | Quantity | Example | Purchase At | Rent At | Equipment Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche Beacon |
Modern, digital, three-antennae beacon with fresh batteries. |
1 |
Colorado Mountain School or Neptune Mountaineering |
Equipment | ||
| Avalanche Probe |
Collapsable metal or carbon rod used to probe avalanche debris while attempting to strike a buried target. |
1 |
Colorado Mountain School or Neptune Mountaineering |
Equipment | ||
| Avalanche Rescue Shovel |
Ski specific shovel used to dig pits and avalanche rescue. A metal blade is mandatory. |
1 |
Colorado Mountain School or Neptune Mountaineering |
Equipment | ||
| Backpack: 20-40 liter |
Packs smaller than this tend not to be able to carry the necessary amount of equipment and clothing. Large backpacking packs are acceptable, depending on the climb. |
1 |
Colorado Mountain School |
Equipment | ||
| Backpack: 45-65 liter |
The approach to the hut will be more than 1 hour uphill. Everything you will be carrying should fit inside the pack. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Baselayer Bottoms |
Synthetic or Merino Wool, Lightweight or mid-weight are recommended. |
1 |
Men: Rab Forge Leggings |
Clothing | ||
| Beanie or Fleece Hat |
Should cover the ears and fit under a helmet. Hats with fluff balls on top do not fit under helmets. |
1 | Clothing | |||
| Bowl, mug, fork, and spoon |
Personal utensils |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Climbing Skins |
Nylon or mohair. Trimmed and adjusted to fit your skis or splitboard ahead of time. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Compass |
Used for navigation and orientation. A compass with adjustable declination is preferrable. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Ear Plugs |
Sometimes fellow campers snore. Ear plugs may help you get quality rest. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Face Mask – PPE |
Should be made with at least two layers of fabric. Your mask needs to cover your nose and mouth without large gaps. The mask should have ear loops or ties so you can adjust it. Look for a mask with a bendable border at the top so you can mold the mask to fit the bridge of your nose and prevent your glasses from fogging. |
2 | Clothing | |||
| First Aid Kit |
Your guide will have an emergency First Aid Kit. You should bring a small kit including blister prevention and care products such as a role of athletic tape and Moleskin. Your kit should also contain a few Band-aids, some Tylenol and Ibuprofen. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Food |
Proper lunches that are prepared ahead of time are recommended (sandwich, burrito, leftover pizza, etc), along with an assortment of snack bars, gels, or trail mixes. Feeze-dried meals are acceptable on overnight trips, but not day trips. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Goggles |
Protect your eyes and face from wind and sun burn. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Hardshell Pants |
These should be non-insulated pants with ankle cuffs wide enough to fit over your ski or ride boots. |
1 |
Men: Rab Khroma Kinetic Pant |
Clothing | ||
| Headlamp |
Load with fresh batteries. Critical for hiking before sunrise and great to have in the pack in case you are caught out after dark. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Heavyweight Waterproof Glove |
This glove comes out when the winter going gets cold and wet or at higher altitudes. |
1 |
Men: Pivot GTX Glove |
Clothing | ||
| Hot Drinks |
Coffee, tea, hot cocoa are great for warming up when it’s cold outside. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Hut Shoes |
Having a slipper, bootie, or Croc to walk around in while inside the hut keeps your socks dry and your feet warmer and more comfortable. |
1 | Clothing | |||
| Lightweight Baselayer Top |
Synthetic or Merino Wool; Worn against the skin and is considered a “wicking” layer that facilitates the movement of moisture away from the skin and through the layers. Hooded base layers add extra versatility. |
2 |
Men: Rab Forge LS Tee |
Clothing | ||
| Lightweight Gloves |
Synthetic; Thin gloves used when hiking the early morning approach. Belay gloves can suffice if full-fingered. |
1 | Clothing | |||
| Lip ScreenSPF 15 or higher. |
Non-SPF rated lip balms can actually increase your chances of getting burned. |
1 |
Rocky Mountain Sunscreen Lip Balm |
Optional | ||
| Mechanical Pencil |
Great for taking notes in the field. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Midweight Baselayer Top |
Synthetic or Merino Wool; Adds extra warmth and protection from the cold and wind without creating a moisture barrier as a jacket would. Having at least one base layer that is hooded adds versatility, protecting the neck and ears from cold winds. |
1 |
Men: Rab Filament Hoodie |
Clothing | ||
| Midweight Softshell Glove |
This is the workhorse glove and is most often worn on warmer days when mountaineering. Softshell gloves are water-resistant and durable. They often have leather palms and fingers. |
1 | Clothing | |||
| Neck Gaiter |
“Buffs” are quite versatile in their uses. They can be used as light beanies, neck warmers, and can offer face protection from the cold wind or sun. |
1 | Clothing | |||
| Pajamas |
It can be nice to have something clean to change into each night for sleeping in your sleeping bag. |
1 | Clothing | |||
| Personal Care Items |
Medications, glasses or contacts, feminine products, etc. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Personal Toilet Kit |
