Help AIARE with our mission of saving lives through avalanche education—choose a donation amount:
The first 100 donations of $100 or more receive a limited-edition Skida buff with artwork by Anne Chase.

Offer valid until 12/31/23
Why Do I Need Avalanche Education?
Don't wait until it's too late.
In a split second, an avalanche can turn a day of winter fun into a nightmare. By the time you know what's happening, you're in a life-or-death scenario. Will you make it out alive? Will your friends?
The winter back-country is complex. If you're venturing into it, you need education so you can understand the hazards and learn how to manage risk.
The core of an AIARE course is The AIARE Risk Management Framework. The AIARE Framework is a step by step back-country risk management process made of daily and seasonal routines and agreements that foster consensus with your partners. The AIARE Framework also supports your continued learning with a process that helps you continue to build experience after your course.
With AIARE avalanche education in your back-country toolbox, you'll be able to:
Ready to begin (or continue) your avalanche education? Start with the resources below:
Why AIARE?
What's an AIARE Course?
The American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education (AIARE) is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Since 1998, our mission has been to provide high quality avalanche education, thereby enhancing public awareness and safety. The foundation of all AIARE courses is the AIARE Risk Management Framework. This tool is a process that enables you to both manage your risk in a complex winter environment and learn from your experiences, even long after you take a course. The AIARE Framework gives back-country travelers of all travel modes-including skiers, splitboarders, snowshoers, motorized travelers, climbers, and others-the skills they'll need to apply to avoid avalanches. It's not just a set of facts. It's a way to make decisions in the back-country.
AIARE's Curriculum:
- Provides tools to prepare for and carry out out a back-country trip
- Helps you understand and manage risk in the winter back-country
- Teaches you what to do when avalanches do occur
- Is taught by experienced professionals in a hands-on, real-world setting
The curriculum we offer for recreational back-country travelers includes:
