Employment
Blackbird Mountain Guides - Lake Tahoe/Truckee, CA
Position: AIARE Qualified Course Leaders
What: Join Blackbird Mountain Guides in Lake Tahoe/Truckee, California for the 2022/2023 winter season as an AIARE Course Leader and ski guide! We offer AIARE Rec 1 and 2 courses, along with our one-of-a-kind Lift-Accessed Avalanche Rescue and AIARE 1 + Rescue Courses. Courses generally start with a two-hour webinar a few days before the course begins and take place throughout the whole week.
Where: Blackbird Mountain Guides is based in Truckee, CA. You will be teaching AIARE courses primarily on Donner Summit just outside of Truckee, and also in other surrounding areas including South Lake Tahoe and Mount Rose.
When: Join us for the whole winter or join us for December and/or January! Our biggest needs are in December and January, but can provide regular work throughout the whole winter.
Why: Beyond the Tahoe area, we also have a strong presence in the Eastern Sierra, Mount Shasta, the Washington Cascades, and beyond. Developing a relationship throughout the winter can lead to a variety of consistent and interesting guide work from Shasta, to Baker, to BC Lodges in Canada and other international trips in places like Peru and Europe. Additionally, we can supplement your AIARE work this winter with ski guiding and local hut trips. The Truckee/Tahoe area is sunny and clear more days than it’s not and offers a stable snowpack, fun skiing (resort and backcountry), splitter granite rock climbing, endless miles of mountain bike trails, and easy access to places like the Eastern Sierra.
Housing: Just like most mountain towns, housing can be hard to come by in the Truckee/Tahoe area. We can eliminate the stress of finding a place to live - we’ve got a room you can rent out!
Compensation: Minimum $350/day depending on AMGA Ski Guide Training - Salary option available.
Next Steps: Please send your resume to info@blackbirdguides.com or reach out with any questions!
Colorado Mountain School - Estes Park, CO
Position: AIARE Qualified Course Leaders and Instructors for the 2022/23 Season and Beyond
We are the largest AIARE provider in the country, and the areas we guide and instruct are top-notch. If you are a new AIARE instructor we have a place for you here! We offer a robust mentorship program to help you progress as an avalanche educator with a supportive and welcoming team.
Our ideal candidate has at least three years of experience leading groups in the winter environment, completed an AIARE ITC or CLT - or plan on completing one soon, and AMGA ski guide training.
This is an opportunity to join our experienced team and potentially teach up to 10 programs this winter. We will have a required one-day pre-season training for new instructors in October. Compensation is very competitive and commensurate on experience and AMGA training.
Other Perks:
- Work in a variety of Front Range backcountry zones from I-70, to Cameron Pass.
- Paid travel and Lodging.
- Gear Deals and free sponsored gear dependent on course number commitment.
- Opportunity to instruct a wide range of AIARE courses in a single season.
If interested please send a cover letter, professional resume, personal resume, copies of medical training and course completions to the CMS Avalanche Program Director: Jason Maurer jason@coloradomountainschool.com
Snowbird Mountain Guides - Salt Lake City, UT
Position: AIARE Qualified Course Leaders and Instructors for the 22/23 Winter season
Snowbird Mountain Guides, based in Little Cottonwood Canyon, is in search of AIARE Course Leaders and Instructors for this coming winter season’s Rec 1 and Rec 2 courses. Guiding opportunities for experienced guides may also be available for our catskiing and alpine tour programs.
Please contact Eliza or Cami at backcountryguides@snowbird.com or 801.933.2096 for more information.
Colorado Avalanche Information Center - Vail/Summit County/Leadville
Position: Avalanche Forecaster
This forecaster position will work both independently and with other CAIC staff to provide backcountry avalanche information and safety training for public recreation. The work location for this position is in the Central Mountains area, but the exact location is open to discussion.
Applications will be accepted through July 31, 2022. We will conduct interviews, virtual or in person, during the week of August 15, 2022.
This position is temporary seasonal with training in October and full-time November 1 through April 30. Compensation: $23/hour DOE.
Learn more about the position and how to apply here.
Colorado Mountain College Leadville
Position: Avalanche Science Program Coordinator
The Avalanche Science program seeks to train avalanche professionals to work as forecasters in a variety of industries, including avalanche information centers, the transportation sector, guiding organizations, ski patrols, national and state parks, mining operations, and/or the military. Graduates of the program earn a Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Technician certification and an American Avalanche Association (A3) Pro 1 certificate. Students who qualify may also earn an A3 Pro 2 certificate.
The Program Coordinator is a year-round administrative, non-faculty, staff position with teaching responsibilities. The incumbent must be qualified to be credentialed to teach in the assigned areas or have the ability to become credentialed within 3 years of hire date. The ideal candidate will have strong administrative skills and an entrepreneurial vision for a program that is at the cutting edge of professional avalanche education. Experience in avalanche forecasting, ski guiding, and/or avalanche education are preferred qualifications, but not required.
Position open until filled. Application review will begin on June 13. View the full job description at https://coloradomtn.edu/employment/program-coordinator-avalanche-science-leadville/.
