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American Avalanche Institute
Pro 1
Niseko Japan 
2025 - 2026

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This winter season of 2025-2026, we are excited to offer the Pro1 course in NISEKO, which is the Avalanche Pro 1 course from the American Avalanche Institute. If you're eager to expand your understanding and abilities in avalanche safety, feel free to reach out to us to book your spot and verify if you fulfill the course prerequisites. This program is organized in collaboration with the AAI (American Avalanche Institute). As spaces are limited, we encourage you to contact us promptly.

 

This course is set to occur on two distinct occasions:

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- 14th-19th December 2025 : Course Full

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-14th-19th March 2026 : 290,000JPY

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This course is designed for avalanche workers early in their careers, or for experienced workers wanting to stay current with industry standards. The focus of this course is to prepare students to be contributing members of a risk management team by developing observational skills, as well as communication and rescue skills.  During this course, we will focus on developing systems for planning and executing a route, as well as for evaluating snow stability.  The goal of this course is to help students become skilled observers who will contribute to a professional team.

This is a pass/fail course.

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Student Requirements for Enrollment: 

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1) Course applicants have completed both the following A3-recognized courses prior to enrollment

  • Recreational Level 1 Avalanche Training

  • Avalanche Rescue (to be complete before the start of the Pro1 Course, on inquiry only 15,000JPY. We will be running the rescue course in the morning of the 1st day)

Applicants who believe they have the educational equivalent of the above-listed prerequisites can apply to the Pro Course Provider of their choice for a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) review. Course enrollment in these situations is at the discretion of the Pro Course Provider.

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2) One winter season (20 days or more) of relevant experience (demonstrated through one of the following).

  • Prior avalanche work experience; OR

  • A supervised unpaid work internship in the guiding/avalanche industry supported by a letter of reference; OR

  • A3 Professional Membership

 

3) Winter backcountry travel experience supported by documented trip planning and recorded field observations that contributed to avalanche hazard assessment and personal avalanche risk management.

*Prerequisites will be assessed after payment is made. If you do not meet the prerequisites you will be refunded the cost of the course minus a 10% assessment fee.

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Prerequisites:

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Proof of payment of A3 Pro Course Student Fee required.

Have questions on the pro/rec split? See pro/rec frequently asked questions page for more details, including a visual of the course progression.

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See prerequisites 1-3 above.​

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Curriculum: 

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Students will practice and be evaluated on the following skills:

  • Small party avalanche rescue response

  • Weather station observations

  • Use of morning and evening stability worksheets

  • Communication of the avalanche risk to team members

  • Assess and analyze avalanche terrain

  • Group management in terrain appropriate for the avalanche problem

  • Snow pit site selection

  • Dig and analyze a snowpit, including weak layer identification and stability tests

  • Observation and documentation of snowpack, weather and avalanches

 

 

Sample Itinerary:

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Day 1: Rescue course; 7:30-3:30 (for those who don't have it yet)

  • 7:30 Meet @ course location

  • 3:30 End of Rescue course

 

Intro Evening Zoom Meeting; 6pm – 8pm

  • 6:00 – Course Intro, Goals, Expectations, Logistics for tomorrow and beyond, Q&A

  • 8:00 – End of Day

 

Day 2: Field Day; 7:30am – 5pm

  • 7:30 – Meet @ trailhead, Morning Avalanche Hazard Assessment, Instructor model AM Meeting

  • 8:00 – Field Session

    • Instructor Demo – Weather Plot Observation

    • Instructor Demo – Snow Pit construction and test review

    • Rescue Test –  Probe strike and excavation 

      • Concurrent student-led snow pit practice and weather station

  • 1:30 Classroom Session

    • AM/PM sheet expectations, examples and AM hazard meeting Assignments

    • Season History

    • Q & A from Pre-Course work

    • Plan For Tomorrow – Logistics, routes, expectations

  • 5:00 End of Day

Homework – Complete PM Sheet, Prepare AM Sheet, Review Route Planning Example

 

Day 3: Field Day; 7:30am – 5pm

  • 7:30 – Meet @ trailhead, Morning Avalanche Hazard Assessment (Student-Led), Using a Checklist

  • 8:00 – Field Session – Small Groups Rotation 1, Full Profile Instructor Demo, Student Full Profile practice, Grain ID coaching, Avy Path ID Exercise, Travel, Ongoing Snow/Wx Obs/Doc, Test Pit Demo

  • 4:00 – Field session Ends, Debrief , Groups share tour Obs, consolidate for PM form, Introduce Routes/Logistics for Day 3

  • 5:00 End of Day

Homework – PM Form, Prep for AM Form, Avy Path ID Exercise, Route-plan for tomorrow.

 

Day 4: Field Day; 7:30am – 5:00pm

  • 7:30 – Meet @ trailhead, Morning Hazard Assessment, Student-Led Multi Elev/Aspect Tour, Test/Test plus pits, Gathering of Obs, Use of Checklist, Avy terrain ID, Group management, etc

  • 2:00 – Meet @ Classroom, Debrief Groups present concise statement re. Obs from tour ,Q & A, Objectives and goals, building tomorrow’s tour plan

  • 5:00 – End of Day

Homework: AM/PM Form, Tour Plan, Upload Photos of Field Book and Avy Path ID Exercise Worksheet

 

Day 5: Field Day; 7:30am – 5:00pm

  • 7:30 – Meet @ Trailhead, Morning Hazard Assessment – Student-Led, Student Led Multi Elev/Aspect Tour, Terrain and Group Management, Ongoing Obs – Pits, Weather, Avalanche, Human, Full Profile practice, Communicating precise and pertinent obs

  • 4:00 – Trailhead Debrief, Share/Consolidate obs, What would you share with your local avalanche center discussion, Day 5 Logistics

  • 5:00 End of Day

Homework: Study for exam day, Upload Best AM Form, Best PM Form, Any missing docs

 

Day 6: Field Day; 7:30am – 5:00pm

  • 7:30 – Meet at Trailhead, Study Profile Exam, Weather Plot Obs Exam

  • 12:00 – Field Session ends

  • 1:00 – Written Exam online (including Avalanche videos)

  • 2:30 – Written Exam Done— Review

  • 3:00 – Debrief

  • 3:30 – Course Close

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Pro 1 Course Price Includes:

  • Professional instruction

  • Course workbooks

  • Online/classroom and field instruction

  • This avalanche course is eligible for College Credit.

 

Pro 1 Course Price Excludes:

  • A3 Pro Course Student Fee

  • Avalanche Rescue Course

  • Transportation to and from the trailhead

  • Personal gear

  • Avalanche rescue gear

  • Food

  • Lodging

  • Clothing, backpack and personal items

  • Skiing / Splitboarding Equipment

  • Rescue Insurance / Fees

  • Trip Insurance

  • Expenses due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of American Avalanche Institute

 

 

**For more information, equipment list and details please refer to the AAI website

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