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  • Lead guide at Guided Exposure demonstrating a snow pit profile during an AIAIRE 2 course at Mount Baker.
  • Looking at snow crystals with a loupe to see the shape and size of the snow. Identifying layers in the snowpack during an AIARE 2 course in the Mount Baker backcountry.
  • This is what snow looks like through a loupe. Identifying types of snow is practiced during AIARE 2 courses.
  • Snowpack layering can be connected to dates and weather. Layers of the snowpack have been labeled by depth and date.
  • This is what looking at individual snow grains is like. Snow is on the blue plastic crystal card and you look at the grains through a magnifying glass called a loupe.
  • Looking at columns of snow in a snow study pit during an AIARE 2 course. There's so much snow!
  • Two AIARE 2 students in their snow pit recording observations and findings.
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AIARE 2

Regular price
$600.00 USD
Regular price
Sale price
$600.00 USD

The AIARE 2 is for ANYONE, regardless of method of travel, who wants to recreate in or near avalanche terrain. Our AIARE 2 surpasses national standards during this three-day / 24-hour course in avalanche hazard management. All courses will feature online learning modules, in person classroom sessions, along with 3 field days at Mount Baker in Washington. 

Our custom crafted AIARE course provides several online learning resources for self paced work leading up to our in person sessions. We will have a 1 hour virtual session in the week before our course. Our specially crafted courses give you 25% more field time with our pro instructors in the North Cascade Mountains in Washington and less time sitting inside suffering from power point fatigue. 

 

The AIARE 2 is a three-day/24-hour course that provides backcountry travelers an opportunity to advance their decision making skills in more complicated situations such as being a leader within a small travel group, traveling in more complicated terrain, and/or developing a travel plan where resources are scarce.

The AIARE 2 builds on the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in the AIARE 1 and adds to it the evaluation of critical hazard assessment factors. Students will describe and discuss weather, snowpack and avalanche processes, and identify how these processes relate to observations and travel within avalanche terrain.

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.

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.

 

Itinerary

Day 0: Self Guided Online Learning with a 2 hour virtual check in. 

Day 1: In person classroom session in Glacier & Field Day at Heather Meadows

Day 2: Brief in person classroom session in Glacier & Field Day at Heather Meadows

Day 3: Brief in person classroom session in Glacier & Field Day at Heather Meadows

 

Gear List

Clothing

Base Layer

Men’s

Women’s

Thermal Bottom

O.R. Alpine Onset Bottoms

O.R. Alpine Onset Bottoms

Thermal Top

O.R. Alpine Onset Crew

O.R. Onset Crew

Ski Socks

 

 

Mid Layer

Men’s

Women’s

Soft Shell

O.R. Ferrosi Hooded Jacket

O.R. Ferrosi Hooded Jacket

       or

or

or

Fleece Jacket

O.R. Vigor Fleece Hoodie

O.R. Vigor Hooded Jacket

Outerwear

Men’s

Women’s

Lightweight Waterproof Jacket

O.R. Skyward II Jacket

O.R. Skyward II Jacket

Lightweight Waterproof Pants

O.R. Skyward II Pants

 

O.R. Skyward II Pants

 

 

Warm Hat, Beanie

O.R. Beanie

O.R. Beanie

Sun Hat, Ball Cap, Visor

O.R. Swift Cap

O.R. Swift Cap

Lightweight Gloves

O.R. Extravert Gloves

O.R. Stormtracker Gloves

Ski Gloves

O.R. Arete Glove

O.R. Arete Gloves

Insulation

Men’s

Women’s

Down

O.R. Transcendent Down Jacket

O.R. Transcendent Down Jacket

    or

or

or

Synthetic Jacket

O.R. Refuge Hooded

O.R. Refuge Hooded

Personal Gear

Day Pack 25-40L

Mammut Pro X 35L

Mammut Pro X 35L

Water Bottles

2 1L Wide Mouth or Hydration system

Lunch and Snacks

 

 

Sunglasses

Adequate for Snow Travel

Goggles w/ Spare Lens

Or 2nd pair of goggles

Low Light and Sunny Lens

Sunscreen

SPF 25+

Lip Balm

SPF 15+

Buff

O.R. Echo Ubertube

O.R. Echo Ubertube

   or

or

Balaclava

O.R. Option Balaclava

O.R. Option Balaclava

Headlamp

 

 

Ski or Snowboard Gear

Skis or Splitboard

Weston Backcountry Splits and Skis

Ski Boots

 

Ski Poles

Black Diamond 3 Piece Poles (140cm)

Climbing Skins

Touring Skins

Avalanche Safety Gear

Transceiver/ Beacon

Black Diamond Powder BT

Shovel

Transfer 3

Probe

Quickdraw 280cm

Ski pole probes are not acceptable

Optional Items

We highly recommend these but do not require them to participate.

Airbag Packs

 

Snow Saw

Primomo Snow Saws

Basic Snow study Kit

BCA Snow Study Kit

Notebook and writing utensil

Rite in the Rain 374 and Pencil

Winter Snow Boots- Parking Lot

Sorel Style Boots

Thermos

Vacuum Style for Hot Tea or Cocoa

Compass

Adjustable Declination

Altimeter

Suunto Watch

Map Case or Goggle Protection

Zip Loc

Maps

Caltopo or GAIA

 

Cancellation Policy

It is your responsibility to be familiar with our Payment, Cancellation, and Rescheduling Policies. When you book a trip with Guided Exposure, you are agreeing to our policies outlined here:

guidedexposure.com/pages/cancellation-policy