Education

Learn to read the mountain.

Free awareness talks, hands-on rescue practice, a yearly workshop, courses with local providers and scholarships that help riders get formal training.

Upcoming sessions Reading the forecast

COAC programs

Start here — most of it is free.

Free

Know Before You Go

A short avalanche awareness talk for anyone heading into the winter backcountry: riders, snowshoers, sledders, schools and clubs. Ask us to bring one to your group.

Book a talk Hands-on

Beacon & Eggs

Companion-rescue practice with COAC: beacon searches, probing and strategic shoveling, then breakfast.

See dates Every November

Bend Snow & Avalanche Workshop

A full day of talks from forecasters, researchers and guides to start the season at Central Oregon Community College.

Get tickets

Course pathway

Where to go next.

011–2 hours · free

Awareness

Know Before You Go, or Avalanche Aware online. Avalanche terrain, the forecast and rescue gear.

021 day

Avalanche Rescue

Companion rescue: beacon search, probing, strategic shoveling and scenarios.

033 days

Level 1

Plan and travel in avalanche terrain as a group, with field days in the Cascades.

043 days

Level 2

Deeper snowpack observation and leading trips in more complex terrain.

Local course providers

Take a course near Bend.

Recognized providers teaching in Central Oregon and nearby. Courses and dates are theirs; book with them directly.

AIARE provider

Oregon Ski Guides

Avalanche Skills Clinic, AIARE Level 1, AIARE Avalanche Rescue and AIARE Level 2. Bend, Sisters, La Pine and Mt. Hood.

Courses AIARE provider

Three Sisters Backcountry

Avalanche Awareness, AIARE Level 1 and AIARE Level 2, based at their huts. Bend, Sisters and La Pine.

Courses A3 recognized provider

Ullr Backcountry

Avalanche Awareness, Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue. Bend, Sisters and La Pine. Students (high school, college or graduate) get $100 off.

Courses A3 recognized provider

SWS Mountain Guides

Avalanche Awareness, Level 1, Level 2, Avalanche Rescue and Professional Level 1. Diamond Lake and Mt. Shasta.

Courses College credit

Central Oregon Community College

Level 1 and Level 2 avalanche courses through the college. Bend, Sisters and La Pine.

Catalog

Learn online

Free

Avalanche Aware

A free first step for anyone heading into snowy mountains, built by AIARE, the Northwest Avalanche Center and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Start Free

Know Before You Go online

Interactive lessons to take any time: a primer before an on-snow course, or a refresher.

Start

Can't afford a course? Apply for a scholarship.

The Alex Kollar & Jillian Webster Memorial Scholarship puts riders through Level 1 and rescue courses every winter.

About the scholarship