Avalanche Education at Bell Lake Yurt

There is no skill more important for backcountry skiers and riders than recognizing and assessing avalanche hazard, and using well-gathered information to make safe decisions. Let our team of friendly, experienced avalanche educators help you master the strategies to make the backcountry a rewarding place to play--for an entire lifetime of powder turns. BSBG is an approved American Avalanche Association (A3)avalanche course provider, and all BSBG courses adhere to current A3 guidelines. Learn more about A3 HERE.

Avalanche Rescue Fundamentals

2023/24 Course Registration is Open!

(Click Date to Register)

1 Day Field Session

$150/person

5.) February 25, 2024 (NEW SESSION! 6 Spots Left!)

Contact us about private Rescue Fundamentals Courses! We’d be happy to put together a day of rescue for you and your ski partners.

Avalanche rescue is the most critical skill we hope you never need to use. But if you do, having the knowledge, skill, and confidence to execute an effective rescue can be the difference between life and death. Avalanche Rescue Fundamentals is an intensive, one day course that will take place 100% in the field. It adheres to American Avalanche Association guidelines for the 8-hour Avalanche Rescue course.

This course is a pre-requisite for the Professional Level 1 course, and recommended for anyone who travels in the backcountry.

Course is located just south of Big Sky, Montana. We will meet in Big Sky and carpool to the location as a group.

  • Rescue Fundamentals Learning Outcomes

    • Survival Strategies: priorities & actions to take if involved in an avalanche (as a victim or responder)

    • Transciever techniques: Single burial and multiple burial strategies

    • Strategic shoveling alone and in a team

    • Locating burials without beacons

    • Likely medical issues to anticipate once buried victims are excavated

    • How to request EMS resources and what to expect with larger ICS responses

    • Use and care of airbags & other tools

Important Payment and Booking Info

  • Courses and camps require full payment at time of booking.

  • Courses are non refundable, unless your position in the class can be filled. An $80 administrative fee will be assessed to all refunds.

  • Payments may be made via MasterCard or Visa--sorry, checks are no longer accepted. Rates do not include 4% CC processing fee or guide gratuity.

  • Booking any BSBG experience is an explicit acknowledgement and acceptance of all BSBG policies and procedures.