
AIARE Pro 1 - Coming 2019
The 5-day Pro 1 is an entry level course and exam designed to train and certify workers new to the avalanche industry. The Pro 1 course covers skills essential to the workplace including conducting weather, snow and avalanche observations, making an assessment of basic hazard and risk factors, participation in team meetings, succinctly communicating observations in the field, and applying basic safe travel protocols in avalanche terrain.
COMING 2019
IMPORTANT BETA
LODGING INCLUDED*
4 nights at The Bunkhouse at Northeast Mountaineering
COURSE DETAILS
Length: 5 Days [40 Hours]
Guide-to-Client: 2:12
Price: $775 per person
COMING 2019
AIARE is currently finalizing the curriculum for this course. As soon as they release the course materials, we will begin booking in 2019.
RENTAL GEAR
For this course, you will need an Avalanche Beacon, Probe and Shovel. These items may be rented for $82.50.
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 PRO 1
Prequisites
Prerequisites
- Completion of an AIARE 1 or AAA recognized Level 1 course for student pursuing the Professional track.
- Completion of an AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course or AAA recognized Avalanche Rescue course (available starting in late 2017)
- One winter season (20 days or more) of relevant experience, demonstrated through one of the following:
- Prior avalanche work experience or
- A supervised unpaid work internship in the guiding/avalanche industry, supported by a letter of reference or
- Winter backcountry travel experience supported by documented trip planning and recorded field observations that contributed to avalanche hazard assessment and personal avalanche risk management or
- Letter of Recommendation from professional member or
- AAA Membership, Affiliate or Professional
Required Documents
- 3 drafted snow profiles from the current winter
- 3 days of operational hazard forecast forms (or trip plans using the AIARE field book Plan pages) to the AIARE Pro Program Director. Applications will not be accepted without the documentation
Please have documents ready to upload at the time of registration.
Required Reading
- AIARE 1 Student Manual
- AIARE 2 Student Manual/Workbook
- Snow, Weather and Avalanches: Observation Guidelines, Published AAA, 2016 edition (SWAG)
- The Avalanche Handbook, Dave McLung, 1993 edition
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
The course introduces participants to team decision making in the avalanche workplace. It provides essential training for those working or planning to work as a ski patrol on the avalanche control team, or as an assistant heli or cat skiing guide, or snow observer for the local avalanche advisory, or as a highways avalanche technician. Students will participate in daily operation meetings, collecting and analyze data and evidence in the field, effectively assessing and communicating hazard and risk factors, and travel safely through avalanche terrain.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a basic knowledge of avalanche formation and release
- Conduct study plot weather observations. Identify relevant weather trends
- Conduct a snow profile. Choose a relevant test location and identify important layer and interface characteristics. Document using a snow profile form or digital drafting program
- Conduct a compression test and identify fracture character
- Conduct an ECT and PST and identify propensity for crack propagation in the weak layer
- Observe and record avalanche occurrences. Identify important avalanche hazard factors that relate to a recent or current avalanche occurrence
- Assess current avalanche hazard factors and describe the avalanche problem and the avalanche danger trend
- Communicate the avalanche riskStudent Learning Objectives between team members
- Identify and apply strategies to mitigate bias and other challenges to individual and team decision making
- Relate the current and forecast avalanche problem to specific slopes and terrain features. As part of a trip plan and in the field, identify both terrain to avoid and terrain with less consequence
- Identify avalanche paths and describe the terrain characteristics that define the start zone, track, and avalanche run out
- Travel safely over snow in mountainous terrain
Assessment
Assessment
Course assessment principles adhere to those described in the American Avalanche Association (AAA) Professional Avalanche Training Guidelines and Proficiencies for the PRO 1 Bridge Course.
Students are sent a description of the assessment plan and evaluation criteria prior to the course start date. A course mark of 70% is required to pass.
Assessment Plan
- Avalanche rescue skills (pass/fail). This skill is evaluated prior to the course during the Avalanche Rescue course. Students are required to produce the certificate as a requirement for enrollment
- Observation and Recording (50% of course grade). Students are required to submit documented observations for instructor review prior to the course start date. The students will receive some coaching and direction on the submitted field weather and snow profile observations prior to the start of the course and then again on the first day of the course. Weather and snow profile observations and snowpack tests are reviewed on the first day of the course and the evaluation criteria is explained to each student.
- Hazard and Risk Analysis Forms and Written Exam (50% of course grade). Students receive both the expectation in the pre course package and a request to submit trip plan or hazard forecast forms for review prior to the course start date. Students receive one opportunity to be coached on the course when they complete a hazard and risk analysis form the first day. Pre course reading and assignments are designed to include topics that will be covered on written exam.Students have the right to retest weather plot and snow profile observations, snowpack tests and the written exam, and can appeal their grades.
Course Itinerary
SKIING, RIDING OR SNOWSHOEING
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. If you do not ski or ride, please plan to snowshoe - which can be rented from mtnGEAR.
DAY 1: NO GRADING
Class: Welcome and introduction: course agenda, logistics, and evaluation criteria
Class: Introduction to the course risk management
Class: Course emergency response plan
Class: Locating a Study Plot
Field: Study Plot Weather Observations
Class: Recording and Documentation
Class: Storm Profile Analysis
Class: PM Operational Meeting
Plan for Tomorrow
DAY 2: NO GRADING
Field: AM Study Plot Observations
Class: Managing Hazard From New Snow and/or Wind (Part 1)
Class: Managing Hazard from New Snow and/or Wind (Part 2)
Class: Operational Meeting and Forecast
Field: Snow Profile
Field: Snowpack Tests
Field: PM Study Plot Observations
Class: Documenting Snow Profiles
Class: Case History— Potential for Worker Bias with Snowpack Observations
Class: Submit observations to the local advisory
Plan for tomorrow
DAY 3: INCLUDES GRADING
Field: AM Study Plot Observations
Class: Managing Hazards That Persist in Old Snow Layers
Class: Morning meeting and Trip Plan- For Grades
Guest Presentation: Introduction to Ski Area Avalanche Control Program*
Field: Control route simulation
Field: Managing a cornice problem
Field: Propagation Saw Test
Field: Worker Communication
Field: PM Study Plot Observations
Class: Evening meeting
Class: The risks of working alone
Plan for tomorrow
DAY 4: INCLUDES GRADING
Field: AM Study Plot Observations
Class: Managing Hazards From Warming or Rain
Class: Morning meeting and Trip Plan
Class: Avalanche path documentation
Field: Terrain exam: Avalanche Paths (5 marks)
Field: Terrain exam: Avalanche terrain observations (10 marks)
Field: Snowpack test exam (ECT and PST 5 marks)
Field: PM Study Plot Observations Practice Exam
Class: PM Operational Form (for 5 marks)
DAY 5: INCLUDES GRADING
Field: AM Study Plot Observations (Exam 5 marks)
Class: AM Operational Forecast form (5 marks) and AM Meeting
Field: Snow Profile exam (10 marks)
Field: Compression Test exam (5 marks)
Field: Terrain exam—moving safely over terrain (10 marks)
Class: Written exam (20 marks)
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