Avalanche Rescue Course (AIARE)
Overview
AIARE Avalanche Rescue, a one-day course, is designed to be completed every other year – if not annually.
Join our certified and experienced AIARE instructors for a full day undertaking scenarios that mimic avalanches and how to rescue victims while bc skiing from the snowcat. The snowcat will bump you up 4,000ft from the valley and plop you onto Atlasta where you will get right into avy terrain to tour through while creating mock–avalanche rescue scenarios along your guides chosen route. Routes will certainly vary by group strengths with advanced groups riding in pretty heavy terrain while novices will feel right at home in our southerly aspects.
Get ready for pressure. Not too much, but the shit is real and you’re going for a certificate of completion. Come at avalanche rescue with a clear mind, a proper review of all your gear, and some pre–class practice with friends. Then let us use the AIARE method, which is a syllabus-driven, proven, and respected course taught by cutting-edge guides. Selkirk Powder Company is proud to have very specifically educated guides in our stable meeting the strict criteria a required to instruct AIARE Avalanche Programs.
This course is offered as an à la carte item added to Cat Skiing & Avalanche Safety or Pro Backcountry Touring.
1:6 instructor-to-participant ratio
Experienced, qualified instructors
January 11, 2025
More dates forthcoming
Private courses possible
The tour price excludes 6 % Idaho state tax; online and direct reservations incur a 6 % booking fee.
Course description
Avalanche Rescue is a one-day stand-alone course that follows guidelines established by the American Avalanche Association (A3) with a curriculum developed by AIARE: the American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education. The course is intended to be retaken on a regular basis in order to keep abreast of best practices in rescue techniques and equipment. Each participant will have the opportunity to receive professional coaching on their rescue skills: new participants will learn the basics of companion rescue while returning participants will expand their skill set with advanced topics and realistic scenario practice.
Avalanche Rescue is a prerequisite for AIARE 2 and Pro 1 courses. AIARE recommends all backcountry travelers keep their skills current by completing an Avalanche Rescue course and receiving a rescue card at least every other year.
In addition to avalanche rescue, we will also discuss tree wells – another snow hazard.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
- Describe what to do if they or a member of their party is caught in an avalanche.
- Identify and use equipment necessary for avalanche companion rescue.
- Set up a realistic scenario in order to practice an avalanche rescue response.
- Improve their response skills and times during and after the course with feedback from instructors and peers.
- Develop a plan for continued practice.
All students will have the opportunity to receive feedback from an instructor on their rescue skills in a timed, realistic practice scenario.
Who should take this course
This course is designed for both new and experienced recreational backcountry travelers and aspiring avalanche professionals alike.
Prerequisites
Students must be able to travel in the snow – please bring appropriate personal equipment to do so.
What’s included
- student handbook
- certificate of completion
Equipment list
Please come prepared with the following equipment:
| Item | Category | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardgoods | 25–35 L probably works for most people | ||
| hardgoods | (with AT bindings) | ||
| hardgoods | |||
| hardgoods | |||
| hardgoods | |||
| hardgoods | a modern model with three antennas; arrive with ≥ 80 % battery | ||
| hardgoods | |||
| hardgoods | made of metal, not plastic |
| Item | Category | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| wearables | |||
| wearables | such as a light- or mid-weight fleece | ||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | to wear over a shell during breaks | ||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | softshell or hardshell | ||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables |
| Item | Category | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| more physiological needs & comforts | |||
| more physiological needs & comforts | ≥ 1 L | ||
| more physiological needs & comforts | |||
| more physiological needs & comforts | |||
| more physiological needs & comforts | |||
| more physiological needs & comforts |
| Item | Category | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| small tools | |||
| small tools | (on your phone) | ||
| small tools | |||
| small tools | |||
| small tools | pooled together in a group, several can help with broken equipment | ||
| small tools | |||
| small tools | during spring temperatures when snow could stick to skins | ||
| small tools | |||
| small tools | such as Compeed & Leukotape | ||
| small tools | at least those tools that fit your own bindings | ||
| small tools |
Choose options
Snowcat bump
Begin and finish like cat skiing with cozy rides up and back down.
Deep backcountry
Find yourself untrammeled by resort bustle in the wilds of the Selkirks.
Hands-on learning
Practice rescue skills in simulated scenarios.
