Avalanche Skills PLUS Courses
Have you taken an AST 2 and wonder what is next? This is the course for you. Two days of touring with one of the most experienced avalanche instructors in Canada will build on the observation, terrain, snowpack, and decision-making skills introduced on the AST programme. This is appropriate training for anyone who has toured in the backcountry for a few seasons and is looking to add to their experience base.
Create confidence in your decisions
My 35 years of experience includes working as an avalanche forecaster, heli-ski guide, and ski touring guide in the Rockies, Columbia Mountains, and Coast Ranges. I taught on the Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1, 2, and 3 courses for over 20 years and was an instructor for the ACMG Mountain and Ski Guide programme for 15 years. This background, combined with completing professional-level instructor training courses, has given me a unique perspective on how to teach risk-based decision making.
The course focuses on modern methods of risk assessment and management. We will utilize decision making frameworks that help students make consistent choices in avalanche terrain. This structured approach will help give you confidence in the backcountry.
Choose terrain appropriate for the conditions
Our touring days start with an in-depth morning meeting that assesses snow and weather conditions before choosing a tour appropriate for the conditions.
In the field we constantly re-evaluate by recognizing decision points throughout the day and making observations of weather and snowpack, which leads to choosing terrain that reduces our risk.
An end of the day debrief helps us reflect on the hazards we were exposed to, and whether the trip met our expectations in terms of the group’s risk tolerance.
Pre-requisites
Although having completed an AST 2 previously is recommended, it is not required for this course. If you are experienced in the backcountry and have participated in about 20 tours in 2 or more seasons then you may attend this course. Although tours are often shorter, you should be fit enough to complete a 15 km round trip with up to 1300 m elevation gain. You need to be dialled in with your equipment and be able to confidently ski/board downhill in variable backcountry snow in expert terrain.
Please participate in at least one scenario-based avalanche rescue practice with some friends before attending the course.
Student:Instructor Ratio
8:1. This ratio helps with inspiring discussion amongst the group, allows for a wide variety of viewpoints to be expressed, and helps you find future touring partners!
Dates and Pricing
We do not have any courses scheduled for this season. Contact me if you have a group and would like to organize a private course.