AIARE Level 1 Motorized
Recreational
AIARE 1 Motorized
Avalanche Education For Snowmobilers
The Motorized AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course is a three-day, hands-on training designed to teach riders how to use proven decision-making tools to manage risk while traveling in avalanche terrain.
The course begins with 8 hours of classroom instruction in downtown Leadville, Colorado, followed by two full days of field training in the San Isabel National Forest, where participants apply industry-standard avalanche safety practices to identify terrain hazards, manage groups, and make safer backcountry travel decisions.
Location: Leadville, CO
Course Length: 3-days (1 day in classroom + 2 days in the field)
Cost: $650 per person
AIARE Level 1: Motorized Avalanche Course
Learn to “send it” farther and safer in Colorado’s winter backcountry.
The AIARE Level 1 Motorized Avalanche Course from Powder Pro Lab is a three-day, hands-on training that gives snowmobilers and motorized backcountry riders the essential tools to make informed decisions in avalanche terrain.
As an A3 Recognized Provider and certified AIARE Motorized Provider, Powder Pro Lab’s courses meet the American Avalanche Association’s national standards for avalanche education, instructor qualifications, and risk management practices.
Our motorized-focused curriculum blends classroom learning, field practice, and real-world riding scenarios to help you identify avalanche terrain, evaluate snowpack stability, manage groups, and make confident backcountry travel decisions.
-
Spend the first day in our Leadville classroom covering avalanche fundamentals, terrain recognition, weather influences, and risk management frameworks.
-
Then, take your knowledge into the mountains. You’ll spend two full days in the San Isabel National Forest, accessing terrain by snowmobile and applying industry-standard motorized avalanche safety practices. Learn to interpret conditions, manage safe travel routes, and use your machine effectively for observation and rescue practice.
Need to Rent a Sled for an Avalanche Course?
AIARE 1 + Snowmobile Rental
This course includes the use of a Ski-Doo Summit or Polaris RMK snowmobile for the two field days, with all machine transportation coordinated by Powder Pro Lab.
Training begins with 8 hours of classroom instruction in downtown Leadville, followed by two full days of backcountry fieldwork in the San Isabel National Forest, where participants apply industry-standard techniques to identify terrain traps, evaluate snowpack stability, and manage groups safely.
Cost: $800 per person, includes snowmobile rental for course-use
-
This course is designed for snowmobilers or snowbikers who access backcountry terrain by machine. No prior avalanche training is required, but participants should be comfortable operating their sled in variable snow and terrain conditions.
-
Powder Pro Lab offers motorized AIARE snowmobile avalanche training courses in Colorado on Cottonwood Pass and Tin Cup Pass near Buena Vista, CO, and the Chalk Creek Area near Leadville, CO. Powder Pro Lab operates by a U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permit in the San Isabel National Forest. Our backcountry snowmobile skills classes, snowmobile avalanche safety classes, and AIARE hybrid backcountry access classes are located outside of Leadville, CO and Buena Vista, CO.
-
Yes! We are proud to be a certified AIARE Motorized Provider, which means our avalanche education and backcountry safety courses meet the standards set by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) and American Avalanche Association (A3), specifically for motorized equipment users.
-
No prior avalanche education is required. AIARE Level 1 Motorized is the first step in the avalanche education progression and a prerequisite for AIARE Level 2 or professional-level training.
-
The motorized course focuses on sled-based travel and decision-making, incorporating snowmobile-specific travel techniques, group management, and rescue practice using your machine. The core avalanche principles are the same, but the fieldwork and scenarios are designed for riders.
-
Being an A3 Recognized Provider means Powder Pro Lab meets the national standards set by the American Avalanche Association (A3) for avalanche education. This includes verified curriculum content, qualified instructors, proper land-use permits, and risk management best practices. Our recognition ensures every course we teach — including AIARE Motorized Avalanche Rescue, Level 1, and Level 2 — aligns with A3’s industry-wide standards for quality and consistency.
-
Essential safety gear is provided, including beacon, shovel, and probe. Participants will need to provide their own personal gear, including snowmobiles (unless booking a rental sled for the course) and appropriate winter clothing. Some equipment, including snowmobiles, may be available for course-specific use with an additional equipment fee—please contact us for details and availability.
-
Most riders continue to AIARE Avalanche Rescue (8-hour companion rescue course) or AIARE Level 2 Motorized, which builds on your Level 1 foundation with advanced snowpack analysis and leadership skills.