Avalanche Education

on-snow, in-snow, know snow

A skier in a blue jacket and black gloves skiing down a snowy slope, kicking up a snow cloud.
Badge with the logo of the American Avalanche Association, recognizing a Level 1 Rescue Provider.

Montana Mountaineering Association is a recognized avalanche course provider from the American Avalanche Association. We offer A3 recognized Recreation Level 1 and Rescue Fundamentals courses in the Bozeman area. Whether you are just starting backcountry skiing/snowboarding, looking for a course refresher for the upcoming season, or taking pre-requisites for future avalanche courses, a course with MMA will get you on, and in, the snow.

Our courses emphasize in-person classroom and field time and are focused on giving tools for decision-making and risk assessment in the backcountry. We’re recognized by A3, the American Avalanche Association, as a qualified course provider. Our courses follow national curriculum standards and are taught by instructors who meet A3 qualification requirements. To learn more about A3, either visit their website or see the FAQ below.

If you’re looking for continuing avalanche education for yourself or a group, check out our Custom Rescue Seminar or ask about a day of Custom Backcountry Skiing for specific goals and training.

Course costs:

  • Recreation Level 1: $515/person (Pay what you can pricing)

  • Rescue Fundamentals: $180.25/person (Pay what you can pricing)

A Recreation Level 1 avalanche program costs $2463 to run. This cost covers nationally competitive guide wages, payroll fees and workers comp insurance; program insurance; equipment upkeep and replacement; and public land user day fees; and helps support additional programs like free community clinics, the Junior Mountaineering Team, and Touch the Sky. If you are able to afford the full cost of a course, we appreciate your support. If the full cost of either a Recreation Level 1 or Rescue Fundamentals course is a barrier, you can use one of the following codes to adjust pricing as needed based on your financial situation.

  • 25% off - PWYC25

  • 50% off - PWYC50

  • 75% off - PWYC75

Open enrollment courses require a minimum of 3 participants to run. All avalanche courses can be booked as a custom private experience. Contact us for details

A skier in a green jacket and black pants skiing down a snowy slope, creating a spray of snow behind them.

Rec Level 1 dates:

  • December 19-21, 2025

  • January 2-4, 2025

  • February 6-8, 2025

  • March 6-8, 2025

Rescue Fundamentals dates:

  • December 22

  • January 1

  • January 17

  • January 18

  • February 5

  • March 9

Custom Rescue Seminar available dates:

  • January 23, 2026

  • January 25, 2026

  • February 22, 2026

  • Our courses are run in Yellowstone National Park, Hyalite Canyon, the Bridger Range, and Bear Canyon ski hill. If you are traveling from outside of the Gallatin Valley/Bozeman area, we strongly recommend finding lodging in Bozeman for the night(s) of your course

    Exact course locations (trailhead, backcountry runs utilized, etc) will depend on snowpack and weather.

  • 24 hours of course work

    4 hours of on-line pre-course work (link emailed 2 weeks prior to course dates)

    Night 1 - 6:00-8:00pm: in-person classroom session at Uphill Pursuits

    Day 2: 8:00am-5:00pm: Field session (location varies)

    Day 3: 8:00am-5:00pm: Field session (location varies)

  • 8 hours course work

    8:00am-4:00pm - Field session (location varies)

  • Equipment list for avalanche courses: Required equipment

    Yurt based avalanche course: Required Equipment

  • Recreation Level 1

    Rescue Fundamentals

    Yurt based Recreation Level 1

  • Recreation Level 1:

    • No formal educational prerequisites

    • Ability to keep self warm, dry, and energized for a full field day (8 hours)

    • Ability to safely descend ungroomed snow slopes up to ~30° on alpine touring or telemark skis, or a splitboard - this is a backcountry ski course and students should expect a variety of snow conditions. You WILL get more out of this course if you are able to safely descend variable snow on up to 30° slopes!

    • Participants are encouraged to have a solid base of winter backcountry travel skills:

    • Knowledge of and practice using backcountry touring equipment including touring bindings/boots, and climbing ski use

    • Basic first aid awareness

    • Avalanche awareness course is recommended, but not required

    • Pre-course reading material (4 hours worth of reading and online course material)

    Rescue Fundamentals:

    • All participants must have a basic understanding of winter backcountry travel and avalanche awareness. Completion of an AAA Rec Level 1 course is recommended but not required

    • No prior backcountry skiing/snowboarding experience is required. It is recommended that participants be familiar with their chosen method of travel (ski/splitboard)

  • The American Avalanche Association is the national accrediting body for all avalanche education in the United States. In order to be recognized as course providers, educators (like MMA) complete an application, including a self-evaluation of their curriculum’s adherence to A3 guidelines and course syllabi for each listed course. Applications are reviewed by the A3 Course Provider Review Committee. Listing qualified course providers allows the public to connect with local, consistent, high-quality avalanche educational resources and opportunities.

    What this means is that completion of an MMA Rescue Fundamentals or Recreation Level 1 avalanche course is transferrable to another A3 recognized provider for continuing education. Whether you’re choosing to take a Recreation Level 2 or Pro 1 course, your avalanche education through MMA will qualify as a pre-requisite at another provider.

    As an A3 recognized provider, MMA pays a $5/student fee to A3 to help cover the cost of curriculum review and program administration at the national level. This $5/student cost is included in the total cost of your MMA course.