Is prior avalanche training required to join the AIARE Level 1 course?

No, the Level 1 course is entry-level and designed to teach foundational avalanche safety and rescue skills from the ground up.

Do I need backcountry touring experience before taking the course?

While not mandatory for the standard Level 1, experience with your touring setup and basic backcountry fitness is highly recommended to maximize learning.

Will there be actual skiing or riding involved during the course?

Yes, days 2 and 3 include touring in avalanche terrain, so participants should confidently ski or ride upper blue terrain in a variety of snow conditions.

What kind of fitness level is required for the Low Ratio AIARE Level 1 course?

Participants should be able to ski 3000+ vertical feet per day, handle black diamond terrain, and have a solid command of backcountry touring equipment.

Are avalanche safety tools provided during the training?

Red River Adventures supplies beacons, shovels, probes, and packs for students who don’t bring their own gear.

How large are the course groups?

Courses are limited to six students per instructor, ensuring focused, personalized instruction. Typically, two instructors lead each group.

Avalanche Safety Training with Red River Adventures in Utah

Located at 6200 Wasatch Blvd E in Holladay, Utah, Red River Adventures offers an essential gateway into avalanche education through their AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Education course. This three-day, immersive program is designed for skiers and splitboarders eager to gain practical, hands-on skills for navigating Utah’s challenging winter backcountry terrain.

Positioned just outside Salt Lake City, the Wasatch Range is renowned for its steep, snow-laden slopes and deep powder—conditions that demand respect and well-honed avalanche awareness. Red River Adventures leverages this setting to deliver training that goes beyond theory, blending virtual prep work with intensive days in the field across Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons.

Participants start with an evening virtual session outlining the core principles of avalanche hazard management, followed by two full field days where they engage in snowpack analysis, route planning, and rescue techniques. The course emphasizes the AIARE Decision Making Framework to help backcountry travelers evaluate risk, interpret avalanche forecasts, and make sound terrain choices, crucial skills for safe mountain travel.

What sets this course apart is its focus on both education and community. Guided by experienced ski and splitboard instructors, students practice essential companion rescue methods with beacons, shovels, and probes—tools Red River Adventures provides for those who need them—while connecting with like-minded adventurers.

This program caters to various skill levels, including a Low Ratio option for seasoned backcountry travelers seeking deeper training. With Utah’s winter avalanche terrain as a real-world classroom, Red River Adventures plays a vital role in promoting safety and confidence in one of the country’s most dynamic mountain regions. Whether new to backcountry touring or sharpening hard-earned skills, their expert approach ensures every participant leaves prepared for the uncertainties of winter terrain travel.

About Red River Adventures

Red River Adventures is a Moab, Utah–based outfitter featured on The Adventure Collective that specializes in guided canyoneering, rock climbing, rafting, and instructional courses. The company leads distinct Moab canyoneering trips such as Morning Glory (Ephedra’s Grotto), a roughly 3-mile route with guided rappels of about 90 feet into a sandstone chamber and 120 feet near Morning Glory Arch, and Chamisa Canyon (Entrajo Canyon), a water-carved slot canyon of roughly 2.5 miles with wading, scrambling, optional rappels, and summer swimming.

Guided rock climbing offerings include private one-day guided rock climbing with AMGA-certified instructors, multi-pitch climbing instruction, classic introductory and advanced tours, Crack Camp programs, and iconic climbs such as Castleton Tower and Indian Creek. Instructional and professional development courses listed include AMGA SPI exam and course offerings, AIARE avalanche courses, avalanche rescue, and backcountry mentorship.

Red River Adventures also lists ice climbing programs (half-day to multi-pitch and full-day), backcountry ski and heli-ski options, international trips such as Ski Hokkaido and Ski - Chamonix, and river options including Moab half-day rafting and a full-day Fisher Towers rafting trip. All trip descriptions indicate guided experiences and technical elements appropriate to the route.

Prospective participants should review specific trip summaries for distance, technical difficulty, and equipment requirements. Trip choices cover day trips, full-day guided adventures, multi-day instruction, certification exams, and specialty international offerings. Several canyoneering and climbing routes are described as guided by experts, and trip pages list mileage, rappel heights, technical grades, and water exposure where applicable for accurate trip planning. Online.

Avalanche Safety Training with Red River Adventures in Utah

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