AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Course in Whitefish

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get in this adventure: 

  • • Experienced, certified guides with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 3 days of avalanche education and field practice

  What’s not included:

  • • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
    • Transportation to the field sessions
      
    • Resort pass
    • Accommodations 
    • All meals and snacks
• How fit do I need to be?

  In order to get the most of this adventure, you need to have a moderate level of fitness. You will be on your feet for a full day. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

  Prerequisites:
  You don’t need to be an advanced skier or boarder, but you do need to be able to ascend moderate slopes using skins. All participants should be comfortable traveling in snow while carrying touring gear. There are no other prerequisites.

• What equipment do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring, telemark, or snowboarding boots (can be rented)
    • Skis or splitboard with compatible binding for boots (can be rented)
    • Climbing skins (can be rented)
    • Ski poles (can be rented)
    • Basic avalanche safety gear (can be rented)
      • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
      • Lightweight snow shovel
      • Avalanche probe

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • Helmet – optional
    • Long sleeve synthetic — medium to expedition weight long underwear
    • Softshell or fleece jacket
    • Shell jacket with a hood
    • Puffy jacket with a hood
    • Synthetic or wool long underwear bottoms
    • Shell pants — full side zips and built-in gaiters
    • Socks — synthetic or wool, sized for your boots and blister protection
    • Liners — optional, but recommended
    • Gloves – 3 pairs: 1 light, 1 medium, 1 heavy pair
    • Medium weight ski hat
    • Baseball hat or visor for sun
    • Buff or a neck gaiter
    • Backpack (30-40 liter ski pack)
    • Thermos or insulated water bottle
    • Food you can eat-on-the-go
    • Sunglasses
    • Ski goggles
    • Extra prescription glasses/contact lenses
    • Sunscreen
    • Lip balm
    • Headlamp and extra batteries
    • Laptop computer
    • Camera — optional
• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:

  • • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe can be rented from your guide
    • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from your guide
    • Splitboards can be rented from your guide

  Ski rental locations are in Whitefish and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and prices:

  • • This course is not private. For group courses, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1. 
    • Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.

  Avalanche safety courses in Whitefish can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to this tour in the Whitefish area, most people fly into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), 15 minutes away from Whitefish, MT. From there, you should rent a car, or take a taxi or shuttle to Whitefish. 

  Your evening session will be held in a virtual classroom setting on Day 1 at 6pm. Course field sessions will be held in the Canyon Creek area near Whitefish Mountain Resort. You will meet your guides at the WMR base lodge ticket window at 8:30am for each field day.

• Cancellation policy

  Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.

  • • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund, less a $50 processing fee.
    • For cancellations fourteen (14) to twenty nine (29) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking.
    • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.