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Field Trip

Field trip: AIARE 1 Avalanche Class

Field Trip - Mount Baker Ski Area

AIARE 1 course covering decision making, trip planning, snowpack, terrain and companion rescue for climbers, skiers and anyone else traveling in avalanche terrain.

Contacts

David Belding
David Belding
Primary Leader
  • Easy
  • Elevation Gain: 1,500 ft

TBD- Instructor team will send out specific details on when and where to meet, but generally it will be near the Mountaineers Baker Lodge near the Mount Baker Ski area.

This is an AIARE certified level 1 avalanche course consisting of evening lectures and two days field trip. The course introduces students to the primary factors that cause avalanches such as weather, snowpack, human error and terrain and stresses ways to avoid avalanches, such as reading terrain, trip planning, snowpack evaluation, understanding avalanche forecasts, travel techniques and team decision making. The class is oriented toward demonstrating practical ways to make safe decisions when traveling in avalanche terrain. The planning and decision making tools introduced in this course are just as applicable to managing all sorts of mountaineering hazards as they are to safety in avalanche terrain. Companion rescue methods are also covered in this class.   The field trip will start promptly on Friday morning.

Route/Place

Mount Baker Ski Area


  • Green Trails Mt Shuksan No. 14
    Green Trails Mount Baker Wilderness Climbing No. 13SX
    USGS Shuksan Arm
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

During the two day field trip students will need either backcountry skis or split-board with skins, or snowshoes and warm insulated boots. Everyone will also need a metal shovel, full length avalanche probe and a modern digital avalanche beacon with two or three antennas for the field trip.  If you rent a beacon make sure you try it out and study the manual so you know how to use it at the field trip.  Bring extra batteries for the beacon. Bring clothes suitable both for standing around and also for getting exercise outdoors all day in possibly cold, windy, snowy or even rainy conditions.  Bring your own lunch and snacks for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the field.

Trip Reports