Avalanche Awareness Course
2025 Dates
February 22, 2025
March 2, 2025 (Co-ed, great for couples)
$150
Trip Length
1 Day
Group Size
2-8
Destinations
Truckee - Tahoe Region
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What’s This Course All About?
Think of it as “Day 1” of an AIARE course—your gateway to avalanche awareness and smart decision-making in the backcountry—without the hefty price tag or certification pressure.
This is where your backcountry safety journey begins.
No intimidating lectures.
No experience required.
Just practical avalanche knowledge, real-world decision-making strategies, and a supportive group of adventurous women.
Whether you’re brand new to avalanche safety, curious about venturing into the backcountry, or looking to refresh your knowledge—this course is designed to help you feel confident, informed, and ready to make smart decisions in avalanche terrain.
Beginner Avalanche Awareness
Are you intrigued by the snowy backcountry but unsure about how to be aware of avalanche conditions and make safe decisions when exploring steep terrain?
Wondering about avalanche risks and how to navigate them confidently?
Join Alpinistas Guide Service for our Beginner Avalanche Awareness Workshop – a perfect starting point for anyone new to winter backcountry adventures.
This one-day session is tailored for women who are eager to enhance their snow travel skills and gain essential knowledge in avalanche safety.
Alpinistas Adventures avalanche education programs are designed to mirror the components of national certificate courses, like AIARE, but without the cost or certificate—perfect for those new to backcountry travel, budget-conscious adventurers, or anyone seeking a refresher. Taught by AIARE-trained professional mountain guides, our courses deliver expert instruction to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate avalanche terrain safely and effectively.
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In the morning, we'll cover the basics in a workshop setting, diving into avalanche awareness, understanding snow conditions, and learning essential safety techniques.
In the afternoon, we'll head into the snow, practicing what we've learned in real-world conditions.
This interactive and engaging class is ideal for those looking to safely enjoy skiing, splitboarding, or snowshoeing in the backcountry. It is a great option for those that are not sure if they are ready for a full AIARE course.
Not only will you gain valuable skills, but you'll also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded adventurers.
Come, learn, and enjoy the thrill of winter exploration with us!
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8:00am - Meet your guide in the field at the designated trailhead & check-in.
8:15am - We’ll perform a gear check and then begin our classroom portion.
11:30 AM - Break for Lunch
12 PM - We’ll move to the snow and start our practical skills application.
3:30 PM Get back to the trailhead. Debrief of the day and discuss strengths, areas for improvement, goals, and next steps for progressing your outdoor skills.
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Skills Clinic: minimal wilderness touring, no ski/splitboard touring experience required.
This trip is rated Beginner. Although this is a novice skills day, the participants should have ample hiking experience and good fitness. We will be practicing techniques in the snow all day but with plenty of rest breaks.
We expect to be on the snow near our outdoor classroom for the skills portion so estimate about 1-2 miles of travel over the course of the day.
We recommend that you stay well hydrated and fed prior to departure to assist in mitigating altitude sickness if you are coming from sea level.
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Included in your booking:
Professional AMGA/AIARE Guide
4:1 client to guide ratio with a max group size of 8 clients, 2 guides
Group safety gear & first aid kit
Permit fees
Special discount to shop at the Alpinistas store
Not included:
Food & beverages
Guide gratuities
Required gear, see in below section
Ski / splitboard gear
Avalanche beacon, probe & shovel
Personal items
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On Field Session
Terrain & hazard observation
Clear decisioning, communication and mitigating group think
Using an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel to rescue a companion caught in an avalanche
Regional avalanche forecasting tools and what they mean
Before You Go safety in the wilderness concept
This Course is for You If You Want To:
🌟 Learn the basics of avalanche awareness in a fun, supportive environment
🌟 Feel confident recognizing avalanche terrain and making safe decisions
🌟 Build a solid foundation before enrolling in a full AIARE course (or not—you’ll still walk away with critical knowledge!)
🌟 Meet adventurous women who love the mountains as much as you do
We recommend pairing this Avalanche Awareness Course with our Avalanche Rescue Course to really dial in your skills.
