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What Avalanche Class Is Right For You?


Utah Mountain Adventures offers the full spectrum of recreational avalanche classes. Avalanche courses are for ANYONE, regardless of method of travel, who want to recreate or work in or near avalanche terrain (snowshoers, ice climbers, mountaineers, backcountry skiers & boarders, forest service employees etc.)

 US Avalanche Education officially starts with an 8-12 hour Avalanche Awareness or Skills Class, generally including an evening lecture and 1 day in the field. No previous experience or snow travel skills are required. Learn the essential of snow pits, rescue and safe travel before your first tour. Use brand-new touring gear or a pair of snowshoes to get around in the snow.

Avalanche Rescue can be taken before, or as a refresher after a Level 1. Snow travelers should refresh rescue skills regularly. Focus is on making a save: finding and digging out a buried companion, who’s wearing a beacon, in a timely manner. Rescue Class is required in conjunction with Rec Level 2 in order to receive a certificate of completion.


Weekend Touring and Avalanche Skills is designed for those who'd like to learn the basics of touring and avalanche safety all in a weekend! Skiers and Splitboarders learn how to efficiently use their gear, dig a pit and perform a rescue while enjoying a backcountry run or two each day. Typically one day is spent in Big Cottonwood Canyon while the next day tours Little Cottonwood Canyon terrain. 


Youth Level 1 is a full-immersion avalanche class for ages 13-19. The schedule includes a mix of lectures and backcountry field sessions spread across three successive 8-hour days during the Christmas Holidays.


Level 1 is an intermediate level, intensive, 24-hour class that every serious backcountry traveler should take. It introduces snow science, terrain management, travel protocols, snowpack tests, rescue, weather and human factors. The course culminates in a full-day backcountry tour.

Prior proficiency on snowshoes, skins and skis or split board helps to get the most out of this class. This means being able to skin or snowshoe uphill at least 500 vertical feet; transition to downhill in deep snow on a slope; and travel downhill in difficult snow, on treed slopes up to 30 degrees.

Level 2 (Recreational) course curriculum builds on Level 1, and should be taken 1 to 5 seasons later. It caters to those seeking to ski or climb bigger lines; travel in diverse, complex terrain and snowpacks; and ski out-of-bounds safely even when avalanche danger is up. It’s also a great refresher.


If you have already taken Level 1, and want to prepare for work in avalanche terrain, get on the Pro Track. We recommend the American Avalanche Institute Pro classes. 

For more detailed info and course schedules, visit our website.


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