Avalanche Skills – AST 1
Learn Essential Winter Safety Tips for Avalanche Terrain
Planning to explore the backcountry this winter or venture out of bounds? It’s crucial to understand the fundamentals of backcountry skiing and avalanche safety. Enroll in our AST 1 course to learn how to recognize avalanche-prone terrain, employ effective mitigation techniques, interpret snowpack data, and adapt to changing conditions. This training will boost your confidence to avoid avalanches, select safe slopes, and enjoy winter adventures with friends.
Our 2-day introductory course is held in Nelson, BC, and adheres to Avalanche Canada’s standards and objectives. For more course details, continue browsing below. Plus, check out a review by Backcountry Skiing Canada for photos and insights from previous participants.
Students must complete roughly 2 hours of interactive online learning before attending the AST 1.
Day 1: Half classroom, half field day. We will spend the morning discussing and watching videos on topics like: avalanche hazard recognition, terminology & mechanics, mountain weather, snow pack structure & basic terrain evaluation. We will also sign a liability waiver and do a gear check. We will spend the afternoon outside doing avalanche rescue practices, terrain recognition and navigation.
Day 2: Full backcountry day. The group will meet at 7:30am and drive to a ski touring destinations to be established in the West Kootenay backcountry. During the days, we will spend 8hrs outside. We will focus on learning and practicing skills like: avalanche terrain evaluation, mountain hazard assessment, safe route finding techniques, snow pack analysis and snow testing techniques.
Students will receive a CAA certificate and personal feedback before course end
Intermediate backcountry skiing or boarding ability (touring equipment, snow board & snowshoes or split board required).
Pre-read Backcountry Avalanche Awareness by Bruce Jamieson
Previous avalanche training useful but not required. Students must be intermediate to advanced resort riders. Students are responsible to self evaluate their skills as groups need to be matched together based on prior experience and ability. Please contact us to discuss your background and what kind of course would suit you best.
This course is based in Nelson BC. Field days will occur in the Selkirks Mtns, the local backcountry near Nelson. Details will be given to participants before course start. For a list of possible venues click Nelson Classics. Feel free to contact us for more information.
Kootenay weather can vary drastically. In winter you expect temperatures to be from -15C to –5C in the day while in spring daily temperatures could rise well above zero. Visibility may be poor or whiteout conditions when snowing heavily or clear on bluebird days. Ensure you are dressed for all variations as temperatures, wind, precipitation can change within the day.
What’s included:
- Pre-trip planning support
- Certified ACMG, IFMGA and/or CAA instructor
- AST 1 class notes
- Avaluator™ Trip Planner
- Avalanche Skills Training Handbook
- Group safety equipment (communication device, rescue kit, first aid supplies, GPS, maps)
Not included in price:
- Lunch, snacks
- GST 5% tax
- optional field book: Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain
- Personal ski touring boots, skis, skins or splitboard
- personal avalanche safety equipment *SMG rentals available $60/day for complete set or beacon ($30), shovel ($15) & probe ($15)
- Transportation to touring locations
- Trip cancellation, adventure travel insurance, rescue & medical insurance
Where can I rent Ski touring and safety equipment?
Here are a few outdoor stores in Nelson that supply good service and quality outdoor equipment and gear rental, please ensure you rent gear well in advance.
Rivers Oceans and Mountains phone 250-354-2056
Valhalla Pure Outfitters phone 250-354-1006
Gericks phone 250-354-4622
Is Touring Equipment Required?
Touring equipment is strongly recommended; touring skis or split-boards. That said, on our AST1 courses, we accept folks on snowshoes. Downhill skiing or snowboarding is required.
Digital vs Analog Transceiver?
What kind of transceiver can I use? If you are interested in touring in the back country with friends or take one of our courses, it is very important to get a modern “triple antenna digital beacon”. The analog beacons are functional however, they are limiting and a thing of the past. We ask participants to ensure that they have a digital transceiver for the course.
For recreational skiers and boarders, we suggest the following beacons: Baryvox, Ortovox, Peeps, or Tracker. For people that are moving towards working in the ski industry a more professional “more advanced” beacons is recommended, such as Baryvox “S”, Ortovox “3+”, Tracker “S”, or Peeps “Guide”.
Skis, Telemark or Split Boards?
Which should you use? If you are a downhill skier then you should use Alpine Touring gear. Only if you are already an advanced Telemark skier or Snowboarder should you bring Telemark or Split Board gear. All types of gear can be rented in Nelson prior to your day trip. There are three types of backcountry systems you can use:
Alpine Touring skis are essentially downhill skis with a special touring binding which allows the heel to lift whilst going uphill or across the flats and then ‘locks down’ to become a regular downhill safety binding. We recommend this system to anyone with a background of downhill skiing who is not already an advanced telemark skier.
Telemark skis. These should only be used for this program if you are at least an advanced-intermediate telemark skier with some backcountry experience. This system is more difficult and less forgiving than the others.
Snowboarding with a Split Board is the most effective way to snowboard in the back country. We recommend this system to advanced snowboarder over snowshoeing.