At minimum, bring a small Ziploc with toilet paper. Consider bringing a travel sized package of hand-wipes. Idealy, purchase, or for free from the RMNP Backcountry office, bring a “Rest Stop.” The Rest Stop, known as “Blue Bags” in the Pacific Northwest, or the “Wag Bag” in other areas, are poop-in-a-bag systems that include toilet paper and a sanitizing hand wipe. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Ski Helmet |
This item is recommended but not required. We will be skiing in the trees, and in snow conditions where rocks, stumps, and downded logs are present. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Ski or Snowboard Boots |
Footwear should be appropriate to mode of travel i.e. ski, snowboard, or insulated winter boots for snowshoes. For snowshoers, a boot such as the Scarpa Mont Blanc is the minimum level of boot required. Ski Boots should have a walk mode. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Ski or Trekking Poles |
Two poles, with powder baskets, are required for all skiers, splitboarders, and snowshoers. It is ideal if poles are ski-specific and collapse small enough to fit onto a pack when climbing. |
1 |
Colorado Mountain School; Neptune Mountaineering |
Equipment | ||
| Ski Straps |
18″ Rubber or velcro straps to connect skis when attaching them to a pack. Also useful for a variety of in-the-field equipment repairs. |
2 | Optional | |||
| Skis or Snowboard |
Skis should have touring bindings; lightweight tech bindings are ideal. Splitboards are ideal for snowboarders. Snowboarders using resort snowboards will need to have snowshoes and poles. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Sleeping Bag (10° to 35°) |
Down or synthetic sleeping bag is acceptible. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| Smart Phone App |
There are a plethora of apps that assist in navigation. These apps use your phone’s GPS functions and can work in the mountains offline. |
1 |
Avanet; Gaia Maps; Topo Maps |
Optional | ||
| Smartphone |
Great for taking photos and videos. Smartphone batteries tend to shut down in freezing temps – keep your phone in a warm inner layer. A tether is ideal in the mountains to protet against dropping your phone. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Softshell and Fleece Jacket |
Water-resistant, windproof, yet it “breaths,” which means it allows moisture to move through. Hoods are ideal. There are multiple thicknesses of Softshell jackets. A lightweight or medium-weight jacket is preferred. Fleece jackets are acceptable. |
1 |
Men: Rab VR Summit Jacket |
Clothing | ||
| Sports Bra |
Provides support and allows for full range of motion |
1 |
North Face Beyond the Wall |
Clothing | ||
| Sun Hat |
A billed hat to keep the sun at bay during the approach and descent. |
1 | Clothing | |||
| Sunglasses |
“Wrap-Around” style sunglasses with 100% UV Protection. |
1 | Equipment | |||
| SunscreenSPF 30 or higher. |
Travel size. |
1 |
Rocky Mountain Sunscreen SPF 50 |
Equipment | ||
| Synthetic or Down Puffy Jacket |
Fits over all other layers and is worn at breaks and on really cold days. Synthetic puffies are more durable, are easily laundered, and dry out quickly if wet. Down puffies are lighter weight, pack smaller, and provide exceptional warmth, but once wet, they stay wet. |
1 |
Men: Rab Electron Pro Jacket |
Clothing | ||
| Synthetic or Merino Wool Socks |
Wool and synthetic blends are great for long days on the trail. “Ski” and “Snowboard” socks are especially useful when warmth is desired. |
2 | Clothing | |||
| Thermos |
Many ice climbers prefer to bring a thermos of hot water or soup instead of one of their water bottles. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Toe Warmers and Hand Heaters |
Help keep you warm on particularly cold days. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Toiletries |
Bring enough for the trip. Toothpaste; brush, floss, deodorant, lotion, eye drops, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, etc. |
1 | Optional | |||
| Watch with Altimiter |
An altimeter is very useful in gauging progression of altitude gain or loss when climbing, and especially when visibility is decreased due to weather. Many Altimeter watches have compasses or GPS tracking functions. |
1 |
Suunto Vector; Suunto Core |
Optional | ||
| Water Bottles |
1 liter bottles are the standard. Bladders such as Camelbacks and Platypus are acceptable for above freezing temps, but only in conjunction with another bottle. Bladders are not acceptable during sub freezing temps. Sports drinks are also acceptable. |
2 |
Nalgene, Hydro Flask |
Equipment | ||
| Waterproof Shell Jacket |
Non-insulated, Gore-Tex, Dermizax, Event, or other waterproofing system is required. Mostly, this jacket sits in the bottom of your pack and comes out when the weather gets nasty with precipitation. This jacket should fit over all other layers. |
1 |
Men: Rab Khroma Cirque GORE-TEX Jacket |
Clothing |
COVID-19
Q: Will COVID-19 impact my course?
A: 2020 made it clear that running programs while managing the risk of COVID-19 transmission is a challenge. It is a challenge that the Colorado Mountain School team tackled creatively and courageously. We may need to shift our classrooms to virtual settings at a moment’s notice. We may need to put on masks unexpectedly. We may need to go outside and distance ourselves. No matter what though, we are committed to running programs, providing education, and serving our mission, while also maintaining the highest standards of risk management. Please visit our FAQ page or contact us for more information.
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