Gear List
Layering is the key to staying comfortable while being active outdoors. The secret to achieving maximum comfort with minimum weight is to bring versatile layers that can be mixed and matched to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation, and weather protection.
When packing, try to bring only what you need. This not only makes your load lighter but also helps our amazing field staff.
If you've already booked your trip, don't worry! You’ll be getting emails with a detailed list of what you'll need to bring (plus tons of other helpful information).
Are you looking to reduce your carbon footprint or save some money? Check out our shop at Alpinistas and the Re-Cover department for gently used gear online.
Get ready to conquer the outdoors, Alpinistas! We can't wait to see you on the trail.
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Splitboard, Touring Skis or Snowshoes with appropriate footwear for mode of transportation in snow.
Avalanche probe, beacon and shovel.
Day hiking backpack, preferably for touring.
Technical jacket, pants or bibs that are water resistant
Base Layer Tops and Bottoms (Lightweight, Synthetic or Wool)
Midlayer options
Waterproof/Water Resistant Gloves
Beanie
Hiking Socks (Synthetic or Wool)
Sunblock, sunglasses and lip balm with SPF
Water (1.5-2.5 liters) or Hydration System
Electrolytes, snacks, lunch for the day
Personal Bathroom Kit: Toilet Paper, Ziplock Bags, Personal Wipes, Hand Cleaner - Pack it all out.
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This will be nice for you to have:
Fleece/Wool or Lightweight Gloves
Hat, Bandana or Buff for Sun Protection
Hot beverage in thermos
Extra socks
Have questions about the gear list?
Give us a call at 775-230-7125 or send us a chat or email.
Helpful for booking
What to expect after you book your reservation
After you book your reservation, you will receive a confirmation email. Over the following weeks as you start to get closer to your event date, you will receive additional emails confirming packing lists, itinerary details and other important or helpful supplemental information such as video course, start time and driving directions. The week of the event, you should be ready to go and you will receive a final email introducing your guides, providing you with their contact information and other last minute notes.
Your event does require a certain minimum number of participants to run. Don’t worry though, our group size is naturally quite small to keep it special and relaxing experience so the minimum booking requirement is also lower than other guide services.
What is the closest airport?
Sacramento, California
Reno, Nevada
Booking airfare?
If you are flying in for this trip, please contact us before booking airfare to make sure that your trip is confirmed. We require a minimum number of participants to operate.
General weather expectations
Mountaineering trips take place in the snow. Tahoe daytime temperatures can range vastly during the winter and spring season. You may encounter freezing temperatures in the early morning or very warm temperatures during the day. We highly recommend wearing layers to accommodate changing temperatures.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend travel insurance to protect your trip in the event unforeseeable circumstances or illness comes up that interferes with your ability to join the trip.
“Dear women adventurers of all skill levels, you need to take a trip with Alpinistas! I just returned from the Cold Weather Skills workshop in Yosemite and I've learned more in three days than I have in all my years of hiking and camping. It's so rare to find guiding experiences that are fun, connect you with likeminded folks, AND equip you with a ton of new skills.”
— Ashley
“I had the absolute best experience on a rock climbing trip with Joanne! Every part of the weekend was fantastic - the camping experience was wonderful, the guides were knowledgeable and kept everyone safe, and the climbing was so much fun! I'm looking forward to future trips with Alpinistas, and love the work they are doing in making outdoor education more accessible to women!”
- Rebecca
What People Are Saying about Alpinistas
“The women I met that weekend were so amazing for their love of the outdoors, their curiosity, and their tenacious spirits. I learned so much from our skilled guides who made us feel safe to ask any and all questions regardless of how silly they might be. Thank you Alpinistas for a truly amazing weekend! I can’t wait for the next adventure 🏕️”
— Katarina
“I joined a Cold Weather course and winter camping weekend with them in Yosemite and absolutely love it! The guides are passionate about what they are teaching us, they are so supportive, and the event was organized so well.”
- Ashley-Marie