FAQs
Mainly, yes. We will however, at our discretion, use snowmobiles and other OTS vehicles when practical and available.
Yes. The area is open to all, but it is not practical to join us for a tour unless you did a multi-day, self-supported overnight trip.
Yes, “sort of”: it would be on a groomed snowmobile trail. It would require some time across flat to slightly uphill sections, but it’s doable by the willing.
Yes: it is public land. We survived the Schweitzer clientele, and we’d be stoked to see properly equipped and experienced riders getting sweaty. Please just treat our commercial operation with respect.
We don’t: we coexist with our fellow sledders. We are snowmobilers, and we are professional, commercial skiers and riders with snowcats. For 21 seasons at Schweitzer, we’ve handled the balance adeptly. We think that by operating the same way, we will continue to reduce mitigate interactions.
Schweitzer is going into the snowcat skiing and snowmobiling business themselves. Powder magazine published an article in July 2024 on this topic.
Ken has another strong 10 yr in him and retains a ton of successful experiences as he developed a 78 run operation seeing thousands of guests and has made it into Year 22 without a major negative blemish. His passion for great skiing runs deep, and with the move, he has the freedom to affect the permit zone in ways that weren’t acceptable at their old location.
Yes. We will maintain our Professional membership with National Ski Patrol (Q057) and will stage a trained staff member to watch operations and lend assistance in times of need daily. We’re also always seeking NSP members to augment our support troops. Apply here.
The town of Coolin couldn’t be much cooler. It’s a very small lakeside town that’s pretty chill
in the winter. Most winter visitors are either bc shredders or sledders, so it makes for a
wonderful place to stay. It’s about 7 mi from the staging area and has all facilities to support
you. Powder magazine published an article in July
2024 on this topic.
Coolin on Google
Maps
As we’ll have two cats operating, we don’t see conflicts between the day group and scheduling for unguided groups that want to do custom arrangements.
We are approximately 135 mi / 3½ hr away from Big Red Cats. Other destinations:
- Silver Mountain: 110 mi / 2½ hr
- 49° North: 67 mi / 1½ hr
- Brundage: 345 mi / 6½ hr
- Soldier Mountain: 620 mi / 10 hr
- Coolin: 7 mi
- Priest River: 12 mi
- Schweitzer: 55 mi
- Spokane Int’la Airport: 77 mi
No, we do not offer equipment rental.
No, you must come prepared with your own backpack, avalanche transceiver (beacon), shovel, and probe. We highly recommend that you travel with replacement parts specific to your bindings, boots, and other equipment.
Yes. AIARE Rescue, Level 1, and Level 2 can be incorporated into your ski tour days. This is subject to scheduling before October 1 annually.
Yes. We’ve been fortunate to have semi- to good connectivity. We still suggest you download maps for offline use.
We recommend travel insurance policies with cancel-for-any-reason-coverage for peace of mind and reducing your exposure should you want to cancel due to conditions not being to your liking. We’ve selected a policy to consider.
Booking policies
Payment
All reservations must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Promotions & discounts
Any promotion or discount must be redeemed only by calling reservations directly. No promotion and/or discount will be applied after the reservation has been made and full payment has been received.
Cancellations & reservation changes
Cancellations
Any cancellation made within 21 days of the scheduled tour date are 100 % non-refundable – no exceptions for any reason, not even airline delays, road closures, family emergencies, personal injury, etc. We encourage all guests to consider purchasing travel insurance with enhanced coverage (one with a cancel for any reason rider) through an outside provider such as InsureMyTrip.
Reservation changes
You may request date changes to your tour date outside of 21 days of your booking. Changes to your reservation are subject to availability and may incur an administrative fee of $100 per person.
Tour cancellations due to mechanical issues or unsafe conditions
Selkirk Powder Company has no control over Mother Nature. We tour in sun, snow, rain, wind, or any combination of interesting weather. It is, after all, an alpine environment. Be prepared, and dress accordingly. SPC reserves the right to cancel a tour for mechanical, weather, safety, personal or any other circumstance. You will be issued a full or partial credit valid for 1 year from the original tour date. No refunds will be issued. If your tour is cancelled multiple times, your credit still expires after 1 year – no extensions will be applied.
SPC reserves the right at any time, and at its sole discretion, to modify any policies set out above, with or without notice other than publishing such modifications on our website. It is your responsibility to review policies on our website for updates and/or changes. Your reservation and/or use of our services following any such policy modification constitutes your acceptance of any modified policy.
