AAI Eastern Sierra Avalanche Level 1 Course Overview

Our American Avalanche Association Avalanche Level 1 course in Mammoth Lakes is the industry standard entry level avalanche education every recreational winter backcountry user needs to take. A comprehensive course that builds a foundation for any backcountry ski or snowboarder to learn the basics of how to evaluate avalanche terrain and make good decisions in the backcountry.

Why Choose IAG/ASI’s avalanche courses in the Eastern Sierra:

  • We use the curriculum of the American Avalanche Institute (AAI), AAI is the nation’s oldest and most established avalanche education curriculum provider. Since 1973, AAI has been teaching backcountry skiers how to safely travel through avalanche terrain. As like AIARE, the AAI program is recognized by the American Mountain Guides Association and adheres to the strict standards of the American Avalanche Association. Superior in many ways, the AAI program represents a more practical curriculum that has been refined over many years giving you a higher level of avalanche education with the benefit of their 50 years of experience as an avalanche curriculum provider.

  • Flexible online learning…It’s your choice: Either complete online work on your own timetable or attend the AAI live online classroom sessions offered every Mon and Wed evenings. Unlike some other programs we give you the choice to either do your 6 hours of online work on your own on your schedule, or if you prefer to have live interaction with an instructor, we offer two 3-hour live online classroom sessions. These two session are scheduled weekly on Mon & Wed so you can choose which ones to attend.and they can be taken far in advance of your field days.

  • More experienced instructors. Our avalanche instructors have a higher standard of real world professional avalanche experience. All of our instructors are avalanche professionals who work full-time in avalanche terrain as AMGA trained ski guides, ski patrollers or avalanche forecasters. After all, the quality of your instruction all comes down to your instructor in the field and you know your in good hands with IAG/ASI.

  • Over 40 years experience teaching avalanche courses in California. We have been a leading avalanche education provider and taught thousands of students in the Sierra Nevada of California for the past 40 years. You wont find that depth of experience anywhere else. We know avalanche education.

Upon completion of the avalanche level one course you will have an understanding of:

  • Types and characteristics of avalanches 

  • Types of avalanches, their motion & size classification 

  • Avalanche danger scale 

  • An introduction to snowpack metamorphism and layering 

  • Field observation techniques 

  • Stability tests

  • Field observation & Observation checklist

  • Avalanche terrain recognition, assessment and route finding

  • Trip Planning and Preparation 

  • Proper decision making

  • Companion Rescue and equipment

Included are online modules to complete on your own, or if you prefer, two 3-hour live online classroom sessions, and then 2 full field days with your experienced avalanche instructor. The 2 days of field course work is conducted in the backcountry around the Mammoth Lakes area. The two field days of our AAI avalanche level 1 course are 8 hours live with an instructor in the Eastern Sierra backcountry who can respond to questions & provide feedback. You must have the ability to travel in avalanche terrain using skis or a splitboard and have basic knowledge of backcountry techniques and equipment.

The online classroom portion of your course includes either 6 hours of online modules that you can complete fully on your own at your own pace and schedule or the AAI Avalanche Level 1 virtual live workshop. If you choose the virtual workshop it consists of two, 3 hour long hosted sessions, during these sessions you will watch presentations of core material followed by small group learning exercises, Q & A, and review/feedback.  These sessions will be scheduled weekly and can be taken well in advance of your course for maximum convenience and engagement.  Students must either complete the online modules on their own or attend the virtual live workshop ahead of their field days. It’s your choice which one to do.

We include use of avalanche safety gear, such as avalanche beacon, shovel & probe at no extra charge!

Avalanche Education Elevated!

 
 
 

SKILL & EXPERIENCE LEVEL

For our AAI level 1 in Mammoth Lakes course you should be in very good physical shape and are familiar with, or have previously used, backcountry ski or snowboard equipment. Everyone will travel on backcountry skis or split boards. If you have no previous experience on backcountry equipment we recommend taking our Intro to Backcountry Course

Read IAG director Dave Miller’s blog post on How to Prepare for Your Avalanche 1 Course


 

2024-2025 DATES

The dates below are for the field days, You will also be required to complete 6 hours of online learning either on your own at your own pace prior to the field days. There will also be a 1 hour logistics call the evening prior to your course.

December 21-22
December 28-29
January 4-5
January 18-19
February 1-2
February 15-16
March 8-9
March 22-23

 

COST: $635

INCLUDES

  • Use of avalanche safety equipment including shovel and avalanche transceiver.

  • 6 hours of live online classroom sessions

  • Course manual

  • Field book

  • Professional instruction from a local AAI avalanche instructor

 

For more info on this course please fill out the form below:

 

MAMMOTH LAKES AVALANCHE 1 COURSE ITINERARY

Pre Course Online Learning
Shortly after signing up for your Mammoth AAI avalanche course you will receive a link to your AAI online course materials that you must complete prior to the field days. The online learning portion of your avalanche course is approximately 6 hours of online learning, covers all the basics of the avalanche awareness and prepares you for your days in the field with your avalanche instructor. It is mandatory that you complete this online studies before the field days. Our avalanche course director will be monitoring the progress of the students.

Day Prior to the two field days:
At 530pm the evening prior to the first field day, there will be an online Google Meets meeting with the entire avalanche 1 course and the avalanche instructors. We do ask that you are in a quiet location for this meeting. During this meeting there will be a presentation from the avalanche course director and an opportunities for you to ask questions about the online materials. The students will then be assigned into individual field groups and the next days meeting place will be determined.

Day 1
You will meet your avalanche instructors and the rest of your group at 8am sharp at our office in the town of Mammoth Lakes at 325 Old Mammoth Road. The says goals and objectives along with trip planning will be discussed before a short drive to a local trail head in the Mammoth Lakes area. The rest of the day is spent in the field traveling on skis or split board going over the basics of avalanche terrain, stability analysis, field observations, managing travel and mitigating danger in avalanche terrain, plus much more. Your avalanche course instructors will share with you their years of experience working in, and mitigating danger in, avalanche terrain. There will also be an introduction into avalanche rescue techniques using the avalanche beacon, shovel and probe. Plan to be back at the trail head around 4pm or so. Your avalanche instructor will then debrief the day and discuss the next days meeting place and objectives. Plan on a homework assignment in trip planning.

Day 2
Your avalanche course group will meet at 8am at the designated trail head for your group, once again in the Mammoth Lakes area. More discussion of trip planning will begin the day and students will have the opportunity to lead the group in a backcountry travel objective making decisions in or near avalanche terrain. There will also be an intro to snow pits and snow stability tests and the limits of their effectiveness in making safe decisions in avalanche terrain. Plus much more. After a course debrief plan to be finished up at the trail head by 4pm.

Itinerary subject to change due to weather and snow conditions