Sandpoint, Idaho
In an effort to increase opportunities for backcountry skiers and riders to undertake state of the art backcountry travel learning opportunities in the American Selkirks, Selkirk Powder Guides (SPG) has joined the national team of the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) providers for the 20/21 season. Established in 2003, and known primarily for cat skiing, SPG has been working for over four years with a seasoned group of internal guides on the certifications and accreditations necessary to attain the “Provider” status. Class registration is available immediately.
“Selkirk Powder Guides is excited to undertake their first season of avalanche courses as an AIARE provider,” said Ken Barrett, co-founder of Selkirk Powder Guides. “Kevin Stolbrock, our AIARE Programs Manager, and our guide team come with over a century of collective backcountry experience. They have been working extremely hard at achieving their credentials to teach the AIARE curriculum. It’s going to be wonderful to watch them teach what they truly love to do!”
AIARE is a nonprofit educational organization with a mission of “saving lives through avalanche education.” Serving over 100 providers in the US, South America, Europe and Asia, AIARE develops research-based avalanche education curriculum and implements ongoing training and certification for course instructors and providers. AIARE curriculum offers courses to serve all levels, from recreational to professional and from novice to advanced, and they are built in accordance with national and international standards developed by the American Avalanche Association (AAA) and the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA).
Selkirk Powder Guides, based out of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, has been serving up snowy adventures in the Selkirk Mountains since 2003 by way of cat and heli-skiing adventures, self-propelled and snowmobile-assisted alpine ski tours, and snowmobile adventures as a certified Polaris Adventures Outfitter. Beginning in December 2020, SPG will offer AIARE Rescue and AIARE 1 and 2 courses. The SPG team will be available for custom courses as well. For course dates or more info, visit Selkirkpowder.com.