Avalanche Aware: Free Online Avalanche Safety Course
Every winter, as snow blankets the mountains, skiers, snowboarders, and splitboarders head into the backcountry, or even into steep inbounds terrain, in search of freshies. But the same snowpack that delivers deep days also hides one of the most dangerous natural forces in the mountains: avalanches.
Each year, avalanches claim dozens of lives in the United States. Many of those incidents involve experienced backcountry users who underestimate conditions or fail to recognize the warning signs of unstable snow. Whether you’re just hitting sidecountry or venturing miles into the wilderness, understanding snow, terrain, and human decision-making is critical to saving your hide.
That’s where Avalanche Aware, a new free online avalanche education program, comes in. Developed by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) in partnership with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC), the course aims to make foundational avalanche knowledge more accessible than ever.
A Free, First Step Toward Avalanche Aware-ness
Avalanche Aware serves as a first step toward preparedness for anyone thinking about skiing or riding in avalanche terrain. The hour-long, self-paced course blends videos, expert commentary, and real-world examples to introduce users to the fundamentals of avalanche awareness.
The course is split into five key modules:
- Introduction to Avalanches – Understanding how and why avalanches occur.
- Identifying Avalanche Terrain – Recognizing slopes and features prone to slides.
- Recognizing Unstable Snow – Interpreting signs of weakness within the snowpack.
- Managing Triggers – Learning how skiers, riders, and weather can initiate avalanches.
- Making a Plan to Continue Your Avalanche Education – Dialing in your next steps, from formal field courses to route planning and avalanche forecasting.
While Avalanche Aware isn’t a substitute for an in-person field course, it’s designed to bridge the gap between curiosity and action, providing a crucial baseline of knowledge before people head into the mountains.
Why Avi Education Matters
Avalanches don’t discriminate between beginners and experts. Many fatalities occur within a few hundred feet of a ski area boundary or on slopes that “felt safe.” According to the CAIC, roughly 30 people die in avalanches each year in the U.S., and hundreds more are caught or injured.
The rise of accessible touring gear, sidecountry gates, and social media-fueled powder stoke has dramatically expanded the backcountry user base. Meanwhile, education has lagged behind. That makes basic programs like Avalanche Aware essential.
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As AIARE notes, avalanche awareness isn’t about fear. It’s about empowerment through understanding. By learning to identify red flags, read terrain, and manage group decisions, skiers and riders can make more informed choices that stack the odds in their favor.
Building a Safer Backcountry Community
By collaborating with CAIC and NWAC, two of the country’s most respected avalanche forecasting and education centers, AIARE has created a tool rooted in real-world expertise. Avalanche Aware encourages users to connect with their local avalanche centers for conditions, forecasts, and ongoing learning opportunities.
The course’s ultimate goal is simple: to reduce avalanche accidents through better awareness, decision-making, and community education.
Whether you’re a seasoned backcountry skier or someone who’s just thinking about touring for the first time, Avalanche Aware offers an accessible starting point for building your knowledge before stepping into avalanche terrain. And yes, it's actually free.
You can take the course now at avtraining.org/avalancheaware.
