Avalanche Skills Training 2 – Canmore/Calgary (AST 2)

Date Price Prerequisites Certification Location Meeting Time & Place Agenda Guides & Group Size Transportation Accommodation & Meals Gear & Clothing Insurance Booking Information

Avalanche is the greatest hazard facing the backcountry skier. To fully enjoy backcountry skiing it's crucial to be able to understand the phenomena, to recognize the terrain where avalanches occur and to be able to find routes that minimize risk.
If you're a serious back country skier or winter mountaineer wishing to build a solid knowledge base so as to safely expand your back country horizons then this is the course for you. It will be a valuable investment in your mountain safety!

It's very much a 'hands-on' program featuring extensive practical field experience augmented with evening theory sessions. The curriculum is designed to give a solid grounding in the essentials; the instructors are guides seasoned in touring, heliskiing and forecasting. This program is suitable for those with little or no prior avalanche training!

This course is designed for those based in Calgary, Edmonton or the Bow Valley. It incorporates our existing Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST 1) course plus a 3-day session held on a subsequent weekend. It is ideal for those with limited time options.

If coming from further away we also offer a five day Advanced Avalanche (AST 2) course based at Rogers Pass which is good for those wanting to do the course at one shot in a really exciting area. Contact us for details or check on our website.

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COURSE DETAILS

2010 Dates

This program will happen in 2 sections, first you will need to take a Yamnuska AST 1 course. These happen most weekends starting late November. Dates

You then need to sign up for the second Section which is for 3 consecutive days running either:

January 9 - 11
February 13 - 15 (Family Day Long Weekend)
March 13 - 15

Price

$395 CDN includes 3 days of instruction, books and use of safety and snow study equipment. A certificate will be issued on successful completion. GST is extra. Cancellation Insurance can be purchased for an additional $25. Please note: the AST 1 course is an additional $145 CDN, for a total cost of $540 CDN.

To be eligible for the AST 2 certificate participants must first register and successfully complete a Yamnuska AST 1 offered between November 2009 and February 2010. It is a requirement of the AST 2 certificate course that all training take place in the same season. If you have taken an AST 1 course prior to this season you may still attend this program but you will not be able to get the AST 2 certificate. Please contact our office if you have any questions.

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More training & skiing: Yamnuska Guides and Instructors are also available for private training and ski tours after the program ... details .

Prerequisites

Advanced intermediate skier/split boarder with high level of aerobic fitness. Previous avalanche training required (AST 1 or equivalent). To receive your AST 2 certificate you must have taken an AST 1 in the same season.

Certification

This program follows course guidelines established by the Canadian Avalanche Centre AST 2 (previously ARAC). Certificates will be issued to eligible participants who complete the program.

Fresh avalanche at Bow Summit, Avalanche Course in the Canadian Rockies

Fresh avalanche near Bow Summit

Location

The AST 1 sections start in either Calgary or Canmore: details

The second section will be based from the Canmore office of Yamnuska. From there we will make daytrips, mainly to adjacent areas in the Canadian Rockies in Kananaskis and Banff National Park.

AST 2 Meeting Times and Place

AST 1 course as per info for that course: details

Second section starts at the Yamnuska Office in Canmore at 8.00am on the first day. Please arrive dressed for the outdoors. Map

Curriculum

Considerable flexibility is built into the course delivery. Snow and weather conditions may dictate the order of presentation to some degree. Key topics will be constantly revisited during the program.

Topics Include:

Avalanche phenomena and theory
Avalanche terrain recognition
Avalanche transceiver use
Avalanche emergency response
Proper back country travel preparation
Safe decision making
Route finding in avalanche terrain
Safe 'test' skiing
Snow metamorphism
Snow stability analysis
Snow profiles, 'Rutsch blocks'
'Shovel' tests and additional field tests
Use of avalanche 'danger scale' and other information gathered by professionals
Weather, terrain and the snow pack
Weather, snow pack and avalanche activity observations

Course Agenda

Day 1 & 2: As per AST 1 course outline. D etails

Day 3 - 5: Each day there will be a field trip to local areas. Destinations will be decided on weather and snow conditions. Lectures will be held at the Yamnuska office on Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday nights.

Snow Study Pit

Instructors & Group Size

We are very proud of the instructors who teach our avalanche courses. They are full-time senior mountain guides who hold certification from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and the Canadian Avalanche Association. Most courses will be limited to 16 participants. There is a maximum of one instructor per 8 participants.

Instructors include:

Dave Stark : Director of Operations for Yamnuska, mountain guide and professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association with close to thirty years in the field.

Jesse de Montigny: Ski guide and professional member of the CAA. Jesse is the Assistant Direct of Operations at Yamnuska.

