Avalanche Safety

Avalanches kill more backcountry users in the US than any other natural hazard. Most of those deaths involve people who knew the danger existed but misjudged the conditions, the terrain, or their own exposure. Avalanche education is not about eliminating risk — it is about understanding it well enough to make better decisions about where and when to travel.

If you ski, snowboard, snowshoe, snowmobile, or climb in the mountains during winter or spring, avalanche training is not optional. It is the baseline for responsible winter backcountry travel.

Course Levels

Avalanche education in the US follows a structure maintained by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). Other countries have their own systems (the Canadian Avalanche Association runs the AST 1 and AST 2 in Canada), but the core concepts are the same everywhere.

• AIARE Level 1 — A three-day course that covers avalanche terrain recognition, reading avalanche advisories, basic snowpack assessment, companion rescue, and trip planning. This is the starting point for anyone traveling in avalanche terrain. No prerequisites. Expect a mix of classroom time and field sessions.
• AIARE Level 2 — Builds on Level 1 with deeper snowpack analysis, more advanced terrain assessment, and structured decision-making frameworks. Typically four days. Prerequisite: AIARE Level 1 (or equivalent) plus documented backcountry experience. Aimed at people making their own travel decisions in complex terrain.
• AIARE Pro — Professional-level training for guides, patrollers, forecasters, and others who manage avalanche risk for other people. Multi-week format. Not relevant for most recreational users, but worth knowing exists.
• Companion Rescue — A standalone half-day to one-day course focused entirely on transceiver search, probing, and shoveling. Some providers offer this as a refresher or as a prerequisite for Level 1. Even if you have taken a full course, practicing rescue skills regularly is critical — speed matters in a burial.

Free Resources

• National Avalanche Center (avalanche.org) — The hub for avalanche forecasts, education, and awareness in the US. Their education section includes tutorials on reading avalanche advisories, understanding the danger scale, and recognizing avalanche terrain. The forecast pages are essential daily reading during winter backcountry season.
• Know Before You Go (KBYG) — A free avalanche awareness program originally developed by the Utah Avalanche Center. Includes a 30-minute introductory video, classroom presentations, and companion rescue basics. Widely used in schools and community programs across the western US. A good first exposure for someone who has never thought about avalanche risk.
• Avalanche Aware — A free, self-paced online course built by AIARE in collaboration with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and the Northwest Avalanche Center. Five modules cover avalanche basics, terrain identification, recognizing unstable snow, managing triggers, and planning your next step in avalanche education. About an hour to complete, and a natural bridge between KBYG and a Level 1 field course.
• Avalanche.org Tutorial — A structured online tutorial covering avalanche formation, terrain factors, weather influences, and the basics of snowpack assessment. More detailed than KBYG and a good primer before taking a Level 1 course.
• Colorado Avalanche Information Center (YouTube) — Regular video updates on snowpack conditions, plus educational content on avalanche problems, terrain traps, and real incident analyses. Watching forecasters explain current conditions helps build pattern recognition over time.
• Avalanche Accident Reports — Detailed reports on avalanche incidents across the US. Reading these is sobering but instructive — nearly every report reveals decision points where the outcome could have been different.

Paid Courses

AIARE courses are taught by approved course providers across the country. The curriculum is standardized, but instructors and field locations vary. Most courses run in the winter months when there is active snowpack to work with.

• AIARE Course Finder — The official search tool for finding AIARE Level 1, Level 2, and Companion Rescue courses by location and date. This is the best starting point for finding a course near you.
• NOLS Avalanche Courses — NOLS runs AIARE courses as part of their broader outdoor education programs. Courses are typically held in Wyoming, the Pacific Northwest, and other mountain regions.
• REI Avalanche Courses — REI partners with local AIARE providers to offer avalanche courses in many western US locations. A convenient option if you already use REI for classes and gear.
• Local avalanche centers — Many regional avalanche centers run their own courses or partner with local guides. Check with your nearest forecast center — these courses often benefit from instructors who know the local snowpack patterns intimately. Examples include the Utah Avalanche Center, Northwest Avalanche Center, and the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center.
• Local guide services — Many IFMGA/AMGA-certified mountain guides teach AIARE courses or offer private avalanche education tailored to specific terrain. Search for certified guides in your area through the American Mountain Guides Association.

For current avalanche conditions and forecast tools, see the Avalanche Conditions page under Weather.