Backcountry safety: A comprehensive avalanche education center directory

Safety is paramount in the backcountry, and education is your number one tool for mitigating risk. Contact your local education center for training that could save a life. We’ve compiled a handy list of local avalanche course centers to take into consideration when heading into the wilderness, located below.

This directory is presented by Arva Snow Safety Equipment. Arva has been designing avalanche safety equipment for over twenty-five years, and is consistently working with mountain patrollers and rescuers to heighten avalanche awareness in the backcountry.

Alaska

Alaska Avalanche School
Anchorage, AK
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
alaskaavalanche@mac.com

California

Alpine Skills International
Truckee, CA
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2, AIARE Level 3
alpineskills.com

Expedition: Kirkwood
Kirkwood, CA
AIARE Level 1, One-Day AIARE Level 1 Refresher Course (2015)
ExpeditionKirkwood@vailresorts.com

Mountain Adventure Seminars
Bear Valley, CA
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2, AIARE Level 3
mtadventure.com

Shasta Mountain Guides
Mount Shasta, CA
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
shastaguides.com

Sierra Mountain Center
Bishop, CA
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
sierramountaincenter.com

Sierra Mountaineering International
Bishop, CA
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
sierramountaineering.com

Slide Snow School
Mt. Rose/Ski Tahoe, CA
AIARE Level 1
slidesnowschool.com

Colorado

10th Mountain Division
Aspen, CO
AIARE Level 1
huts.org

Alpine World Ascents
Boulder, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
alpineworldascents.com

Apex Mountain School
Avon, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
apexmountainschool.com

Aspen Alpine Guides
Aspen, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
aspenalpine.com

Aspen Expeditions
Aspen, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
aspenexpeditions.com

Colorado Mountain School
Boulder, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
coloradomountainschool.com

Crested Butte Mountain Guides
Crested Butte, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
cbguide@adelphia.net

High Mountain Institute
Leadville, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
creiff@hminet.org

Kling Mountain Guides
Durango, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2, AIARE Level 3
klingmountainguides.com

Pikes Peak Alpine School
Colorado Springs, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
pikespeakalpineschool.com

Renaissance Adventure Guides
Denver, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
raguides.com

San Juan Mountain Guides
Durango, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
mtnguide.net

Silverton Avalanche School
Silverton, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2, AIARE Level 3
avyschool.org

Southwest Adventure Guides
Durango, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
swaguides.com

Wolf Creek Avalanche School
Pagosa Springs, CO
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
avalancheschool.us

Idaho

Payette Powder Guides
McCall, ID
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
payettepowderguides.com

Sawtooth Mountain Guides
Stanley, ID
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
sawtoothguides.com

Selkirk Powder Company
Sandpoint, ID
AIARE Level 1
kenbarrett@sisna.com

Montana

Great Northern Powder Guides
Whitefish, MT
AIARE Level 1
greatnorthernpowderguides.com

Avalanche Education Specialists
Whitefish, MT and Hamilton, MT
AIARE L1
avytraining.com

American Avalanche Institute
Bozeman, MT
AAI L1, L2, L3
americanavalancheinstitute.com

New Hampshire

Chauvin Guides
North Conway, NH
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
chauvinguides.com

Eastern Mountain Sports
North Conway, NH
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
schools@ems.com

International Mountain Climbing School
North Conway, NH
AIARE Level 1
guides@ime-usa.com

New Mexico

Beverly Mountain Guides
Albuquerque, NM
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
marc.beverly@gmail.com

Utah

Utah Mountain Adventures
Salt Lake City, UT
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
801-550-3986

White Pine Touring
Park City, UT
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
whitepinetouring.com

American Avalanche Institute
Salt Lake City, UT and Park City, UT
AAI L1, L2, L3
americanavalancheinstitute.com

Washington

American Alpine Institute
Bellingham, WA
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
alpineinstitute.com

Cascade Powder Cats
Leavenworth, WA
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
cascadepowdercats.com

Everett Mountaineers
Everett, WA
AIARE Level 1
mike@cascadespecialty.com

North Cascade Mountain Guides
Mazama, WA
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
ncmountainguides.com

Northwest Mountain School
Leavenworth, WA
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
509-548-5823

Stevens Pass
Skykomish, WA
AIARE Level 1
pmorrison@stevenspass.com

Wyoming

Exum Mountain Guides
Jackson, WY
AAI Level 1, AAI Level 2
exumguides.com

Jackson Hole Mountain Guides
Jackson, WY
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
jhmg.com

Jackson Hole Outdoor Leadership Institute
Jackson, WY
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
dwells@cwc.edu

Teton Backcountry Guides
Jackson, WY
AIARE Level 1
skiyurts@yahoo.com

American Avalanche Institute
Jackson, WY
AAI L1, L2, L3
americanavalancheinstitute.com

Vermont

Adventure Spirit Guides
Burlington, VT
AIARE Level 1
802-535-1498

Kingdom Adventures Mountain Guides
East Burke, VT
AIARE Level 1
kamountainguides.com/

Petra Mountaineering School
Burlington, VT
AIARE Level 1, AIARE Level 2
info@petracliffs.com

Alberta

Alpinism Mountain and Ski Guiding
Banff, AB
AST Level 1, AST Level 2
mark@alpinism.com

British Columbia

Avalanche Courses Whistler
Whistler, BC
AST Level 1
jennifer@jennifergodbout.com

College of the Rockies, Fernie Campus
Fernie, BC
AST Level 1, AST Level 2
250-423-4691

Colwest Alpine Adventures
Whistler, BC
AST Level 1
604-838-2844

Summit Mountain Guides
Nelson, BC
AST Level 1, AST Level 2
summitmountainguides.com

Trigger Point Snow Services
Revelstoke, BC
AST Level 1, AST Level 2
250-814-7210