AIARE Level 1 avalanche education at Downing Mountain Lodge

Posted on 09/18/2014 by JohnLehrman

AIARE Avalanche Education and Downing Mountain Lodge- sign up online at avytraining.com/courses.html

AIARE Level 1 Avalanche classes January 18-20 and Jan 22-24, 2016- taught by Avalanche Education Specialists Call George D’Angelo directly for information and reservations 406-838-6617 or email avalanche.education@gmail.com. All inclusive hut based course price including Level 1 certification- $475

We are pleased to be in our third year partnership with Avalanche Education Specialists, offering level 1 AIARE avalanche classes based at Downing Mountain Lodge, near Hamilton, Montana. AIARE is the leading provider of curriculum based avalanche classes and sets the bar for education in this field of study. Suitable for the winter recreationist looking for a solid introduction to avalanche education or the aspiring avalanche forecaster or backcountry ski guide, this course is the primer on which all other avalanche education is based. George D’Angelo has years of experience skiing in the Missoula area as well as in central Idaho where he has taught yurt based classes in the Sawtooths. Michael Hatch has also led and taught classes in the Sawtooth Range and elsewhere and is a certified Level 1 and Level 2 Course Leader from Enterprise, Oregon.

To sign up for Level 1 AIARE classes please contact George D’Angelo directly at avalanche.education@gmail.com or by phone 406-838-6617. Sign up online at avytraining.com/courses.html

These two 24 hour courses will lay the groundwork for winter backcountry enthusiasts to travel safely, securely and enjoyably. With two nights lodging at Downing Mountain Lodge and three days spent studying snowpack, assessing terrain, and skiing at Downing Mountain, it will be a great week of education and enjoyment. The price for joining one of the classes is $475. We have a limited number of spots available on this hut based course and the price includes Level 1 certification, instruction and materials, lodging and all meals. We look forward to this second season of avalanche education and being able to provide the highest quality training for our guests and the backcountry community.

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January 6, 2014 Downing Mountain Backcountry

Posted on 01/07/2014 by JohnLehrman


With a foot of fresh on the upper mountain and 2-3″ at the lodge, we skied up Downing Mountain on the beautiful high pressure day of Jan 6, 2014. What a great day of skinning in the sunshine chatting and enjoying the forest, followed by some high quality powder skiing on the Crown Bowl always a highlight to ski. With 3-5 feet of snow on the upper mountain and 1-2 feet in the gully, we are running about an average low year. Snow is in the forecast for the next week, bringing a breakdown to the High Pressure off the west coast and the subsequent westerly zonal flow with abundant moisture both subtropical and north pacific. Looks like were in for another good season.

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