With the hope of building up my skills to be able and become a professional backcountry ski and snowboard guide I decided that it was time to get my American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education level one certification, or AIARE I this weekend.  This is one of the three required certifications needed before you can try and become certified through the American Mountain Guides Association which is the standard level of certification needed in the U.S. for guiding and builds towards the international certification.

In the past few years have taken a couple of avalanche clinics that focus on terrain selection and snow quality but I have yet to take one that goes more in depth on the understanding of both of the topics; and most of my learning has come from traveling with more experienced people.  So with needing an AIARE I cert I signed up the Renaissance Adventure Guides for a weekend of learning.

We started out with a 4 hour in class session on Thursday night where we learned all about the different types of avalanches, how snow layers build up and what cases slabs to form whether a stable or unstable one. We also read over some cases studies to be able and review the planning process, observations, and the human factor which all are involved in safe travel in the backcountry.

The next two days were spent up in Rocky Mountain National Park starting each morning with a classroom session to go more in depth on all of the components of Avalanches, travel techniques and safety discussions.  We also spent the majority of the first day reviewing how to practice a beacon rescue and simulating multiple burial situations.  I thought that this was really good practice, and even though I have spent a lot of time this winter doing practice sessions it can never hurt to practice more and get feedback from certified guides.  Also the multiple burial is something that I have not practiced much of and running through mock team rescue situations was really good practice and allowed you to realize how much of a different situation it is.

The Second day in RMNP we analyzed the CIAC report for the day and from there made a route plan for where our tour would take us.  While we were out on the tour we got to spend time with the guides looking over the terrain and analyzing safe travel practices as well as safe route finding.  We also dug a snow pit to analyze the snow layers.  And to end the day in true tour fashion had a nice run down Dream-Catcher chute onto Dream Lake.

Overall I thought that the RAG guides put on a great certification clinic and for the price it is hard to find a better deal in the Denver-Boulder area.  Also I thought that they were able to set up mock situation very well and give personal input from a professional standpoint.  And even though there was a fair bit of review involved in this class for me I thought that they still made it very interesting and hands on.

Cheers!