An avalanche 1 course is one of the first steps every backcountry skier and split boarder should take in the beginning of their backcountry career. An avalanche 1 course gives you a greater awareness of avalanche danger and the ability to recognize avalanche terrain. It also makes you a better backcountry ski partner to your friends. However, it isn’t necessarily the very first step.

Some may say you should ski or board in the backcountry for a whole season before you take an avalanche 1 course. But how do you do that safely with little or no training in avalanche awareness? Finding a good mentor and/or group of friends experienced in backcountry skiing or boarding is definitely key to having a safe and enjoyable time in the backcountry. But you should also be a valuable and knowledgeable member of the team and that’s where an Avalanche 1 course comes into play and its fine to take one in you fist season of backcountry skiing and boarding. Here’s the steps you should think about before arriving for the field days of your avalanche 1 course.

Skiing and Boarding ability

The most obvious first step before even thinking of launching into the backcountry on skis or split board, or taking an avalanche 1 course for that matter, is to become a proficient skier or boarder at a resort. You should be an advanced level rider who is comfortable on black diamond runs in most any conditions. The backcountry is not groomed, not patrolled and full of obstacles and variable snow conditions. It’s really no place to learn how to ride. A good rule of thumb is that you want ride slopes in the backcountry that are a step below what you would ride at a resort. If you haven’t quite got the confidence to venture beyond the blue runs, perhaps spending another season, or at least part of a season, inside the resort would be best before even signing up for an avalanche course.

Physical Ability

There is also the physical requirements of traveling in the backcountry, which are the same for participating in an avalanche course. At the least you should be in very good to excellent physical shape and someone who aerobically exercises multiple times per week. Traveling uphill with skis or a split board on your feet in powder or crud conditions can be very strenuous. To access good ski terrain, and on an avalanche course, you may need to do this for many hours in a row and still have plenty of energy left for the downhill. In an avalanche course you will be out all day traveling on skis or board and climbing over 1000 feet in elevation. If you feel you may be lacking in this area, you can get yourself on a training program that includes lots of aerobic exercise and all-day stamina activities such as long fast hikes. Resort skiing alone does not prepare you physically for the demands of the backcountry.

Familiarity With Backcountry Ski Equipment

This is a tough one for many folks. It is very important that you are able to efficiently use backcountry ski and board equipment prior to showing up at an avalanche course. Avalanche instructors, while being excellent at teaching backcounty techniques, simply do not have the time to bring someone up to speed on how to use the equipment as there is just so much avalanche education to cover in a short period of time. It’s also not fair to others on the course who did come prepared if valuable time is spent bringing someone up to speed on the basics of how to use backcountry ski or split board equipment.

So how to get the appropriate experience prior to an avalanche course before you are properly trained in safe backcountry travel? Kind of a chicken and the egg situation. First, you can sign up for a guided Intro to Backcountry Skiing and Boarding Course and your professional guide can get you all up to speed on the basics of backcountry ski equipment and backcountry travel techniques. They will also keep you safe in avalanche terrain and provide some avalanche awareness that will get you fully prepared for your avalanche 1 course.

If you are lucky to have a solid and experienced backcountry mentor that you trust, you can also spend a few days with them in the backcountry prior to taking your avalanche course. In the absence of a mentor or intro to backcountry course, the very least you can do is rent or purchase backcountry ski gear and go out and use it in very flat tame terrain near a trail head or neighborhood and not anywhere near any slopes that are over 25 degrees in steepness. In other words, you can flail around while learning to use your equipment in relatively safe areas that are not in, or near, avalanche terrain . You could also find a ski resort that has an inbounds uphill track to use. This is definitely the bare minimum of prep for your avalanche course and not the ideal way to learn your equipment but it certainly can suffice.

Utilizing a safe test slope on an avalanche course to determine snow stability

Other considerations

Other think to think about before your avalanche 1 course is to fully complete any online course work prior to the field days. If you want to come to you course a bit overly prepared you can also do some recommended reading such as Bruce Tempers “Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain”. Making sure you have ALL of the recommended gear on the gear list, along with enough water and food is also crucial to your enjoyment and success in the course. Showing up on time fully fed and well rested is also key.

And finally, be prepared to have your eyes opened to a whole new world of skiing and boarding!

Feel you are ready to sign up? Check out our Tahoe AAI Avalanche 1 courses and our Mammoth Lakes/Eastern Sierra Avalanche 1 Courses.

Dave Miller
IAG Director & founder
IFMGA ski and mountain guide
AAI Avalanche course leader
AIARE course instructor