Verascapes
Outdoor Leadership Accelerator Program Participant
Verascapes is a small business providing inclusive leadership training. We support AIARE’s mission and efforts to make the winter backcountry more inclusive. Our Outdoor Leadership Accelerator Program, designed for outdoor educators and guides, promotes principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Our curriculum examines culturally responsive instruction, communication skills, conflict resolution tools, and more. OLAP 2022-2023 application period is now open. Learn more about OLAP here or contact Brenda Hollon at brenda@verascapes.com.
Know Before You Go
Position: KBYG Instructor
Calling all Avalanche Educators! The Know Before You Go program needs your help delivering an all-new avalanche awareness program. As many of you already know, the KBYG program is the first step in avalanche education for anybody interested in getting into the mountains. The program offers free online learning courses, as well as its flagship hour-long avalanche awareness presentation at no cost to students. Over the past year, the KBYG team has been hard at work revamping the entire program creating an all-new interactive and dynamic presentation, a new online learning program, a brand new website, and new videos. This summer, the KBYG team will be training new and existing instructors on the revamped program ahead of our launch date on October 1, 2022.
If you are an existing KBYG instructor, or if you are interested in becoming a new instructor, we are excited to introduce you to the new program ahead of the 2022-2023 season. We have made some major changes to the curriculum, and it is essential that we orient all instructors on these modifications. If you have presented the KBYG program in the past, or if you wish to start presenting to the program, please reach out to info@kbyg.org for information on how to get the new content and for details regarding our orientation sessions being offered throughout this summer. We look forward to hearing from you!
Tahoe Mountain School – Truckee, CA
Position: AIARE Qualified Course Leaders and Instructors
Tahoe Mountain School is looking for AIARE Course Leaders and Instructors. We are based out of beautiful Truckee, CA, and run a full avalanche education program and backcountry ski/splitboard guiding program throughout the winter and spring from December through April. AMGA guide training is a plus with guiding opportunities available for apprentice through certified ski guides. Competitive pay, end-of-season bonus, training, and a flexible schedule with part-time to full-time work available.
Please contact Steve at info@tahoemountainschool.com or 530-414-5295 for more information.
Sierra Mountain Center – Bishop, CA
Position: AIARE Qualified Course Leaders and Instructors Winter 22/23. It is not too early to start thinking about next winter.
Sierra Mountain Center based in beautiful Bishop, California is looking for AIARE qualified Level I Course instructors and Level I Course leaders. We have a full slate of courses proposed for winter 2022/23 and this job can also expand to ski guiding and instruction for someone who is in the AMGA ski program. Our winter season hopefully runs from December to April and again this job can transition into summer rock and alpine guiding for the right person. SMC guides have operated in the Eastern Sierra since the 1980s and we are the most experienced local guide service. Competitive rates and a flexible work schedule. SMC is an equal opportunity employer.
Please send a resume to SP Parker sp@
Burrell Adventures - Glacier, WA
Position: AIARE Qualified Instructor and AMGA Apprentice Splitboard Guide
Join a growing mountain guide service in one of the premier alpine sports destinations, Glacier Washington. Burrell Adventures offers a wide variety of guided mountain experiences in the North Cascades and the legendary Mount Baker area. A complete progression from first-time splitboarders and avalanche training to touring courses and high-end ski mountaineering provides engaging courses and trips for guests and guides alike.
Burrell Adventures is seeking a skilled AIARE instructor and AMGA Apprentice Splitboard or ski guide. Higher levels of training and certification are welcome too. This part-time role would primarily be co-instructing AIARE 1 & 2 courses and Intro to touring days for 6 days per month with additional days of professional development. This part-time position could quickly grow into a full-time guide position or part-time administrative position. For AMGA Apprentice Alpine and Apprentice Rock Guides year-round employment is possible with spring and summer trips being offered throughout the North Cascades. Equitable wages are commensurate with experience.
Reach out to Jere Burrell at guidedexposure@gmail.com to apply.
Miyar Adventures - Ballard, WA
Position: Avalanche Education Program Director
Company Description:
The company’s focus is summer backpacking, rock climbing, and alpine climbing in the Cascades. Miyar also runs snowshoeing and winter backpacking trips. The company has a family-like working culture and a loyal following of return clients. The company has been growing rapidly over the past seven years. Miyar Adventures is known for its work to make guiding and outdoor instruction more financially sustainable and emotionally fulfilling career choices, while also creating a space that is welcoming to people from all backgrounds.
Miyar is developing a more robust winter schedule of program offerings, which will include avalanche education, winter navigation, backcountry skiing/split boarding, and ski mountaineering.
We are looking for an experienced AIARE Course Leader who is excited about the opportunity to develop a new avalanche education program for a reputable guide service. The candidate should enjoy working with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, as our management team and clientele are diverse. The candidate should also be a skilled teacher who enjoys teaching those who are new to winter recreation.
Location of employment:
Some work may be done remotely, while client contact days will take place in classrooms and winter backcountry areas of Washington State.
Required Training:
- AIARE Course Leader Qualification
- Wilderness First Responder or WEMT
- Completion of AMGA ski/splitboard guide track programs preferred
Required Experience:
- 5 years working within the space of avalanche education
- Program development experience preferred
- Management experience preferred
- Familiarity with backcountry skiing or split boarding areas in Washington State, or the ability to gain this familiarity on personal time prior to the first AIARE program
For more information about specific job duties, compensation, and how to apply, please visit the Miyar Adventures employment page!
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