An avalanche instructor demonstrates how to perform an extended column test - a common test performed to assess snowpack instability.

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.

Willow Lodge is perfect lodge for hut-based avalanche courses on Cameron Pass.

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.

The avalanche course classroom for AIARE courses at Willow Lodge.

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.
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:

8am - 5pm

Duration:

3 Days, 2 Nights

Maximum Ratio:

6:1

Minimum Age:

Please call to register participants under 18

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	BCA Tracker 2 or 3	Neptune Mountaineering	Colorado Mountain School; Neptune Mountaineering	Equipment
Avalanche Probe	Collapsable metal or carbon rod used to probe avalanche debris while attempting to strike a buried target.	1	BCA Stealth 300	Neptune Mountaineering	Colorado Mountain School; Neptune Mountaineering	Equipment
Avalanche Rescue Shovel	Ski specific shovel used to dig pits and avalanche rescue. A metal blade is mandatory.	1	BCA B1 Ext	Neptune Mountaineering	Colorado Mountain School; 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	CAMP M3 30L	Neptune Mountaineering	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	CAMP M 5 50L	Neptune Mountaineering		Equipment
Baselayer Bottoms	Synthetic or Merino Wool; Lightweight or mid-weight are recommended.	1	Men: Rab Forge Leggings Women: Rab Forge Leggings	Rab		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	Rab Logo Beanie	Rab		Clothing
Bowl, mug, fork, and spoon	Personal utensils	1	Sea to Summit Delta Camp Set	Neptune Mountaineering		Equipment
Climbing Skins	Nylon or mohair. Trimmed and adjusted to fit your skis or splitboard ahead of time.	1	Dynafit Speedskin	Neptune Mountaineering	Neptune Mountaineering	Equipment
Compass	Used for navigation and orientation. A compass with adjustable declination is preferrable.	1	Silva Ranger CLQ	Neptune Mountaineering		Optional
Ear Plugs	Sometimes fellow campers snore. Ear plugs may help you get quality rest.	1	Foam ear plugs			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		Neptune Mountaineering		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	Made in Nature, Thrive Tribe	Neptune Mountaineering		Equipment
Goggles	Protect your eyes and face from wind and sun burn.	1	Julbo Airflux	Neptune Mountaineering		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 2.0 Pant Women: Rab Women's Khroma Kinetic 2.0 Pants	Rab Stores		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		Neptune Mountaineering		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 Women: Pivot GTX Glove	Rab Store		Clothing
Hot Drinks	Coffee, tea, hot cocoa are great for warming up when it's cold outside.	1	Cusa Tea; Alpine Start Coffee	Neptune Mountaineering		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		Neptune Mountaineering		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 Women: Rab Force LS Tee	Rab		Clothing
Lightweight Gloves	Synthetic; Thin gloves used when hiking the early morning approach. Belay gloves can suffice if full-fingered.	1	Rab Vapour-Rise Glove	Rab Store		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	Neptune Mountaineering		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 Nexus Jacket Women: Rab Nexus Jacket	Rab		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	Rab Khroma Tour Glove	Neptune Mountaineering		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	CMS Neck Gaiter	Neptune Mountaineering		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		Neptune Mountaineering		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	Camp Speed Comp	Neptune Mountaineering		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	Scarpa Maestrale RS	Neptune Mountaineering	Neptune Mountaineering	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	BCA Scepter	Neptune Mountaineering	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	BCA Ski Strap	Neptune Mountaineering		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	Dynafit Beast 98; Dynafit ST Radical 100	Neptune Mountaineering	Neptune Mountaineering	Equipment
Sleeping Bag (10° to 35°)	Down or synthetic sleeping bag is acceptible.	1	Rab Neutrino 400	Rab Store	Neptune Mountaineering	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 Women: Rab VR Summit Jacket	Rab		Clothing
Sports Bra	Provides support and allows for full range of motion	1	North Face Beyond the Wall	Neptune Mountaineering		Clothing
Sun Hat	A billed hat to keep the sun at bay during the approach and descent.	1	Rab Freight Cap	Rab		Clothing
Sunglasses	"Wrap-Around" style sunglasses with 100% UV Protection.	1	Julbo Shield	Neptune Mountaineering		Equipment
SunscreenSPF 30 or higher.	Travel size.	1	Rocky Mountain Sunscreen SPF 50	Neptune Mountaineering		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 Women: Rab Electron Pro Jacket	Neptune Mountaineering		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	Point 6 AT Hike Light Crew	Neptune Mountaineering		Clothing
Thermos	Many ice climbers prefer to bring a thermos of hot water or soup instead of one of their water bottles.	1		Neptune Mountaineering		Optional
Toe Warmers and Hand Heaters	Help keep you warm on particularly cold days.	1		Neptune Mountaineering		Optional
Toiletries	Bring enough for the trip. Toothpaste & brush, floss, deoderant, 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	Neptune Mountaineering		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	Neptune Mountaineering		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 Downpour Eco Waterproof Jacket Women: Rab Women's Downpour Eco Waterproof Jacket	Rab		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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