A four-day progression built for backcountry travelers ready to move past foundational knowledge and operate with higher-level clarity in complex terrain. From February 19–22, this Level 2 course deepens avalanche science, terrain management, snowpack analysis, and real-time decision-making. It’s designed for those who have already completed a Level 1 and want to sharpen every part of their winter travel skillset.
This course is a strong fit if you’ve completed Level 1 and logged at least a year of practice since. Avalanche Rescue is the focus on day one, and a separate Rescue certification card will be issued.
Field sessions give participants the chance to work through real-world snowpacks and recent avalanche activity. Classroom work covers snowpack development, avalanche problems. This includes persistent and deep instabilities, avalanche mechanics, and using weather resources for effective trip planning.
In the field, the curriculum focuses on snow stability evaluation, detailed snowpack analysis, terrain assessment, route selection, safe-travel procedures, and decision-making frameworks. You’ll also be introduced to documentation methods outlined in the Snow, Weather, and Avalanches: Observation Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States handbook, with an emphasis on accurate observation, field weather notes, and snowpack records.
Tuition includes instruction and course handouts; day one provides a complete Avalanche Rescue refresher.
Tuition does not include round-trip transportation to and from the class site, food during the course, personal gear and clothing, or a copy of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. Expect long days outside in high wind, heavy snowfall, and cold temperatures.
Prerequisites: a prior Level 1 or equivalent, at least one year of experience since completing it, intermediate backcountry travel skills, the ability to move efficiently on skis or a splitboard, and a minimum age of 18.
Dates: February 19–22, 2026.
Limited Spots Available. It's $685 to register. Click the tickets for more details.
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