Avalanche Courses

AIARE avalanche courses with Skyward Mountaineering provide professional avalanche education and safety training in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Our AIARE Level 1 avalanche course is the perfect starting point for backcountry skiers, splitboarders, and mountaineers who want to learn how to recognize avalanche hazards, interpret avalanche forecasts and make informed decisions while traveling in the backcountry. With certified AIARE instructors, certified IFMGA guides, small group sizes and a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on field sessions, you’ll gain practical skills in snowpack observation, terrain management and companion rescue. Whether you’re new to backcountry travel or looking to build a solid foundation in your avalanche awareness, Skyward Mountaineering’s avalanche training courses give you the confidence and knowledge to explore Colorado’s mountains more safely.

A pair of skis icon, depicting a backcountry avalanche course.

Beginner Level 1 avalanche courses and in-depth Level 2 avalanche courses
All avalanche courses are AIARE certified

Icon of a mountain, depicting the prerequisites required for booking an avalanche education course.

No prerequisites required, the Level 1 avy course is for EVERYONE

Calendar and clock icon, depicting the schedule for AIARE avalanche courses in Silverton.

Level 1 and Level 2 avalanche courses are 3-days in length
Courses are at least 60% in the field with the rest in a classroom setting

Waypoint icon, depicting Silverton and Ouray as the location options for AIARE avalanche courses.

Silverton, Colorado
Ouray, Colorado

Beginner 3 day avalanche course

Beginner 3 day avalanche course, focused on ice climbing and mountaineering

Beginner 1 day rescue course

Intermediate 3 day avalanche course

Skyward Mountaineering offers avalanche education courses through as an official AIARE provider. Our Level 1 and Level 2 avalanche courses are offered in both Ouray and Silverton, in the heart of the San Juan mountains. Our access to diverse mountain terrain with complex avalanche problems combined with the vast amount of experience from our AIARE instructor team makes Skyward Mountaineering avalanche courses a particularly unique and valuable educational experience. All of our avalanche instructors are certified AMGA Ski Guides with experience as professional avalanche forecasters and passionate educators.

  • Skyward Mountaineering is an AMGA Accredited Business, that means we’ve gone through rigorous third party auditing to ensure the highest quality risk management, customer service, ethical business practices, and professionally trained guides.

  • All of our avalanche courses are taught using AIARE’s proven curriculum and we are professional members of the American Avalanche Association.

  • We are a small guide service offering customized programs based on decades of guiding and instructional experience.

  • Unparalleled logistics support from start to finish. Our office staff are climbers, skiers and mountain guides so when you call or email us we’ll give you honest and helpful information to increase the success and enjoyment of your course.