AIARE Introduces New One-Day Avalanche Education Refresher Course

Like all hard skills, those learned in an avalanche course can be perishable. In an effort to preserve those learned in Avalanche 1 courses, the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, more commonly known as AIARE, has introduced a new course offering ahead of the 2026/27 winter.

Backcountry users who have completed their AIARE 1 or an equivalent avalanche education course, such as the American Avalanche Institute’s (AAI) Avalanche Level 1, will be able to take the new one-day course to review and practice their skills in the field.

The AIARE 1 Refresher will include an online component to review concepts such as terrain management, backcountry communication strategies, and rescue fundamentals before heading into the field for a full day on snow with an AIARE instructor.

Other topics covered will include usage of the updated AIARE field book tool to plan backcountry trips, applying the AIARE Risk Management Framework, and practicing companion rescue.

Researchers at Eastern Oregon University studied almost 1,700 students over three winter seasons and found that those who completed avalanche courses showed a measurable increase in the frequency of safe backcountry practices.

Skills such as decision-making in terrain selection, recognition of unstable conditions, and end-of-day debriefs were measured in the study. AIARE’s new course was developed following the study, in an effort to help sustain and deepen safe backcountry practices, decision-making frameworks, and rescue protocols learned by students through initial avalanche education courses.

“AIARE is committed to continually evolving our curriculum based on peer-reviewed research, best practices and what we learn about how people apply avalanche education in the field,” said Vickie Hormuth, executive director of AIARE in a press release announcing the new course, “The research reinforces that avalanche education can lead to meaningful changes in backcountry behavior, but education doesn’t end when a course is over. The AIARE 1 Refresher gives students an opportunity to ‘knock the rust off’ and practice critical avalanche decision-making in real terrain with an experienced educator.”

AIARE courses, including the new AIARE 1 Refresher can be found at find.avtraining.org.

Related: New Trail Map Released for Private Backcountry Ski Resort in Utah