Analyzing Snow Stability and Avalanche Hazard

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 online 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.
 
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IMPORTANT BETA

LODGING INCLUDED*

2 nights at The Bunkhouse at Northeast Mountaineering

*As space permits. Requires additional online reservation at The Bunkhouse.

COURSE DETAILS

Length: 3 Days [24 Hours]
Guide-to-Client: 1:6
Price: $485 per person

2017-2018 DATES

February 3-5
March 17-19

RENTAL GEAR

For this course, you will need an Avalanche Beacon, Probe and Shovel. These items may be rented for $50.

Most of the required equipment is available for rent from our affiliate mtnGEAR. AIARE Participants will receive an exclusive discount of 50% beacon, probe and shovel and an additional 20% discount on all rental equipment and clothing.

AIARE 2 COURSE OBJECTIVES

In the past the AIARE 2 was designed to be an entry level professional course. New for 2017, the redesigned AIARE 2 is designed specifically to meet the needs of advanced recreational students who have taken an AIARE 1 and Avalanche Rescue class.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the AIARE 2 course the student should be able to:

  • 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.

Instructional sessions (24 hours including both class and field instruction).

  1. Changing Mountain Snowpack
    • AIARE 1 Review
    • Mountain Weather
    • The Layered Mountain Snowpack
    • Trip Planning Review
    • Snowprofiles in the Field
  2. Making Quality Observations
    • Avalanche Formation and Release
    • Interpreting Weather Data, Snow Surface Conditions, and Snow Profiles
    • Craftsmanship, Relevancy, and Verification of Snow Observations
    • Risk Management in Small Groups
    • Snowpack Test in the Field
  3. Applying Observations to Field Decisions
    • Traveling in the Field as a Small Team
    • Field Risk Management and During Action Review
    • Communicating Observations to our group, other travelers, and local experts

 

Course Itinerary

ALPINE TOURING OR SPLIT BOARDING

For this course we will be accessing the backcountry. If you own a touring setup or split board you are welcome to skin with the instructor and consequently ski or ride out at the end of the day. Please bring your own AT or Split Board setups as we do not have these available for rent. For this course, snowshoes will not suffice as it will severely limit our ski tours on day 2 and 3.

DAY 1

AIARE 1 Review

Mountain Weather

The Layered Mountain Snowpack

Trip Planning Review

Snowprofiles in the Field
 

DAY 2

Avalanche Formation and Release

Interpreting Weather Data, Snow Surface Conditions, and Snow Profiles

Craftsmanship, Relevancy, and Verification of Snow Observations

Risk Management in Small Groups

Snowpack Test in the Field
 

DAY 3

Traveling in the Field as a Small Team

Field Risk Management and During Action Review

Communicating Observations to our group, other travelers, and local experts
 

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General Policies

GENERAL POLICIES

NEMs Adventure plans and itineraries are subject to change or adjustment based on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to, route conditions, weather, terrain, and many other factors. NEM has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, including discretion to change program schedule or itinerary, and change guides or staff, as necessary for the proper and safe conduct of the program.

We reserve the right to cancel any program due to inadequate signups, weather or route conditions. In such a case, an NEM credit for the full value is given; however, NEM cannot be responsible for any additional expenses incurred in preparing for the program (i.e., airline tickets, equipment purchase or rental, hotel reservations).

NEM reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from a trip at any time if NEM determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for or capable of participating in the program. This includes being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

SUMMIT ATTEMPT

Northeast Mountaineering cannot guarantee that you will reach the summit. Weather, route conditions, your own abilities or the abilities of others may create circumstances that make an ascent unsafe, and you or your entire party will have to turn around without reaching the summit. Your program fee entitles you to one summit attempt on your specified dates.

MINIMUM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

For our adventures to run as booked, we must have 50% enrollment of the maximum participant allotment. As an example, if the program has a maximum of 8 people then we must have 4 registered participants for the adventure. In the case of low registration, you may be asked to postpone or join another group on a different date. Exceptions may be made but it is at complete discretion of Northeast Mountaineering, its guides and agents.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Safety is NEM’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent in the mountains such as avalanches, ice fall, rock fall, inclement weather, and high winds, but they cannot eliminate them. NEM guides draw from their wealth of experience and training to make sound decisions that maximize your experience without compromising the necessary margin of safety. Please clearly understand that mountaineering and all other mountain adventures are inherently hazardous sports. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which participants have been injured and killed. While those accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge the risk and hazards of these sports, and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in these activities.

DOMESTIC ADVENTURES

Payment in full is due at the time of booking. Cancellations outside of 7 days are fully refundable except for a $50 service fee. There will be no refunds for cancellations made less than 7 days before your program. Unfortunately, due to the time-sensitive nature of our business, and the difficulty in re-booking a trip close to departure, we cannot make exceptions to this policy. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check.

BEYOND NEW ENGLAND INCLUDING MOUNT RAINIER

A non-refundable deposit of $750 per person secures your reservation but may vary - please check the individual pages. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check. Final payment is due 1 month [30 days] before departure - but may vary. For your convenience, we can work out a monthly payment plan.

INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURES

A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person secures your reservation but may vary - please check the individual pages. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check. Final payment is due 1 month [30 days] before departure - but may vary. For your convenience, we can work out a monthly payment plan.

CANCELLATION

There will be no refunds for cancellations made less than 7 days before your program. Unfortunately, due to the time-sensitive nature of our business, and the difficulty in re-booking a trip close to departure, we cannot make exceptions to this policy.

CHANGE OF DATE

Date changes are subject to availability and apply only to the current climbing season. Date changes may be requested at anytime up to 7 days prior to your departure date for a $25 fee per person. Date changes may be requested at anytime up to 3 days prior to your departure date for a $50 fee per person. There are no date changes allowed less than 2 days before departure.