AIARE 2 - Level 2 Avalanche Training

The AIARE 2 provides backcountry travelers an opportunity to advance their decision making skills in more complicated situations such as being a leader within a small travel group, traveling in more complicated terrain, and/or developing a travel plan where resources are scarce.

The AIARE 2 builds on the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in the AIARE 1 and adds to it the evaluation of critical hazard assessment factors. Students will describe and discuss weather, snowpack and avalanche processes, and identify how these processes relate to observations and travel within avalanche terrain.

We will be offering two public AIARE 2 programs for the 2025-2026 season. As always, if you're looking for an AIARE 2 on Mt. Hood and can wrangle a crew together, please reach out and we can schedule one for when the snowpack is at it's fattest.

Pre-Requisites

Completion of AIARE 1 (or equivalent) and AIARE Avalanche Rescue (or equivalent) courses are required for enrollment in this program. If you're skiing/splitboarding, we ask that you are able to ski/ride confidently at a black run level at the resort and have basic familiarity with your gear.

Pre-Course Material

You will be given access to the AIARE online material in advance of your course and you must complete the education prior to your first field day. You will also be supplied with an AIARE Field Book, included in the cost of your course.

Additionally, this course will have short video call a few days ahead of time that will allow participants to get to know each other and their instructor, as well as to get some early practice in realistic trip planning and applying the AIARE Framework. We will limit this call to no more than one hour in length.

Leave No Trace Considerations

An important aspect to backcountry travel is practicing Leave No Trace. Following the 7 Principles will help preserve the natural environment for yourself and others. Be prepared to practice touring-specific LNT in the following ways and more:

• Radio usage, for safety and noise reduction
• Managing your food; reducing the chance of littering through snack packing, preventing birds from scooping your calories
• Eco-friendly waxes
• What to do with “skin savers”
• Assessing snowpack depth/coverage from home

You will learn more about these and other touring-specific LNT practices on your course, generally as add-on moments as we move through the backcountry.

Equipment & Logistics

Please see our Ski Touring Packing List page for a complete list of what you should bring on your course.

A sno-park pass is required to park at any sno-park located on the Mt. Hood National Forest. We will provide you with a sno-park pass for free if you do not have one.