Eagle County AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Safety Certification Weekend

About This Experience

Join Gravity Haus and Paragon Guides for a weekend of education, on-snow instruction, private dining and recovery as you pursue your Level 1 AIARE certificate. This intimate educational experience takes place on backcountry terrain and in the private Member Lounge at Gravity Haus Vail as you focus on managing avalanche hazards, learning repeatable processes to manage your risk, practice preparing for and carrying out a backcountry trip, and learning rescue techniques if an avalanche occurs and someone is caught. End your days recovering in Dryland Spa, and, private wine tastings in our cellar and dinners at Slope Room.

About This Course

This 24-hour course is an introduction to managing avalanche hazard. You will learn how to use a repeatable process to manage your risk and learn from your experiences in the backcountry. You will also practice preparing for and carrying out a backcountry trip, keeping track of, communicating, and making decisions about hazards while in the backcountry, and learn rescue techniques if an avalanche occurs and someone is caught.

Additionally, students can expect to develop a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a backcountry trip, to understand basic decision making while in the field, and to learn rescue techniques required to find and dig up a buried person (if an avalanche occurs and someone in the party is caught).

Value of This Experience

• Gravity Haus members receive a massive discount off of the public pricing. $600 for our members. Public access is $750.
• In addition, Gravity Haus will be providing lunches from the Slope Room kitchen, and dinner from Slope Room on opening night. These specially-created menus are not available to the public booking an AIARE course with Paragon.

Who Should Attend This Course?

• Students should be able to SAFELY ski/ride a black diamond in any snow conditions.
• Students know how to use their backcountry ski/ride gear. Splitboarders should know how to assemble and disassemble their gear.
• Students are fit enough to travel in the backcountry for multiple hours for 2 days.
• Students should be prepared for multiple hours of learning in the cold.

FAQ

• What gear can I train on? This course can be taken on alpine touring skis or splitboards. Both are available to rent via Haus Quiver if you have the correct membership access. Simply open the Gravity App to book.
• How big is the class? 11 attendees, plus 2 guides and a Gravity Haus host. 6:1 ratio of students to guides.
• Is there any prep work required? Yes, Paragon will have pre-work for all attendees and you’ll be required to attend the virtual sessions on January 4 and 5. See full schedule below for details.
• Where are we staying? We encourage you to use your discount at Gravity Haus Vail to stay overnight. Simply open your app to book! Accommodations are not included in the package price.
• What gear do I need? Analog Compass (available at all sports stores/online), beacon (provided by Paragon), probe, shovel, backcountry backpack, touring skis or splitboards, bindings and skins.
• What else should I pack? Swimsuit if you’d like to use the Dryland hot tub/steam room after each day (complimentary access), warm clothes layers, hats, mittens, sunglasses, warm socks, waterproof shoes and your backcountry boots.
• Parking: Public Parking Garage across from GH Vail.

What You’ll Learn

• Decision-making through proper planning and observation
• Terrain recognition and travel techniques
• Companion rescue including beacon use
• Snowpit introduction and analysis
• Develop a plan for travel in avalanche terrain
• Demonstrate the ability to identify avalanche terrain
• Effectively use The AIARE Risk Management Framework to make terrain choices in a group setting
• Demonstrate effective companion rescue

Itinerary

Week Before

• Virtual Introductions and Intro the Course – Some pre-work will be assigned. Join from anywhere!

Online Learning – On Own

• Expect online learning to take 5-10 hours to complete. We will send a link out to students for the online learning portion a few weeks in advance.

Wednesday, January 4

• 6-8:15 pm Online Class via Zoom – students will receive a link to the Zoom course a few days in advance.

Thursday, January 5

• 6-8:15 pm Online Class via Zoom – students will receive a link to the Zoom course a few days in advance.

Saturday, January 7

• Breakfast on own
• 8 am – Meet in Vail Member’s Lounge ready for the field. Boots can be worn in the car or put on at the trailhead. We will review the avalanche forecast then head into the field. Location TBA according to the snowpack.
• 8:30 am – In-Field Training (brown bag lunch by Slope Room will be provided)
• 4 pm – Field Training Ends, return to GH Vail
• 6 pm – Opening Night Dinner at GH Vail
• Evening on own – HOMEWORK WILL EXIST THIS EVENING. After that, relax in the hot tubs, steam room, sauna or salt lounge in Dryland Spa, hang at the bar, or get some early sleep for tomorrow!

Sunday, January 8

• Breakfast on own
• 8 am – Meet in Vail Member’s Lounge ready for the field. We will review the avalanche forecast and review tour plans before leaving for Vail Pass. Boots can be worn in the car or put on at the trailhead.
• 8:30 am – In-Field Training (brown bag lunch by Slope Room will be provided)
• 3 pm – Field Training Ends, return to GH Vail
• 3:30/4 pm – Debrief in the Member’s Lounge at GH Vail
• Depart or stay over and relax in the hot tubs, steam room, sauna or salt lounge in Dryland Spa, hang at the bar, or get some sleep!

Trip Package Includes

• Paragon AIARE Certified Course Leader and Instructor/s (6:1 maximum guide to student ratio)
• AIARE Course Manual – online version
• AIARE Field Book
• AIARE Certificate of Completion – certificate will be available via AIARE upon course completion
• Transportation from Gravity Haus Vail to the field
• 2 lunches, 1 dinner

Trip Package Does Not Include

• Lodging – We encourage you to use your discount at Gravity Haus Vail. Simply open your app to book!
• Gratuity
• Avalanche Safety Gear (beacon, shovel, probe, pack) – available to rent via Haus Quiver or to rent from Paragon (additional fee applies)
• Clothing and Gear (a recommended packing list will be provided upon booking)
• Backcountry skis or splitboards – available to rent via Haus Quiver
• Insurance (Trip or Rescue) – Consider adding Spot Accident Insurance onto your membership if you don’t already have it.
• Meals not listed above