Avalanche Equipiment List

Personal Equipment:

Clothing for activities and standing in cold/snowy weather (no cotton) long underwear insulating layers outer layer (wind/waterproof) warm gloves, mitts, headband, and hat Goggles and sunglasses Small personal first aid kit (sunscreen/lip-balm, moleskin, band-aids, medication, etc.) Water Bottle Pack

Skiing Equipment:

Boots (touring boots recommended) Skis with touring bindings and skins (please adjust bindings to boots and skins to skis before the course). Collapsible Poles

Snowboarding Equipment:

Split Board with touring bindings and skins (please adjust bindings to boots and skins to board before the course) For students arriving at the course with snowboarding equipment, split boards are recommended, as compared to traveling with snowshoes. You must be able to repair your snowboard if it breaks. Boots Collapsible Poles

OR

Snowboard (with means of attachment to pack—please have a system worked out before you come on the course). Boots Collapsible poles

Snowshoes:

Snowshoes (adjusted to boots, please test thoroughly before the course) Snowshoes are not recommended for courses where deep new snow conditions or steep terrain will likely be experienced. Please contact the course provider.

Rescue Equipment:

Avalanche probe Collapsible shovel Avalanche transceiver (457 kHz frequency only. Digital) Cell phone or two-way radio (OPTIONAL) Avalung (OPTIONAL) Air Bag System (ABS) (OPTIONAL) available here

Other Equipment:
(this equipment is optional for Level 1 courses)

Lift pass or discount card for local ski areas Pack (large enough for all equipment on day ski-tours) Weather, Snowpack, and Avalanche Observation and Recording Equipment – required for Level 2 and Level 3, optional for Level 1 Weather/Snow observation tools are available here.

For Level 2 Courses bring: (optional for Level 1 courses)

Snow saw or folding pruning saw (approx. 40cm blade). There will also be longer folding saws available from Brooks-Range Mountaineering. Snow thermometer (graduated in degrees Celsius). Dial stem and/or glass/alcohol types are commonly used. Electronic thermometers are acceptable but have limitations for snow profile work. NOTE: If you bring thermometers calibrated in degrees Fahrenheit, you will be required to purchase or borrow a Celsius thermometer. Crystal identification screen. Dark color, metal screen is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Magnifier (8x or 10x RECOMMENDED). Folding rule (graduated in centimetres required. 2 metre length). Compass (Optional, compass with clinometer or bring separate clinometer RECOMMENDED) Altimeter (Optional) Field notebook (AIARE Field Notebook, may be available through course provider.) Pencil and spare Pocket Knife

Note: Pre-packaged snow observation kits sold in backcountry ski shops often have thermometers in °F, rulers in inches, white crystal cards that are difficult to see clear snow grains and magnifiers that are narrow, overpowered and difficult to see multiple grains or to identify grain size and type. Please take the extra effort to purchase standard magnifiers (available in photo shops or linen shops), darker metal crystal cards and 2m rulers. Order from us and we’ll drop ship the right stuff to you.

Please do not show up with undersized notebook. Notebooks used in the course are sometimes provided by the course host.
Weather, Snowpack, and Avalanche Observation and Recording Equipment

Snow saw (approx. 40cm blade). Snow thermometer (graduated in degrees Celsius). Dial stem and/or glass/alcohol types are commonly used. Digital thermometers are acceptable but have limitations for snow profile work.

If you bring thermometers calibrated in degrees Fahrenheit, you will be at a significant disadvantage on the course.