Avalanche Education with Kling Mountain Guides
AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education)
& AAA (American Avalanche Association)
Avalanche Courses
Along with some of the best skiing, we also have the most avalanche prone snowpack in the U.S. Take an avalanche course with Kling Mountain Guides. Our avalanche courses follow the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) curriculum and American Avalanche Association (AAA) guidelines. KMG owner Josh Kling is an AIARE Level 1 and Level 2 Course Leader and Level 3 AIARE Certified in addition to being a Professional Member of the American Avalanche Association.
KMG and our guides will be teaching numerous scheduled avalanche courses throughout the 2010/ 2011 winter season. These are both KMG courses as well as courses for a variety of other organizations and outfitters. Our guides and instructors don’t only work for KMG. They are privileged to instruct avalanche courses for: the Silverton Avalanche School which is the nation’s oldest continuously running avalanche education program, the Outdoor Leadership and Recreation degree track at San Juan College, and the nationally recognized Outdoor Pursuits Program at Fort Lewis College. Additionally, KMG is able to schedule private AIARE avalanche courses throughout the winter. Please email for us more information on private courses or click the logos to the right to learn more about the professional avalanche associations Josh and KMG guides works with.
Level 1 Refresher Course with the
Silverton Avalanche School.
Friday, December 18-19, 2009
$185 per person (dinner,breakfast and lunch too!)
Did you take a Level 1 course, but need a refresher? Do you want to expand and continue you avalanche training without taking a Level 2 course? If you answered yes, than this course is for you. The Silverton Avalanche School is the nation’s oldest continuously running avalanche education program. Come refresh you skills on this great 1.5 day course with the nations oldest continuously running avalanche program!
AIARE Level 1 Course Overview:
Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain
Students can expect to develop a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a trip, to understand basic decision making while in the field, and to learn rescue techniques required to find and dig up a buried person (if an avalanche occurs and someone in the party is caught).
AIARE Level 2 Course Overview:
Analyzing Snow Stability and Avalanche Terrain
The Level 2 course is a 40-hour / four day program that provides back country leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision making skills. This course also includes the introductory and prerequisite components for the professional progression: the AIARE Level 3 Certificate. The Level 2 builds from the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in the level one and adds to it the evaluation of factors critical to stability evaluation.
AIARE Level 3 Course Overview:
Advanced Avalanche Training for Professionals 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 7 days long and completes the avalanche course stream of the Level 2 and 3. (10 days together).
Required Equipment for Level 1 and Level 2 Courses:
Personal Equipment
- Clothing for activities and standing in cold/snowy weather (no cotton)
- Long underwear
- Insulating layers
- Outer layer (wind/waterproof)
- Warm gloves, mitts, headband, hat
- Goggles and sunglasses
- Small personal first aid kit (sunscreen/lip-balm, moleskin, band-aids, medication, etc.)
- Water Bottle
- Pack
Skiing Equipment
- Boots (touring boots recommended)
- Skis with touring bindings and skins (please adjust bindings to boots and skins to skis before the course)
*Randonee or free-heel gear is okay.
- Poles
Snowboarding Equipment
- Split Board with touring bindings and skins (please adjust bindings to boots and skins to board before the course)
*For students arriving at the course with snowboarding equipment, split boards are recommended, as compared to traveling with snowshoes.
- Boots
- Collapsible poles OR Snowboard (with means of attachment to pack—please have a system worked out before you come on the course)
Snowshoes
- Snowshoes (adjusted to boots, please test thoroughly before the course.
*Snowshoes are not recommended for courses where deep new snow conditions or steep terrain will likely be experienced.
Rescue Equipment
- Avalanche probe
- Collapsible shovel
- Avalanche transceiver (457 kHz frequency only. Digital or analogue)
- Cell phone or two-way radio (OPTIONAL)
Other Equipment
- Pack large enough to fit all equipment on day tours
- Snow saw with approximately 40 cm blade
- Snow thermometer (graduated in degrees Celsius)
*Dial stem or electronic thermometers are acceptable. If you bring thermometers calibrated in degrees Fahrenheit, you will be required to purchase or borrow a Celsius thermometer. BUY HERE
- Crystal identification screen
*Dark color, metal screen is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
- Magnifier
*8x or 10x RECOMMENDED.
BUY HERE
- Folding rule (graduated in centimeters, 2 meter length)
*Required. BUY HERE
- Compass
- Altimeter
- Field notebook (AIARE Field Notebook is included with all Kling Mountain Guide AIARE courses)
- Snow Weather Avalanches: Observational Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States: BUY HERE
- The Avalanche Handbook, 3rd Edition: BUY HERE
- Pencils (two, mechanical)
- Pocket Knife
*Kling Mountain Guides operates under special use permits in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park , Moab BLM, Indian Creek BLM, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Cedar Mesa Grand Gulch BLM, and Dalla Mountain Park areas. Kling Mountain Guides operates under the Durango Mountain Resort operating plan in the San Juan National Forest. Kling Mountain Guides LLC provides services and employment regardless of ethnic or cultural heritage, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or physical handicap. Josh Kling operates as an employee of Mountain Trip, San Juan College, Fort Lewis College, and the Silverton Avalanche School.. Mountain Trip, San Juan College, Fort Lewis College, and the Silverton Avalanche School all operate under special use permits from the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in their respective operating districts.**
AIARE
American Avalanche Association
