AAI Avalanche Level 1 Course by Certified Guides Near Provo, Utah
Why drive all the way to Little or Big Cottonwood Canyons for your Level 1 avalanche certification when you can do it here in Utah County? Now serving areas like Heber, Orem, Provo, Springville, Pleasant Grove, American Fork, Lehi, plus anyone near the Southern Wasatch mountains! For university students, this is an ideal avalanche course near BYU (Brigham Young University) and UVU (Utah Valley University). Not only will you receive needed education, you will learn local backcountry zones.
Wasatch Mountain Guides is stoked to offer our Avalanche Level 1 Hybrid Course (AAI Level 1), which we offer in partnership with the American Avalanche Institute. This comprehensive course offers both an online learning module, one two hour remote session with the instructor, and two 8-hour hands-on field days in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah, led by expert instructors from Wasatch Mountain Guides.
Not what you're looking for? Check out our other backcountry ski/snowboard and avalanche education courses:
Avalanche Courses in Salt Lake City area:
- Level 1 Avalanche Course (American Avalanche Institute certification)
- Avalanche Rescue Course (American Avalanche Institute certification)
We do offer these courses in the Provo area. All courses can be private as well, just email or contact us if interested.
- Overnight Level 1 Avalanche Course (learn winter camping skills and earn your Level 1 certification)
- Avalanche Rescue Course (American Avalanche Institute certification)
- 1-Day Introduction to Backcountry Skiing/Snowboarding Course
- 2-Day Backcountry Skiing/Snowboarding Essentials Course
Course Details:
- Self-Paced Online Learning Module via the American Avalanche Institute
- Live Virtual Seminar with Expert WMG Instructors (the evening before your first field day)
- Two In-Depth Field Days in the Backcountry
- Avalanche Level 1 certification upon full completion
- Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe, and backpack (if needed)
- A minimum of 2 students in order for the course to occur
- If you are seeking a private course for more than 4 individuals, please contact us directly
How it Works:
Once you have paid and registered, you’ll receive access to an expansive online coursecontaining:
- Instructional videos
- Extensive workbook with note outlines
- In-depth online study guide
- Comprehensive quizzes
This digital course was developed by the American Avalanche Institute and is framed around the Backcountry Avalanche Checklist. This Checklist is a systemic and proven approach to comprehensive decision-making in the complex backcountry environment.
The course material can be completed at your leisure but must be completed before your field days. The WMG team will be available to respond to questions via email at all times. Participants can go back and review course material even after the completion of the course, for the duration of the 2023-24 winter season.
As mentioned, the course includes two field days in the backcountry. The evening before your first field day, we’ll meet with with everyone for two hours via video conference to review core curriculum, answer any questions you have, and make sure you’re packed and ready.
The Field Days:
Our field days of backcountry travel will be two consecutive 8-hour days based in the Provo area mountains. We’ll cover an exhaustive set of avalanche preparedness skills, including:
- Tour planning
- Snowpack and weather observations and assessment
- Terrain assessment
- Safe travel
- Field observations
- Stability tests and assessment
- Rescue skills and drills
- Companion rescue
- Team structure and roles
- Avalanche response and steps
- Beacon search
- Probing techniques
- Strategic shoveling
- Plus more
Dates:
- See the calendar for available courses.
Our permit area is located in the UNITA-WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST. We are not permitted to guide in the Mount Timpanogos and Lone Peak Wilderness areas. All guiding on Mount Timpanogos is outside marked Wilderness.
