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Field Trip

Field trip: AIARE 1 Avalanche Class

Field Trip - Gold Creek Basin

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/Moderate
  • Easy
  • Mileage: 10.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 500 ft

TBD

This is an AIARE certified level 1 avalanche course consisting of  evening lectures  and two field trip days.  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.  Students will need to spend The field trip will start promptly on Saturday morning.

Route/Place

Gold Creek Basin


  • Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass Gateway No. 207S
    Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass No. 207
    USGS Chikamin Peak
    USGS Snoqualmie Pass
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

During the  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 both Saturday and Sunday in the field.

Trip Reports