Mammoth Lakes AIARE Avalanche Courses
Valhalla Mountain Guides offers avalanche courses in Mammoth Lakes, CA through AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education), the leader in avalanche education and research in the United States.
Valhalla Mountain Guides conducts AIARE certified avalanche education courses in Mammoth Lakes, California. We provide a structured set of courses suited to all experience levels and personal goals for winter backcountry travel.
Why Take an AIARE Avalanche Education Course
Whether you're an experienced skier or snowboarder, venturing into the backcountry around Mammoth and the Eastern Sierras introduces risks that aren't typically found in resort areas. While avalanches are the most obvious danger, other factors like overhead hazards, unpredictable weather, and navigation challenges are also important to consider.
Anyone planning to ski or ride outside resort boundaries in the Mammoth area should be equipped to assess snowpack conditions and manage risks—both for their own safety and for the safety of others. Since help is often far away in the backcountry, your knowledge is your best defense against potential accidents.
Valhalla Mountain Guides partners with The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) offering a comprehensive curriculum aimed at teaching backcountry travelers how to navigate avalanche terrain with confidence. By taking AIARE courses, you'll learn how to evaluate snow stability, understand the impact of weather, identify avalanche hazards, and perform effective rescue techniques. This training is crucial for making well-informed decisions that can prevent accidents and save lives.
Mammoth Lakes
3 Days
December-April
Mammoth Lakes
1 Day
December-April
Mammoth Lakes
3 Days
December-April
Mammoth Lakes
3 Days
December-April
Levels of AIARE Avalanche Education
Valhalla Mountain Guides offers the standard progression of courses designed by AIARE to equip backcountry travelers with essential skills for safe navigation in avalanche terrain.
Avalanche Level 1: A 2-day course in the field with an online counterpart. Participants learn to prepare for and execute backcountry trips, understand basic decision-making in the field, and practice rescue techniques essential for locating and excavating a buried individual.
Avalanche Level 2: A 3-day/24-hour course that builds on the foundational skills from Level 1. Participants can advance their decision making skills in more complicated situations and complex terrain.
Avalanche Rescue: A 1-day standalone course for both new and experienced backcountry travelers. Focused on keeping up to date with current rescue techniques and gear, it is meant to be retaken regularly to keep rescue skills sharp.
Why Go with Valhalla Mountain Guides
Valhalla Mountain Guides prides itself on having the most qualified and credentialed mountain guide staff. We believe all guide services offer a similar curriculum, however it is the guide or instructor that makes the experience. All our guides are hand selected for their certifications, experience, and customer service. We love the mountains, and our passion is sharing that love with our guests.
Where We Ski and Ride During Our Avalanche Courses
Our courses are run in Mammoth Lakes, CA which is ideally located for those looking to further their avalanche education in Southern California. The Eastern Sierras are some of the most beautiful peaks in the world. We love teaching our courses surrounded by the stunning granite peaks.
The exact location of our course depends on the current conditions. However, during our courses we will ski and ride in some of the most scenic areas in the Eastern Sierras. Some of these may include Punta Bardini, Sherwin Ridge, Mt. Mcgee and much more. These zones hold a variety of terrain suitable for different skill levels. From narrow chutes, open bowls to gladed trees, this region provides an excellent classroom for learning and practicing avalanche safety skills amidst stunning Eastern Sierra Nevada scenery.