SILVERTHORNE GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Read the Mountain: A Three-Day AIARE 1 at Winter Park’s Lift-Accessed Terrain
A three-day AIARE Level 1 course at Winter Park Ski Resort that pairs classroom and field hours with lift-accessed, hands-on avalanche-safety training using Ortovox equipment.
Read the Mountain: A Three-Day AIARE 1 at Winter Park’s Lift-Accessed Terrain.
Set against the high basins around Winter Park Ski Resort, this three-day AIARE Level 1 course delivers structured, hands-on avalanche-safety instruction in lift-accessed terrain. Expert instructors guide participants through the mechanics of Colorado snowpack, practical beacon, shovel and probe work, and scenario-based field exercises to build confidence in backcountry decision-making.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Three days of structured, hands-on instruction
The course condenses foundational avalanche theory and practical field work into an intensive three-day format, with instructors emphasizing real-world skills and decision-making in Colorado conditions.
Lift-accessed field sessions at Winter Park
Training takes advantage of lift-accessed slopes around Winter Park Resort to provide varied terrain for practicing slope assessment and rescue drills under instructor supervision.
Hands-on use of Ortovox safety equipment
Instructors integrate top-tier Ortovox avalanche tools into the curriculum so participants train with the kind of beacon, probe and companion-rescue gear used in modern backcountry practice.
What the day feels like
What the course feels like
Expect a focused rhythm of short classroom segments followed by field sessions: instructors demonstrate techniques, then participants practice beacon searches, probing and sled-shovel systems in lift-accessed locations. The progression is deliberate—skills are introduced, practiced and reinforced across three days so students leave with applicable, hands-on competence.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This is a three-day winter course run at Winter Park Ski Resort; scheduling is arranged by the operator and centered on winter snow conditions.
Course instruction incorporates Ortovox avalanche-safety equipment; expect hands-on use of beacon, probe and shovel as part of the curriculum.
The program is resort-based at Winter Park Ski Resort and lift-accessed terrain is used for field sessions; contact the operator for meeting specifics and any on-site arrangements.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the AIARE Level 1 course?
The course runs for three days.
Where is the course based?
It is based at Winter Park Ski Resort in Colorado and uses lift-accessed terrain around the resort.
Is training lift-accessed or a skin-out program?
Training is lift-accessed around Winter Park Resort.
What avalanche gear is used during the course?
Instruction integrates hands-on use of Ortovox avalanche-safety equipment including beacon, probe and shovel.
Who runs the course?
The course is offered by Colorado Adventure Guides.