Steve Blagbrough: Mountain guide and professional member of the CAA. Experience in Canada, Europe and Scotland. Steve is a senior guide at Yamnuska.

Grant Meekins: Alpine guide, certified teacher and professional member of the CAA. Grant is a senior guide at Yamnuska.

Transportation

To keep prices down participants are responsible for their own transport to Canmore and during the program. Canmore is a 1hour (100km) drive west from Calgary.

If you are flying from afar for the program we suggest that you rent a car for your visit. In addition to getting you to the program locations it will allow you to explore our region a bit after program hours. For example you can visit Banff and enjoy the hot pools and sample the numerous restaurants. If you want we can put other participants in touch with you who may be interested in sharing the cost of a rental car or who may be willing to use their vehicles in a car pool.

When booking please indicate if you are bringing a vehicle and, if so, whether your are willing or not to give other participants or instructors a ride in a car pool. If you are not driving here please indicate if you'd be willing to share the cost of a rental car or if you would prefer to car pool.

Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore. Greyhound Bus Lines (1 800 661 8747) serves Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway. Call 609 0300, 609 1490 or 609 8897 for taxis in Canmore.

Accommodation and Meals

These are your responsibility. There are lots of options available including hostels, B'n'Bs, motels and hotels! Check accommodation options on our links page for our recommendations. The Alpine Club Clubhouse (403 678 3200) is a good hostel here in Canmore with good facilities and reasonable prices.

Food is not supplied. You will need lunch and something to drink each day. Each day bring plenty to drink and a lunch plus energy snacks. We particularly suggest bringing a Thermos and hot drink.

Equipment & Clothing

You will need to bring your own clothing, skis (snowboard), poles, climbing skins and backpack. We supply textbook, snow study equipment, avalanche beacons and other group safety items.

The equipment and clothing you bring to this course will have a big impact on the quality of your experience. Please be sure to bring all items listed. If unsure about anything please don't hesitate to call and ask us!

Skis & Boards

There are two ski systems you can use: System 1 '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. System 2 '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 other.

Snow Boards can be used on this program. If 'boarding' you need to be an advanced boarder and you need to be on a splitboard. Don't bring a board if you've never boarded in the backcountry before. Remember in the backcountry there do tend to be lots of 'flats'.

Rutschblock Test for Snowpack Stability

Equipment List

You need to bring:

Skis / Split Board If skis, either 'Alpine Touring' or Telemark. We recommend a short (160 - 185cm) wide ski designed for powder.
Climbing skins 'Stick-on type'
Ski Poles
Ski/board boots
Daypack (large enough for spare clothes, lunch & equipment)
Shovel (lightweight snow shovel)
Sunglasses and ski goggles
Thermos flask and/or water bottle (full!)
Sun cream
Pocket knife
Small Blister & 1ST-Aid Kit (�moleskin�, plasters & Tylenol is enough)

Optional Equipment

Yamnuska supplies but feel free to bring anyway:

Avalanche beacon
Collapsible Avalanche Probe
Snow Study Kit

Clothing List

There can be prolonged periods of inactivity in very cold temperatures on the field days. Don't be afraid to bring too much! We suggest bringing light clothing of varying thicknesses that can be 'layered' to achieve comfort and versatility. The most important consideration for clothing is the ability to regulate temperature as you change from periods of activity to periods of rest. We discourage cotton clothing as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.

Polypro underwear (top & bottom)
Warm pants (pref. insulated or fleece)
Warm shirt (not cotton)
Fleece Jacket (heavyweight)
Insulated jacket or vest
Waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or nylon)
Waterproof pants (Gore-Tex or nylon)
Socks (wool outer & polypro liner), several sets
Wool or fleece hat
Waterproof gloves &/or mitts
Neck tube
Gaiters, only needed if your ski pants are not elasticized at the ankle
Sunhat

Rental Information

Skis, Boots, Boards, Skins & poles can be rented from:

Canmore: Gear Up - (403 678-1636)
Banff: Mountain Magic - 224 Bear St. (Tel: 403 762-2591)
Calgary: M.E.C. - 830-10 Ave. S.W. Calgary (Tel: 403 363-0122)

Ripping some powder turns in the Backcountry

Skiing Fresh Powder Lines in the Backcountry!

Insurance

There is no charge for rescue so long as you have a valid National Park Entry Pass which you can obtain on entry to Banff National Park (cost c. $9). It is wise, though to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra coverage if necessary.

Booking Information

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require full payment on registration. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest you take our cancellation insurance for an extra non-refundable $25, this must accompany your deposit.

For detailed booking instructions and conditions, click here.

Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the course. Please view our sample waiver copy.