Avalanche Course in Mammoth Lakes, AIARE Level 2

AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Course, Mammoth Lakes,

The AIARE Level 2 avalanche course in the Mammoth Lakes in California expands on the foundational skills learned in the Level 1 and Companion Rescue courses. This three-day field-based program teaches participants how to make better decisions in complex terrain, lead small groups, develop travel plans with limited online resources, and understand the relationship between weather, snowpack conditions, observations, and discussions.

Group

Sierra Nevada (California)

3 Days

Feb

High

Advanced

Highlights

Deepen your understanding of avalanche safety
Focus on advanced decision-making, small group leadership, travel planning, and snowpack analysis
Three days of hands-on instruction in the field

Description

Build on the skills you learned in your Level 1 and Companion Rescue courses on the AIARE Level 2 avalanche course. Develop advanced decision-making in complex terrain, lead small groups, create travel plans with limited online resources, and understand how weather and snowpack conditions relate to observations and discussions.

Embark on this Level 2 course for three days in the field, with hands-on instruction, and gives our instructors a better platform to answer questions and deliver the course curriculum.

Day 1: Avalanche equipment review, current snowpack conditions, using weather, snow, and avalanche observations to build trip plans, and terrain analysis.
Day 2: Beacon and equipment trailhead check, implementing trip plans in the field using a risk management framework, building leadership skills within a small team, snow column and pit tests, and trip planning and preparation review for the following day.
Day 3: Fine-tuning trip planning and risk management strategies, avalanche hazard analysis in the field, practicing using informal and formal observations in the absence of a local avalanche forecast, decision making in avalanche terrain, route finding, travel decisions and techniques, and course debrief.

All AIARE Level 2 students must complete the online learning course before their first day in the field. Please set aside a few hours to complete this training before your first day.

Also please note that to register for the AIARE Level 2 course, you must have taken an AIARE Level 1 and Companion Rescue course. It is highly recommended that you have at least one year of experience practicing your Level 1 and Companion Rescue skills before taking a Level 2 course.

Price includes

Guiding fee
Avalanche equipment

Price details

What's included:
Professionally trained AIARE leader
Avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe
AIARE waterproof field book
AIARE digital student manual
Online discount codes at our partners Weston Backcountry, Volcom, and Ridge Merino
20% off snow travel equipment rentals at Mammoth Mountaineering

Itinerary

Day 1: AIARE Level 2 Course Field Day 1

Our AIARE Level 2 course begins in the field in Mammoth Lakes. On the first day, we will cover the following topics:

Avalanche equipment review
Current snowpack conditions in the local area
Using weather, snow, and avalanche observations to build trip plans before entering the field
Terrain analysis

Day 2: AIARE Level 2 Course Field Day 2

Our second day in the field in Mammoth Lakes will cover the following topics:

Beacon and equipment trailhead check
Implementing trip plans in the field using a risk management framework
Building leadership skills within a small team
Snow column and pit tests
Reviewing trip planning and preparation for the following day

Day 3: AIARE Level 2 Course Field Day 3

Our third and final day in the field in Mammoth Lakes will cover the following topics, with a goal of concluding the course by 3:00 PM:

Fine-tuning trip planning and risk management strategies
Analyzing avalanche hazards in the field
Practicing using informal and formal observations in the absence of a local avalanche forecast
Making decisions in avalanche terrain
Route finding, travel decisions, and techniques
Course debrief

Equipment you will need to bring

Equipment rent on site

About the guide

Ryan

5.0

(15)

Single Pitch Instructor

I am the founder of Golden State Guiding and an AMGA Apprentice Alpine and Splitboard Guide, a certified Single Pitch Instructor, and certified Wilderness First Responder and also hold an AIARE Pro 1 certificate.

At Golden State Guiding we hold a valid permit to guide you legally in California's Eastern Sierra mountains including Mammoth Lakes, Sequoia/ Kings National Park, Mount Shasta in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park, Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego, and Red Rock Canyon just outside of Las Vegas Nevada. All Golden State Guiding guides are professionally trained by the AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) and are some of the best Guides in the industry. Our professional Guides know exactly where to take you for your day out of rock, ice, or alpine climbing, backcountry skiing or splitboarding, and mountaineering in California or Nevada.

These are some of the spots where we can take you:

- Joshua Tree National Park

- San Diego (Mission Gorge or Mount Woodson)

- Eastern Sierra (Lone Pine Peak, Mt Emerson, Mount Sill and the entire Palisade Range, Bear Creek Spire, Temple Crag, Crystal Crag, Cardinal Pinnacle, Iris Slab, Mammoth Lakes Basin, Clark Canyon)

- Mount Shasta in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in the Southern Cascades

- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Languages

English

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What people are saying about Ryan

First class operation from beginning to end. Ryan (I believe owner or manager) provided the best customer service from the moment I contacted him as a result of a search on the internet. He set everything up with ease, always staying in touch and making sure we had everything we needed. Highly recommend him for climbing at any level.

Ryan, Tim, Scott, and Ben were all very friendly, professional, and super knowledgeable. I know there's an inherent risk in climbing, but I'm confident I can use what I learned from this program and climb much more safely outdoors. I'll be signing up for their other programs!

We just had an amazing weekend climbing in the Mammoth area. Greg, our guide, was so talented and hilarious! I learned so much and we climbed tons of amazing varied routes. We laughed learned and climbed hard. Cant wait to do more with you guys! Thanks for everything Ryan and Greg!

Ryan was absolutely phenomenal. Lines were set and tied in well before our meeting time. He had a great game plan for us. I'll be booking again soon.

Ryan is truly a top notch guiding service. Ryan is more than accommodating to work with, and the rapport we have with the guides is unmatched. Keep up the great work!