Level III

Advanced Avalanche Training for Professionals and Recreational Leaders

The Level III course is an advanced certification course for experienced and professional avalanche practitioners, professional guides, patrollers and advanced recreational backcountry travelers. The course is 6 days long and completes the avalanche course stream of the Level II and III. (10 days together). Individuals who successfully complete the course with a passing grade receive a certificate from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) administration.

The Level III course provides participants with an industry-based framework to make decisions in avalanche terrain, and to manage avalanche hazards common in avalanche control operations and winter guiding scenarios. To learn how to make appropriate terrain choices participants are required to form opinions, take on leadership roles, and utilize other team members’ skills to assist in the process of forecasting avalanche hazards and snow stability. Course goals also include evaluating each participant under the AIARE Level III standards.

Learning Objectives for Level III:

- Develop a snow stability and avalanche hazard analysis forecasting process.
- Develop opinions about snow stability, avalanche hazards, and operational decisions.
- Improve observation and recording skills.
- Improve terrain analysis skills
- Improve decision making in the field.
- Improve understanding of the creation & metamorphism of the mountain snowpack.
- Encourage active participation.
- Advance participant’s companion rescue skills.
- Lectures and case studies highlight how human factors influence the decision making process.
- New research is always included.

Prerequisites: An AIARE Level II course is strongly recommended.

The AIARE Level III course builds on the concepts introduced in the Level II, such as standardized snow and weather observation techniques according to the Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Guidelines (SWAG) of the American Avalanche Association. The Level III takes the “trained observer and technician” and begins the process of making the information relevant to the complexities, variability, and influences of terrain.

The Level III instructors are required to be current with the latest research and educational tools in use by snow avalanche practitioners and instructors. Each course is presented by a variety of experienced instructors including ski & mountain guides, avalanche professionals and others with backgrounds in ski area or highway avalanche control procedures.

The Level III course is hosted in various locations annually.

This season Level III course schedule is below:

January 11-17,2010 Snoqualmie Pass, WA

January 25-31,2010 June Lake, CA

March 1-7,2010 Silverton, CO

Cost: $1500

2010/2011 Schedule to be announced.