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AIARE 1 Hybrid Avalanche Course - Women's Affinity - Seattle - 2025

Avalanche Safety Course

AIARE 1 Hybrid Avalanche Course - Women's Affinity

AIARE Level 1 avalanche safety course, for women and genderqueer people, offered in a hybrid format (online and two-day weekend field trip).

Contacts

Alison Mehravari
Alison Mehravari
Leader
David Belding
David Belding
Leader

 

This is an AIARE certified level 1 avalanche course consisting of four hours of online pre-course work, two online evening lectures, and a two-day field trip in the backcountry adjacent to the Mountaineers Mount Baker Lodge and the Mount Baker ski area. Lodging costs are not included in the registration fee. The course activities and field trip dates are as follows: 

SCHEDULE:
  • Pre-course work: Due no later than Wed, Jan 15th, 5pm (4-8 hrs self-paced online coursework)
  • Online Lecture 1: Tue, Jan 21, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
  • Online Lecture 2: Thu, Jan 23, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
  • Field Trip: Sat, Jan 25 - Sun Jan 26, 8am - 4pm
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?:
Registration in the Women's Affinity course is limited to women and genderqueer people.

WHAT IS COVERED:
Students will gain a solid foundation in preparing and executing safe backcountry trips while minimizing avalanche risk. The course covers basic field decision-making and rescue techniques for locating and digging out a buried person in the event of an avalanche.
 
The Mountaineers and the Avalanche Safety Committee are committed to supporting and increasing diversity in our membership, leadership, activities and courses. This women’s affinity avalanche course will have an emphasis on creating a welcoming, supportive learning environment including all female instructors.
 
FOCUS ON DECISION MAKING AND PLANNING:

This class focuses on practical decision-making for safe travel in avalanche terrain. The planning and decision-making tools taught are equally useful for managing various mountaineering hazards. The course also covers companion rescue techniques.

I can't think of one moment in the course which was not a learning experience. I especially liked how my instructors challenged us to judge terrain and make choices at the field trip, and then asked us to reflect on those decisions.
FIELD TRIP DETAILS:

The entirety of the field trip will be completed in the backcountry adjacent to the Mountaineers Mt. Baker Lodge and Mt Baker Ski Area. The course registration fee does not include lodging (see below for lodging information).  The field trip starts promptly at 8am on field days and weather can make an early morning arrival challenging. The field days will end at 4pm, so returning to the Seattle area between each field day is possible but will make for long days and is not recommended.

LODGING:

Students are encouraged but not required to stay at the Mountaineers Mount Baker Lodge. A registration link for signing up to stay at the lodge will be provided to all registered students. If you would prefer not to stay at the lodge you will be responsible for arriving to the venue and securing parking which can be challenging.

 

The Mountaineers Mount Baker Lodge is open to course attendees and is run by volunteers. The lodge committee is working to staff the lodge with female and female identifying volunteers in support of the Avalanche affinity course. Please be aware that lodging will not be exclusive to the Women's Affinity course as participants from another Mountaineers avalanche class will be staying at the lodge as well. The lodge environment provides the opportunity for students in the Avalanche course to have more time for interaction and socializing with their fellow affinity course students and instructors.

 
COMMUNICATION AFTER REGISTERING:
In mid-December after registration closes, registered students will receive a welcome email with additional information about the pre-coursework material and links to student manuals and other materials to help prepare for the class.
 
CANCELLATION AND ATTENDANCE POLICY:
During the open registration period, students can cancel their registration and receive a refund of their course fee minus a $50 cancellation fee. After registration closes, students will receive no refunds for cancellations. Pre-course work and attendance at all classes are required. 
 
ABOUT AIARE
To learn more about the AIARE approach to avalanche education used by the Mountaineers, visit the AIARE website.

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements
Course Activity Date Availability Leader
Lecture
Online Classroom
Tue, Jan 21, 2025
Registration closed Dec 16
1 participant on waitlist
0 instructors
David Belding
Lecture 2
Online Classroom
Thu, Jan 23, 2025
Registration closed Dec 16
1 participant on waitlist
0 instructors
David Belding
Weekend Field Trip
Baker Lodge
Sat, Jan 25, 2025 -
Sun, Jan 26, 2025
Registration closed Dec 16
1 participant on waitlist
0 instructors
David Belding
Roster
Required Equipment

During the field days students will need the following equipment:

  • Either backcountry skis / splitboard with skins, or snowshoes. 
  • A metal shovel designed for avalanche rescue (no plastic shovels)
  • A full length avalanche probe (Minimum length of 240cm / Recommended length of 280cm)
  • An avalanche beacon (3 antenna beacons are required)
  • Clothes suitable both for standing around and getting exercise outdoors all day in possibly cold, windy, snowy or even rainy conditions. 
Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.