Provided by Utah Avalanche Center
Location: Uinta Mountains
Date: January 2, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM MST
Date: January 3, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM MST
Accredited by the American Avalanche Association, this course meets national standards for avalanche awareness education.
Course Overview
Taking your first steps into the backcountry can feel intimidating, but an on-snow avalanche course is the best way to reduce your risk. The UAC’s motorized-specific Backcountry 101 is designed to teach you the fundamentals of avalanche safety through hands-on learning and real-world application.
This course covers avalanche rescue, snowpack assessment, safe travel protocols, and weather resources used by professionals. Whether it’s your first avalanche course or you’re interested in refreshing your skills with your riding partners, our Motorized Backcountry 101 provides a solid foundation for safer mountain riding.
The course includes a 2-hour classroom session, an 8-hour field day on snow, pre-course work, and access to ongoing learning resources. After enrolling, you’ll gain access to our Student Portal with course materials, avalanche resources, and planning tools. In the classroom, we’ll review your pre-course work and introduce professional planning strategies. In the field, you’ll practice rescue techniques, assess the snowpack through on-the-go observations and snowpit analysis, apply terrain management skills throughout the ride, and more.
Who Should Take this Course?
This course is designed for snowmobilers and snow-bikers taking their first on-snow avalanche class or looking to refresh previous training.
We recommend practicing with your rescue equipment, including transitioning between uphill and downhill modes, switching your transceiver between send and receive, and assembling your probe and shovel, before the course. These skills can be practiced at home or in non-avalanche terrain.
What is Required for this Course?
This introductory-level avalanche course can be your first on-snow avalanche class, but you must bring your own mode of transportation (snowmobile or snow-bike).
Please bring your own avalanche rescue gear (transceiver, shovel, and probe). If you need to borrow any of these items, let us know in advance so we can make arrangements.
Course Goals
- Find and interpret local mountain weather forecasts and avalanche advisory information.
- Recognize signs of instability while in a snowpit and while making on-the-go observations.
- Understand how to use avalanche rescue gear effectively.
- Differentiate avalanche terrain from non-avalanche terrain.
- Develop a fundamental process to manage risk for backcountry travel.
Cancellation Policy
Our cancellation policy can be found here. If you have any questions, please email education@utahavalanchecenter.org
Winter Weather and Avalanche Hazard Policy
In the event of extreme winter weather and/or dangerous avalanche conditions, the UAC reserves the right to reschedule courses to maintain the safety of our students and instructors. If a course needs to be rescheduled, we will work with students to find the best rescheduled date and refund students who are unable to attend.