Lift-Accessed AIARE Rescue Course
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Lift-Accessed AIARE Rescue Course
- February 14, 2025
- February 22, 2025
- February 28, 2025
- March 8, 2025
- March 14, 2025
- March 22, 2025
- March 28, 2025
Avalanche Education at Palisades Tahoe
Questions? Inquire here.
Become a safer resort skier/rider by learning what to do in the event of an avalanche.
Alpenglow Expeditions is partnering with Palisades Tahoe to offer an exclusive lift-accessed AIARE Rescue course. At the end of this one-day course, you’ll know how to use avalanche safety gear and be prepared to respond in the event of an avalanche.
This course will take place in-bounds at Palisades Tahoe. We offer an exclusive IKON pass discount to pass holders – contact us for details! If you don’t have an IKON pass, we can also provide single-day lift tickets.
You should be an intermediate resort skier/rider for this avalanche course.
You can participate in this course in your standard downhill gear, however, you will also need an avalanche kit (beacon, probe, shovel) and backpack, which you can rent from our office.
AIARE Avalanche Rescue is a prerequisite for the AIARE 2 and Pro 1 courses. We recommend that all skiers and riders keep their skills current by taking an Avalanche Rescue Course at least every other year.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of this AIARE Avalanche Rescue course at Palisades Tahoe, students should be able to:
- Describe what to do in the event of an avalanche.
- Identify and be able to use gear necessary for avalanche rescue.
- Set up a realistic scenario in order to practice a rescue response.
- Improve response skills and times during and after the course with feedback from instructors and peers.
- Develop a plan for continued practice.
Students will learn how to set up a quick, efficient rescue scenario to maintain skills after the course.
Regardless of your experience with avalanche rescue techniques, anyone will find value in having a professional mountain guide and AIARE instructor help them set up a realistic scenario, practice skills in a realistic setting, receive feedback from an instructor, keep up with current best practices, and have an opportunity to practice advanced rescue skills.
Who Should Take This Palisades Tahoe AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course
Skiers and riders joining this course must be intermediate skiers or riders.. Skiers and riders must be competent on and off-piste in a variety of conditions. This is comparable to skiing confidently on all blue runs in the resort (including ungroomed terrain). Skiers or riders 12-16 years old can join us with a parent. 16 years and over are able to join without accompaniment.
AIARE Avalanche Rescue Topics Covered:
Personal protective and avalanche rescue equipment.
- Identify and familiarize students with the proper use of winter personal protective gear, avalanche rescue tools, and self-evacuation equipment.
- Demonstrate and practice routines to check gear function.
Demonstrate avalanche rescue.
- Introduce Avalanche Rescue Quick Reference tool and apply it to a scenario.
- Breakdown and practice individuals skills of avalanche rescue: assessing the scene and taking leadership, using a transceiver, using a probe, and shoveling.
Single burial scenarios.
- Learn to set up effective scenarios for practice.
- Integrate individual skills into a rescue scenario.
Patient considerations and evacuation.
- Identify potential patient care considerations resulting from deep snow burial or involvement.
- Name equipment for self-evacuation and communication to outside resources.
- Describe considerations when interfacing with Search and Rescue and Emergency Medical Services.
Scenario practice and feedback.
- Integrate skills and receive feedback on rescue response from a professional.
Advanced topics – Covered depending on student need and interest.
- Employ probing on a line with a partner to reduce search times and need for bracketing.
- Apply foundational skills to multiple victim scenarios without close proximity burials.
- Recognize challenges associated with deep burials.
- Employ repeatable method (Micro-strip or 3-circle) for locating close-proximity multiple burials.
THE ALPENGLOW DIFFERENCE
As a Tahoe guiding company with countless expeditions to high-altitude peaks around the world over the last 20 years, we bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our beloved home mountain. Our teaching and guiding philosophy has been honed from the flanks of the Himalayan giants to the technical peaks of Peru, and we are beyond excited to be able to bring our program to this fantastic mountain. In addition to our international expedition roots, we are accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), being one of the very few guide services in the region to hold such a high standard. Each of our guides is trained by the AMGA in the terrain in which they operate, and the program is supervised by internationally licensed IFMGA mountain guides. This high standard, along with our many years of experience, translates to a fantastic mountain adventure!
Technical
Fitness
- Morning – 8:30
- Meet and Greet
Meet your guide at the Alpenglow Expeditions office in Olympic Valley and go over your goals for the day. Head to the Palisades Tahoe lifts and get ready for your day of skills and learning!
- Rest of Day
- Field Work
After a short meet and greet, your team will ride the lifts into Palisades terrain and then get to work learning how to use your gear, and practicing rescue scenarios. We’ll wrap up and head back to the office by 4:00PM.
Our Tahoe AIARE Instructors & Guides.
Palisades Tahoe AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course Questions
We believe that each individual makes up the team, not its strongest members. With that in mind, it is imperative that every member of a touring party has basic avalanche training. The level 1 course is very broad in scope- from avalanche rescue training to fundamentals of avalanche problems, it covers a lot of very useful material.
At Alpenglow, we have only the highest standards of safety and guide qualifications. All of our local backcountry tours are led by AMGA trained/certified guides. Our guides assess the snow conditions and avalanche hazards every morning to mitigate risk, and are supervised by fully certified IFMGA guides.
Lunch is not included. We recommend bringing a sack lunch and plenty of water.
Please click here to review our domestic cancellation policy
We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your activity purchase against unforeseeable circumstances. We recommend Spot as a provider of trip insurance. Spot is a 3rd party provider and is not affiliated with Alpenglow Expeditions – please refer to the Spot website or contact Spot directly for all terms and conditions.
AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course Equipment List
- Ski Helmet
A ski specific helmet that is less than 10 years old.
Recommended: Scott Track Plus Helmet
- Synthetic Top
A simple, lightweight synthetic jacket. This item is good for layering systems to stay warm in cold, wet conditions.
Recommended: Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoodie
- Touring Backpack
Internal frame pack that is between 25 and 35 liters. Either purchase a matching pack cover, or use garbage bags as liners to protect from precipitation. Make sure the pack is fitted to YOUR body.
Recommended: Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32L
- Goggles
These will be worn on stormy or windy days. Make sure you are getting a snug fit with lenses for bright sun. Ventilation and anti-fog features are desired.
Recommended: Vuarnet Everest Goggles
- Neck Gaiter (Buff)
A multi-purpose neck gator that can also be worn under your hat. Make sure that it covers as much skin as possible and yet is still comfy.
Recommended: Alpenglow Buff
- Sunglasses
Must have dark lenses. Minimal light should come in below, above, or around the sides of the lenses.“Wrap” style is best. Ventilation is important and a retainer strap is very useful (Chums or Croakies).
Recommended: Vuarnet Glacier 01
- Hat
Bring your favorite baseball hat for shelter from the sun. No white under the brim – the reflection off of it from the sun is blinding.
Recommended: Black Diamond 5-Panel Synthetic Cap
- Balaclava
We recommend a tight-fitting balaclava that is worn under your hat. Make sure that it covers as much skin as possible, but is comfortable enough to wear for hours.
Recommended: Black Diamond Coefficient LT Balaclava
- Beanie
A comfortable, warm well-fitting hat that covers your ears. Make sure that one of your hats fits under a helmet.
Recommended: Black Diamond Levels Beanie
- Warm Socks
A wool synthetic blend. Pure rag wool socks are not nearly as effective in wicking moisture or retaining their shape and reducing blisters. Bring a few pairs of these socks. NO COTTON.
Recommended: Darn Tough Mountaineering Sock
- Liner Socks
A super-thin wicking sock that repels moisture. Liner socks help to reduce the likelihood of blisters. The socks should be thin wool, nylon, or Capilene®. NO COTTON
Recommended: Ice Breaker Merino Liner
- Midweight Gloves
These gloves should be full GORE-TEX®, and insulated. These will be the workhorse glove for any expedition.
Recommend: Black Diamond Tour Gloves
- Lightweight Gloves
All-around gloves for mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and hiking. These gloves (and similar options) are warm, wind-resistant, durable and have a sure grip. You will rarely take these gloves off. They should be snug-fitting, and have some sort of reinforced palm.
Recommended: Black Diamond Alpine Softshell Gloves
- Liner Gloves
These gloves keep the inside of your mitts or other gloves from accumulating sweat on the inside and turning inside out when you take them off, as well as provide additional insulation.
Recommended: Black Diamond Midweight Wool Liners
- Hard Shell Jacket
A lightweight, waterproof and breathable jacket WITH A HOOD that can withstand extreme weather conditions. Make sure you have pit-zips and if you are using an old jacket, re-waterproof it.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Recon LT Stretch Shell
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Women’s Recon LT Stretch Shell
- Soft Shell Jacket
More breathable than Gore-tex, these soft shell jackets block wind and light precipitation and are great as an outer layer and warm layer under your parka.
Men’s Recommended: Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody
Women’s Recommended: Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody
- Insulated Pant
Full-length side zippers are recommended, for throwing on top of all of your layers.
Recommended: Black Diamond Belay Pants
- Mid-Weight Puffy Jacket
A simple, lightweight puffy jacket. This item is good for layering systems and staying warm. We recommend 800-fill down that is packable and resists inclement weather.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody
- Mid-Weight Warm Layer Top
This mid-layer will be worn over your base layer most of the trip.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Men’s Coefficient LT Quarter Zip Pullover
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Women’s Coefficient LT Quarter Zip Pullover
- Lightweight Baselayer Top
A long sleeve base layer that is fitted, lightweight and quick drying. Make sure it is long enough to tuck in.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Men’s Solution 150 Merino Crew
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Women’s Solution 150 Merino Crew
- Sun Hoodie
Lightweight, long-sleeve sun hoody that is great for protecting from the sun.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody
- Lightweight Top
Ultra-light base layer that effectively wicks moisture away from your body and is breathable. Quick-dry is important as well. One light-colored shirt is recommended for extremely sunny days.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Lightwire Short Sleeve
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Lightwire Short Sleeve
- Avalanche Transceiver
A digital transceiver that is simple to use or that you are extremely comfortable using.
Recommended: Black Diamond Recon Avalanche X Beacon
- Lightweight Baselayer Bottoms
Fitted and quick drying. This piece will be a base-layer that will get you through a wide range of temperatures. This can be 3/4 length bottoms if preferred.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Solution 150 Merino Baselayer
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Solution 150 Merino Baselayer
- Probe
A strong, lightweight avalanche probe, 260-300cm.
Recommended: Black Diamond QuickDraw Pro Probe 280
- Shovel
A lightweight metal avalanche rescue shovel. Extendable handle is recommended.
Recommended: Black Diamond Evac 7
Great experiences, educational, high impact, well-run and put together.
“I’ve taken two courses with Alpenglow at Palisades Tahoe: AIARE 1 and the Avalanche Rescue Course. Both were great experiences–educational, high impact, well-run and put together. I enjoyed the experience, and will take follow-up classes with Alpenglow in the future.”
Chris P.
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