AIARE 1-Day Refresher
Fall weather has finally kicked into gear here in the PNW. As the snow starts to paint the peaks white, the urge to ski builds. It’s time to dust off your gear, check your skins and fit your boots (read our Preseason Backcountry Ski Checklist). New snow also means it’s time to reflect on your avalanche safety skills.
Have you ever taken an avalanche safety course? If not, AIARE is the place to find one. They offer the best avalanche safety curriculum in the US. If you have taken an AIARE course, AIARE just announced a new course, the AIARE 1-Day Refresher.
Made for skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers who have completed an AIARE 1 or equivalent level 1 course. The AIARE 1-Day Refresher is designed to sharpen your avalanche safety brain, hone communication and decision-making skills, and offer an update on best practices. It’s particularly good for groups who have an upcoming hut trip or who routinely ski together. Rather than focus on theory and classroom work, the Refresher is field-based, offering a full day of touring.
The Evidence For Ongoing Training
It’s no secret that skills fade if not applied and used regularly. According to a first-of-its-kind study conducted with Eastern Oregon University, AIARE tracked nearly 1,700 students across three winters and found that those who completed avalanche courses measurably increased the frequency of safe backcountry behaviors — including terrain selection, recognition of unstable conditions and end-of-day decision review. The Refresher is designed to sustain and deepen that effect over time.
Avalanche Refresher Course Framework
As a field-based course, it offers the opportunity to plan and lead a backcountry tour with an AIARE instructor, practicing applied decision-making in real conditions. The day is an opportunity to assess avalanche terrain, interpret the forecast in the field and practice the group decision-making process in the field.
In addition, the course walks through risk management, communication under pressure and practice search, probe and digging skills. You will even leave the course with a structured plan for continuing your avalanche education through the season and beyond.
The AIARE 1 Refresher is available through AIARE Providers across the US. While pricing is set by individual providers, it is designed to be accessible, typically running less than the cost of a single day at a major ski resort.
Find an AIARE 1-Day Refresher near you
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