Why should I care about avalanches? Avalanches can kill you. The number of snowmobilers killed by avalanches has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. Technological advances - like lighter-weight more powerful machines - and an increase in the popularity of mountain riding, is exposing more people to terrain where avalanches occur.
Snowmobile Avalanche Fatalities by Year
Why should I take an avalanche class? An avalanche class will teach you ways to help keep you safe from avalanches. You can learn rescue techniques that can save somebody's life if they are buried in an avalanche; specific knowledge and skills to be able to identify where avalanches might occur so you can avoid them in the first place; and a whole bunch of other very important knowledge and skills like how to read an avalanche forecast and evaluate the snowpack and weather to come up with a good plan for the day.
Why is a snowmobile-specific avalanche class important? The topics and skills covered in a snowmobile specific course are different than other avalanche classes. Everything from how we carry our gear to how we move through the mountains is different for snowmobilers. Our group dynamics are different and there are different ways of thinking about hazards and the terrain. Plus, there are important rescue skills and other techniques that are specific to snowmobiling, and we want to train how we play!
How should I start my avalanche training? Just like gaining experience in the backcountry, avalanche education is a continuous process. A great place to start is by attending an Avalanche Awareness event. This is usually in the form of a few hours of classroom type learning, or a short field session, that raises public awareness about avalanche risks; introduces you to the gear; provides info on where to access local danger bulletins; and lets you know where you can find the next class that is right for you . These are commonly put on by local dealerships or public organizations like the Forest Service or your local avalanche center. Avalanche awareness is NOT the end of your avalanche education! It should only help you realize what you don't know and motivate you to take the next step. Once you've been introduced to the basics, an Avalanche Rescue course or a Level 1 is the next step. There are no prerequisites for a Rescue class or Level 1, so if you're already riding in the mountains, have the gear, and want to get trained; you're ready for a formal course!
What is the next step? Avalanche education is standardized nationally into two learning tracks: recreational and professional. Both start with Awareness and then move into Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue classes. Level 1 and Rescue is where your real formal training starts. Level 1 or Rescue can be taken in any order and there are no prerequisites, however you must take both in order to move to Level 2 or to a Pro 1 avalanche class. Working towards a Level 2 in the Recreational track prepares you to be a great backcountry leader amongst your riding group, a high level team player, and prepares you for more complex terrain; while the Professional track is for people who deal with snow and avalanches for their job, like guides, instructors, or avalanche forecasters. The Avalanche Rescue level of both tracks is meant to be retaken on a regular basis in order to stay practiced and up to date on the latest rescue techniques, gear, and technology.
Why is a snowmobile-specific avalanche class important? The topics and skills covered in a snowmobile specific course are different than other avalanche classes. Everything from how we carry our gear to how we move through the mountains is different for snowmobilers. Our group dynamics are different and there are different ways of thinking about hazards and the terrain. Plus, there are important rescue skills and other techniques that are specific to snowmobiling, and we want to train how we play!
How should I start my avalanche training? Just like gaining experience in the backcountry, avalanche education is a continuous process. A great place to start is by attending an Avalanche Awareness event. This is usually in the form of a few hours of classroom type learning, or a short field session, that raises public awareness about avalanche risks; introduces you to the gear; provides info on where to access local danger bulletins; and lets you know where you can find the next class that is right for you . These are commonly put on by local dealerships or public organizations like the Forest Service or your local avalanche center. Avalanche awareness is NOT the end of your avalanche education! It should only help you realize what you don't know and motivate you to take the next step. Once you've been introduced to the basics, an Avalanche Rescue course or a Level 1 is the next step. There are no prerequisites for a Rescue class or Level 1, so if you're already riding in the mountains, have the gear, and want to get trained; you're ready for a formal course!
What is the next step? Avalanche education is standardized nationally into two learning tracks: recreational and professional. Both start with Awareness and then move into Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue classes. Level 1 and Rescue is where your real formal training starts. Level 1 or Rescue can be taken in any order and there are no prerequisites, however you must take both in order to move to Level 2 or to a Pro 1 avalanche class. Working towards a Level 2 in the Recreational track prepares you to be a great backcountry leader amongst your riding group, a high level team player, and prepares you for more complex terrain; while the Professional track is for people who deal with snow and avalanches for their job, like guides, instructors, or avalanche forecasters. The Avalanche Rescue level of both tracks is meant to be retaken on a regular basis in order to stay practiced and up to date on the latest rescue techniques, gear, and technology.
American Avalanche Association Education Tracks - americanavalancheassociation.org
How do I know if I'm taking a high quality class? Avalanche education in the United States is standardized by the American Avalanche Association (A3). They recommend common guidelines and requirements for classes and instructor qualifications, while other organizations, like the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), implement the A3 guidelines into a curriculum, deliver it through a network of course providers, and train instructors in order to provide classes to the public that are consistent with industry standards. The Mountain Riding Lab is an AIARE accredited course provider and our instructors are some of the highest trained snowmobile avalanche professionals in the industry. The Mountain Riding Lab meets rigorous quality standards and employs qualified instructors with specialized training who participate in continual professional development. We have permits to operate in some of the best riding venues in the mountain west. This system ensures that, as a student, you are getting high quality, internationally reviewed avalanche education developed and taught by the best.
