AIARE Level 3 Avalanche Safety Courses
Silverton, Red Mountain Pass, and the San Juan Mountains
Advanced Avalanche Training for Profesionals and Recreational Leaders
The Level 3 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 2 and 3. (10 days together). Individuals who receive a passing grade and successfully complete the course receive a certificate provided by the AIARE administration.
The Level 3 course provides course participants with an industry based framework to make decisions in avalanche terrain and to manage avalanche hazards common to avalanche control operations and winter guiding scenarios. Participants are required to form opinions, to take on leadership roles, and to utilized team members skills to assist in the process of forecasting avalanche hazard and snow stability and making appropriate terrain choices. Course goals also include evaluating each participant to the AIARE Level 3 standard.
This course builds on the concepts introduced in the prerequisite Level 2. These include standardizing snow and weather observations and techniques to the Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Guidelines of the American Avalanche Association (2004). The Level 3 takes the “trained observer and technician” and begins the process of making the information relevant to the complexities, variability, and influences of terrain.
Level 3 is a course and exam that requires students to travel safely and efficiently in avalanche terrain. Field days will include travel on rugged terrain up to and exceeding 30 degrees, trail breaking, and 8 hours of travel carrying a day pack with rescue equipment and clothing.
Student Prerequisites:
Level 3 is a course and exam that requires students to travel safely and efficiently in avalanche terrain. Field days will include travel on rugged terrain up to and exceeding 30 degrees, trail breaking, and 8 hours of travel carrying a day pack with rescue equipment and clothing. Students must submit an application to the course provider which details they have met the prerequisites:
- AIARE Level 2 course
- Experience applying the Level 2 skills and knowledge in a professional or personal program is required.
- Persoanl resume including:
- Twenty day-trips in avalanche terrain requiring decision making and travel procedures
- Twenty day trips with documented field weather and snowpack observaions (to AAA, SWAG, or ORGES Observation Guidlines standards)
- Ten recent snow profiles (documented in field book to same standards)
4. Rescue Trial
- Must be able to find (by probe) two transceivers buried in a 30m by 30 m area in six minutes.(One transceiver is buried 30cm below the surfice; the second is buried 40-60cm below the surfice 3 to 4m away). Lead a rescue team in a mock avalache rescue scenario OR have training and experience in a profesional search and rescue group.
5. Pre-Course Quiz
- Prior to the start of the Level 3 course, it is required that the student complete the Pre-Course Quiz which is handed in to the course leader at the start of the course.
Level 3 Assessment Criteria:
Level 3 participants are eligible for certification after:
- Completing the pre-course reading and questionnaire.
- Attending the classroom sessions, completing the homework assignments to a professional level and participating in the group learning sessions.
- Attending the field sessions and participating in the group discussions and exercises.
- Level 3 Participants are eligible for certification after attaining the minimum passing grade of 70% in the marking categorie
- Avalanche hazard management skills 45%
- Recognition 15%
- Analysis 15%
- Response 15% - Technical Skills and Knowledge 55%
- Field weather observations and recording 5 %
- Snowpack observations and tests 20 %
- Operational forecast and analysis forms 10 %
- Professional notebook 5 %
- Final Written Exam 15%
Students who do not meet the AIARE Level 3 prerequisites may take a 1.5-day Level 3 Primer course to help prepare them for the exam. Participation in the primer course is by permission of the Level 3 Course Coordinator and/or AIARE Technical Director.
It is required that the Level 3 Course Coordinator confirm the resume with references or have the student forward a photocopy of a field notebook illustrating field observations.
Registration:
- If you have specific questions regarding the Level 3 programs; dates, locations, equipment, pre requisites, etc, or would like to register please contact Ben Pritchett, Level 3 cooridinator at; benp@avtraining.org
