Level 1 Avalanche Course – January 10-11

This is the on-snow start to your avalanche education.  A well-rounded hands-on class learning a variety of practical skills to make you more knowledgeable and safer in the backcountry.

Two full days of learning and we’ll travel by snowmobile or snow bike in class.  You’ll be learning a proven morning routine that works, group dynamics, transceiver and rescue skills, identifying avalanche terrain, signs of instability, terrain traps, stability tests and participate in a rescue scenario.

Who’s it for:  Anyone who hasn’t taken an on-snow avalanche class and any recreational motorized users.

Riding Ability:  Don’t worry about your riding skills.  The class is fun and we work as a team to get to the learning areas using groomed trails, single track and easy meadow riding.  If the entire group is more accomplished riders, we’ll ramp it up.  The snowmobiles and snowbikes are used to gain access to areas where we park and then teach.

Location: Craig, CO

Class start:   8:30am – Be dressed to ride and spend the day outside.

Dates:.  January 10-11, 2026

Cost: $590

Refund policy:  No refunds will be given within 30 days of class start date.

Schedule:  8:30 am-5:00pm

What to do for preparation: Read your transceiver manual. Practice using your transceiver and switching from transmit to search.  Make sure you have new batteries. Make sure all your gear is ready.  Bring notebook and pen to class.  Read the avalanche forecast.  Make notes on questions you have for class.

Have your machines in excellent working order, fueled and ready.

What to bring:  Snowmobile or Snow Bike. Transceiver (3 antenna), shovel, probe, tunnel bag, backpack or airbag pack, sunglasses, multiple pairs of gloves, sunscreen, face protection, survival and first aid gear, hat, food (lunch) and water for in the field, extra layers, head lamp, notebook, pens, pencil, camera.

If you don’t have avalanche gear, please let us know and we can supply it.

Dress warmer than expected.  We are out in the elements for long periods of time at or above timberline.  You will be standing still at times, dress much warmer than you would for nonstop aggressive riding.    Bring a thermos with hot liquids if it is going to be cold.  We do not cancel for cold weather.

Instructor: Mike Duffy. Professional member and Certified instructor/school American Avalanche Association.  Teaching at American Avalanche Institute, Colorado Mountain College and Silverton Avalanche School. Rescue/avalanche team leader/ Vail Mountain Rescue Group. Graduate of National Avalanche School, National Academy of Winter Guiding, AVPRO & Professional Avalanche Search & Rescue. Mountain Snowmobiler for 25 years. Provided training for Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo, Mountain Rescue Teams, FBI and Navy Seals. Backcountry Guide/riding instructor. 26 years experience in proven, effective avalanche education.