Location: Salt Lake City

Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM MST

Course Overview

The American Avalanche Association accredits this course.

Avoidance is the best way not to get caught in an avalanche. However, accidents happen, and we all need to know what to do in the event of an avalanche burial. You only have a few minutes to save your partner’s life if they are buried in an avalanche, and performing an effective rescue is difficult. You cannot rely on search and rescue, ski patrol, outside rescue, or other groups to save your partner; it’s up to you to have the skills to perform an avalanche rescue.

This four-hour on-snow course teaches you how to execute the proper steps in an avalanche rescue and how to use your avalanche rescue gear efficiently. With small student-to-instructor ratios, we ensure that each student receives individual coaching and feedback on their technique and that each student can run through multiple real-life scenarios. Additionally, after signing up for this course, you will gain access to our Student Portal, which includes links to the pre-course work, detailed course information, avalanche resources, and more.

Who Should Take this Course?

This class is for skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, snowmobilers, snowbikers, and anyone who goes into the backcountry in the winter. This course is designed as an introductory rescue course for those new to the backcountry. It can also be a refresher for those not regularly practicing rescue skills or someone looking to learn the most up-to-date rescue techniques.

What is Required for this Course?

You must provide your own mode of transportation (skis or splitboard with skins, snowshoes, snowmobile, etc.). Please come prepared with your own avalanche rescue equipment (beacon/shovel/probe), and if you need to borrow these three items, please let us know so we can make arrangements.

Course Goals

• Understand the steps and procedures of an avalanche rescue.

• Understand how to use an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel properly.

• Perform a full avalanche burial rescue in less than 10 minutes.

• Understand how to continue practicing rescue skills individually and with partners.

Cancellation Policy

Our cancellation policy can be found here. If you have any questions, please email education@utahavalanchecenter.org

Winter Weather and Avalanche Hazard Policy

In the event of extreme winter weather and/or dangerous avalanche conditions, the UAC reserves the right to reschedule courses to maintain the safety of our students and instructors. If a course needs to be rescheduled, we will work with students to find the best-rescheduled date and refund students who are unable to attend.