$785 pp

Mountain adventures for all isn’t just a tagline—it’s our commitment. Moxie offers scholarships to help make guiding and instruction more accessible.

Beginner to Expert Backcountry Skiers and Riders

Riders and skiers should be able to link turns on blue resort runs both in the trees and in a variety of snow conditions.

3 Days

Course Description

Your instructors are women AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guides who are leaders in building inclusive, student-centered, practical avalanche education (literally—they train other pro avalanche instructors to teach this very course).

The AIARE 2 is a three-day course designed for backcountry skiers and splitboarders who have completed AIARE 1 (or like course) and an AAA approved 1-day Avalanche Rescue course. It provides an opportunity to further decision-making skills in more complicated situations, such as leading a small group, traveling in complex terrain, or planning tours where avalanche resources are scarce. Whether you’re looking to refine your terrain assessment or step into a leadership role, this course will provide you the tools to build your competence in the backcountry.

Over three days, you’ll deepen your use of the AIARE Risk Management Framework while learning how to:

• Differentiate where specific avalanche hazards exist within the landscape and identify avalanche terrain where consequences may be more severe

• Use and interpret weather, snow, and avalanche observations to locate appropriate terrain prior to entering and while in the field

• Demonstrate leadership skills within a small team that include facilitating small group discussion, promoting appropriate terrain selection, and utilizing simple risk management strategies

• Build productive backcountry travel groups

• Implement a basic forecasting framework that can be used in conjunction with and in the absences of local supporting avalanche information

By the end of the course, you’ll be prepared to travel more independently, contribute meaningfully to your group’s decisionmaking, and apply structured frameworks to real-world avalanche terrain.

Moxie guides bring deep technical expertise, patient coaching, and a welcoming, inclusive environment where all identities, body sizes, and experience levels are supported. We’re nice, we’re fun, we’re pro—and we already think you’re cool. NJA (No Jerks Allowed). (Min 3, Max 12 skiers/splitboarders)

Participation Requirements

• Participants must have the ability to travel in avalanche terrain.

• An AIARE 1 Course (strongly recommended) or equivalent Level 1 training is required.

• A winter of practical experience after the Level 1 course is highly recommended before taking the AIARE 2 course.

• AIARE or AAA approved one-day Avalanche Rescue Course.

Included

• 3 days of AIARE 2 Instruction by IFMGA Mountain Guides

• 6-10 hours of online learning and future reference material through AIARE

• 6:1 guest to guide ratio 

• Digital copy of the AIARE 2 Student Manual

• AIARE 2 certificate of completion

• AIARE “Blue Book” rite-in-the-rain field book

• Land use fees (we are running this course on Moxie’s permits and in partnership with AIARE &  San Juan Expeditions)

• $10/pp of rent paid to the Boys and Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Not Included

• Personal snacks/food

• Personal skiing/splitboarding clothing and backcountry touring equipment per the equipment list (touring set ups and avalanche rescue equipment are available to rent locally at Ridgway Adventure Sports)

• Travel and rescue insurance (highly recommended!)

• Lodging in Colorado

• Transportation to/from/in Colorado

• Customary guide gratuity

• Incurred costs by leaving a trip early

• Incurred costs as a result of force majeure