Eastern Sierra Avalanche Course (Level 1)
Join an AIARE trained guide on a Level I Eastern Sierra avalanche course and learn the necessary skills and techniques to stay safe on your backcountry skiing and mountain climbing adventures.
Group
Sierra Nevada (California)
3 Days
Jan - Apr, Dec
High
Intermediate
Highlights
* Learn avalanche rescue skills to stay safe on your outdoor adventures.
* Join a 3-day course that combines both theory and practice.
* Practice avalanche rescue skills in a real, wilderness environment.
Description
Avalanche training is a must in order to stay safe on backcountry skiing and mountain climbing adventures. On this 3-day course, you will have the chance to learn some AIARE level 1 skills and then put them to practice in our Bishop or Mammoth Lakes location.
This course is great for those who are just getting started in the backcountry, or those who want to sharpen their skills. A good fitness level and some prior ski/mountaineering experience are required. Of course, I will be there to help and guide you every step of the way.
We will begin our 3-day course with a classroom session in which we will cover topics related to mountain snowpacks, types of avalanches and avalanche terrain, and equipment. Then, on days 2 and 3, we will head out for the practical aspects of our course in which we will also cover trip planning, decision making, and routes, among other topics, as well as including some avalanche rescue practices. You can find a detailed outline of the course in the itinerary below.
So, are you ready to learn the avalanche rescue skills that you need to take this adventure to the next level? Then contact me now and let’s stay safe together!
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Avalanche equipment
Price details
Price includes:
-Professionally trained AIARE Leader
-Beacon, probe and shovel
-AIARE waterproof field book
-AIARE student manual
-Discounts on technical wear and skis.
Itinerary
Day 1: Bishop or Mammoth Lakes- Classroom
Topics we will cover on day 1 include:
Layering and formation of a mountain snowpack
Types and characteristics of avalanches
Identifying avalanche terrain
Equipment review
Day 2: Hand on practice
On the second day of our program, we will head out and put to practice some of the skills we have acquired. Our itinerary will include:
Beacon and equipment trailhead check
Avalanche rescue
Formal snow pit observations and informal weather and snow observations
Trip planning and preparation review for the following day
Day 3: Course wrap up
We will head out again to put our skills to practice and aim at concluding our avalanche training course by 3 pm. The program for day 3 will cover the following topics:
Trip planning and preparation review
Field observations
Decision making in avalanche terrain
Route finding, travel decisions and techniques
Course debrie
Equipment you will need to bring
Contact us for the list of equipment you will need and we will detail it, as well as recommend nearby rental shops.
About the guide
Ryan
4.60
(9)
Single Pitch Instructor
I am the founder of Golden State Guiding and an AMGA Apprentice Alpine and Splitboard Guide, a certified Single Pitch Instructor, and certified Wilderness First Responder and also hold an AIARE Pro 1 certificate.
At Golden State Guiding we hold a valid permit to guide you legally in California's Eastern Sierra mountains including Mammoth Lakes, Sequoia/ Kings National Park, Mount Shasta in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park, Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego, and Red Rock Canyon just outside of Las Vegas Nevada. All Golden State Guiding guides are professionally trained by the AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) and are some of the best Guides in the industry. Our professional Guides know exactly where to take you for your day out of rock, ice, or alpine climbing, backcountry skiing or splitboarding, and mountaineering in California or Nevada.
These are some of the spots where we can take you:
- Joshua Tree National Park
- San Diego (Mission Gorge or Mount Woodson)
- Eastern Sierra (Lone Pine Peak, Mt Emerson, Mount Sill and the entire Palisade Range, Bear Creek Spire, Temple Crag, Crystal Crag, Cardinal Pinnacle, Iris Slab, Mammoth Lakes Basin, Clark Canyon)
- Mount Shasta in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in the Southern Cascades
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Languages
English
What people are saying about Ryan
Heejae(Lydia)
5.00
Patrick took me out to the Indian Cove! Loved the short approach and couldn’t asked for better weather. Patrick recommended great pitches where I could try new stuff like chimneying. Would definitely book again if I go back to JTree!
Angela
5.00
We had an excellent time with Chad on our multi -pitch day in Joshua Tree. My partner and I have some experience climbing sport routes, but had no experience with trad climbing or multi-pitch routes. Chad is a great instructor and led our routes with ease. We felt confident in his abilities to keep us safe and have fun. Will definitely book again with him.
mahir
5.00
Super easy to work with. Great communication. Great guide. Will definitely use again.
Tara
5.00
We booked through Ryan, and Daniel was our guide - absolutely brilliant, very down to earth and knowledgeable. The climbs themselves were awesome, with insane views. My partner is an experienced indoor climber, and I have close to no experience, especially outdoors, but still felt safe and in good hands. We did a half day, which was 5hrs, and got 4 climbs in, then stayed after the tour to walk around a bit more and have some snacks with a view (make sure you take food/water as there aren’t any shops inside the park). Definitely recommend.
Abigail
5.00
Our guide, Spencer, was fantastic! He tailored everything to our exact needs, and we now feel equipped to climb outdoors without a guide.
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