To ensure you get the dates and size of group you want, we encourage you to book as soon as your dates are established. Some of our guests make their reservations up to a year in advance, so don’t wait too long to contact us.
Payment in full is due at the time of booking.
If you prefer, tips can be added at the time of booking. The typical tipping amount in the industry is 10–20 % of the total tour cost: the same as you would extend for service in a restaurant or similar setting. At Selkirk Powder, tips are pooled and shared among guides, snowcat drivers (for snowcat trips), and your reservations agent.
You may request date changes to your tour date outside of 21 days of your booking. Changes to your reservation are subject to availability and may incur an administrative fee of $100 per person. We recommend trip insurance policies with cancel for any reason for peace of mind and reducing your exposure should you want to cancel due to conditions not being to your liking.
Reviews
- Walt T.February 22, 2022Rated 5 out of 5 starsAwesome blend of Professional and Personal
Selkirk Powder truly brings the best! Brenda is an elite level instructor with tremendous personal experience to enhance the lesson. As a retired naval officer, I’ve had more than enough training and instructional courses to know the good ones. SPC has the perfect mix of both professional instruction (with clear course objectives and a solid plan of instruction) with personal attention (making sure they understand our objectives in taking the course and making sure they know what WE want to take away from the instruction)(with wrap-up follow through to ensure our goals were achieved). Also tremendous personal experience to draw from: Brenda is an experienced mountaineering guide, including an Everest summit!!! I appreciated the interactive discussion and show and tell where Brenda emptied her pack and we went through the pros and cons of including different items for different conditions. My confidence level in transceiver accuracy was enhanced by Brenda’s discussion of flux lines and demonstration in the field of how the transceiver was interpreting the signals. Likewise, all four of us (with differing skill levels) all improved our probing and shoveling techniques and are much more prepared to use our skills should it be necessary. Thanks again to Ken, Brenda and the SPC team for an awesome day of Avalanche Rescue. Highly recommended
Selkirk PowderFebruary 24, 2022Thank you Walt. We look forward to seeing you in more of our avalanche courses. - JackFebruary 9, 2022Rated 5 out of 5 starsHighly recommend for anyone thinking of backcountry trips
Kevin and the SP crew were great. Going into the class I thought I had an idea of avalanche rescue but this course really opened my eyes to the process and tools at my disposal. Great Job by all!
- HeatherJanuary 30, 2022Rated 5 out of 5 starsFun and informative
What a fantastic class! Attended with several friends of varying experience and we all had a blast and learned a lot. I also loved how hands on it was. That helped us all realize the areas we excelled in and the areas we needed to practice more on. Kevin our instructor was super knowledgeable and fun, getting us all excited to get out in the backcountry more and feel confident doing so! And Roni was great and made the booking process super easy.
Selkirk PowderFebruary 1, 2022Thank you Heather, If we can lend any assistance while you guys continue on your bc path, pls let us know. Hope top have you back for a private Rescue course! - StephenDecember 21, 2021Rated 5 out of 5 starsExcellent Avalanche Rescue Course
Kevin and John gave great instruction on this one day class that taught invaluable skills for when the worst happens in the backcountry. It's been about 12 years since my Avalanche I course and I can't believe I waited until now for this one. I left feeling much more confident that I can shave precious time in a search and rescue with proper transceiver use, search grids, probing and shoveling. We had an amazing group and Kevin and John were an absolute pleasure to spend the day with. I highly recommend this course for all levels and types of backcountry users.
Selkirk PowderDecember 22, 2021Have a wonderful ski season Stephen, and thank you for putting together this private group. - KonnerFebruary 19, 2021Rated 5 out of 5 starsGreat course
I attended this course with some friends and we were all very satisfied with the class. The class went in depth on the detail-oriented portions of avalanche rescue, and was "down and dirty" on the less meticulous portions. Not only did I get very familiar with my own gear, but I was able to perform a few single-rescuer rescues, as well as multiple team rescues. I feel a lot more confident with my rescue abilities. This class bridges the gap between being a liability in the back country, and being an asset. Thanks guys!
Selkirk PowderFebruary 20, 2021Konner we've lost a slew of riders this season... THANK YOU for participating, and sharing your thoughts! Many fine turns my man!!! Many !!!!