Somewhere between packing snacks, triple-checking your gear, and booting up in the cold at the trailhead, trip planning can start to feel optional. We’ve all been there. You meant to read the forecast more closely. You assumed everyone had the same goals. You figured you’d “talk it through in the parking lot.” Life is full — and when time gets tight, it’s tempting to cut corners. In the backcountry, those corners matter. Most incidents aren’t caused by one bad decision. They’

You keep telling yourself, “I’m not ready for AIARE 2.” But what if that doubt is the best reason to take it? This course isn’t about being an expert—it’s about gaining the skills and confidence to make your own backcountry decisions.

Introducing VNTRbirds’ AIARE Course Leader, Mentor, and Backcountry Educator - Janine Prout

As a seasoned backcountry instructor, here are my top 3 reasons why I encourage you to sign up for your first avalanche education course.

This mentorship scholarship opened my eyes to the vast perspectives of what a community can bring to you and the importance of preserving  those spaces. One of the coolest things I was able to experience was the unity of unique, badass women who were brave enough to be curious.

What an incredible weekend! We just wrapped up the 4th Annual VENTURE OUT Femme Backcountry Festival, and

The mystical Snow Snakes were the bane of my existence in those early days on the snow.

The excitement of gearing up for an AIARE 2 hut trip with VNTRbirds was amped up even further by the storm brewing in the mountains.