AIARE 1 - Avalanche Safety with Synnott Mountain Guides

Leaders
Elena Westeinde, James Douberley
Type
Other
Trip date
Saturday, February 18th, 2023
Difficulty rating
N/A
Prerequisites
You must be able to travel in avalanche terrain (~ 34 to 42 degree snow slope), either on foot, snowshoes, or skis/split-boards, there are no requirements for previous training.

PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW CAREFULLY

We have arranged with Synnott Mountain Guides (SMG) in New Hampshire to run an AIARE Level 1 course exclusively for MITOC members.

The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) is the primary provider of Avalanche courses in the country. AIARE 1 (http://avtraining.org/aiare-level-1/) is the introductory/recreational course, in which students will develop the fundamentals of trip preparations, decision making, and rescue in avalanche terrain. You should take this course if you are a skier, climber, mountaineer, or winter hiker that spends time in avalanche areas.

This will be run as a hybrid course, requiring you to complete a 4-hour online module and a 3-hour live Zoom lecture. The field days for this course will be Saturday and Sunday February 18-19, 2023 with the mandatory live zoom session on February 16 6pm-9pm. We will try to help everyone arrange carpools to the field days. Anyone who wants to can stay at the Intervale cabin Saturday night, with Friday night as an option depending on cars.

We will spend the weekend days outside in winter conditions. This will involve winter hiking/snowshoeing or backcountry skiing. You must bring all appropriate gear and clothing to move in above-treeline winter conditions. If you have your own Avalanche rescue equipment (beacon, shovel, probe), please bring it, but SMG can provide that equipment (no additional charge) for anyone who needs it.

The cost for this course is $525, slightly discounted from the standard rate. MITOC leaders can also qualify for a $100 subsidy toward the course. You can qualify for the subsidy if you lead/co-lead at least TWO trips of any sort (e.g. Winter School, paddle, 3-season hiking, climbing, biking, etc) or have led at least two trips in the past (but have not counted them towards another subsidy).

Trip signups are open! Please sign up on the SMG website following the instructions below. If you believe you qualify for the $100 subsidy, fill out this short form (https://forms.gle/5gNM6adSnYK6PHYA9) after paying for the course to request a reimbursement.

To sign up:

  1. Sign up for the trip here via the MITOC trips website.

  2. Go to https://www.newhampshireclimbing.com/shop/aiare-level-1/ and select the Date Option “February 18-19, 2023 (Hybrid, Saturday-Sunday) - MITOC”.

  3. Complete the signup. Enter the discount code MIT25 before checking out.

  4. Checkout through the SMG website and pay for the course. Request a leader subsidy if you believe you qualify.

Spots in this class will be first-come, first-served. Your spot in the course will not be confirmed until your payment is received. Space is limited; sign up and pay as soon as possible!

Please feel free to email James and Elena with any questions.

Signup

Algorithm
first-come, first-serve
Maximum participants
16
Signups opened at
Nov. 28, 2022, 7:28 p.m.
Signups closed at
Feb. 10, 2023, 9 a.m.
Notes
  1. What is your winter outdoor experience? Do you primarily backcountry ski/snowboard, hike, ice climb, other? And for how many seasons?
  2. What mode of backcountry travel are you planning to use during the course (skis, snowshoes, etc)? And will you need to rent this gear for the course?
  3. Will you be asking for a leader subsidy?
  4. Are you planning to stay at Intervale both nights? Just Saturday? Neither?
Signups for this trip are closed.