AST 2

Course Agenda

Please note: For split weekend programs, the classroom session will take place on Day 2. Day 1 will focus on field skills, including companion rescue and snow pit profiling.

Day 1: (At the Yamnuska Classroom in Canmore)

9:30 am

• Introductions, goals and objectives, agenda

Review of AST1 program

• Avalanche phenomena, formation and characteristics of avalanches
• Avalanche Terrain Recognition, introduction to the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale
• Changes in mountain snowpack, snow metamorphism
• Accessing and utilizing the Avalanche Danger Scale and Public Avalanche Bulletins
• Using the Avaluator™ 

12:00 pm – Lunch Break

1:00 pm

• Safe travel and trip planning
• Review of Companion Rescue: A methodical approach
• Avalanche and backcountry safety gear
• Gear check
•  Transceiver review
• Logistics for the Field Days

4:30 pm – Class Ends

Days Two, Three, and Four

Each morning will start with trip planning, accessing, and discussing the Public Avalanche Bulletin and weather updating.  You will be using Yamnuska’s Daily Avalanche Hazard Evaluation© form to assess the conditions and risks for the day.

Program days will be spent in the backcountry on a tour designed for decision-making. You will be in real avalanche terrain appropriate for the conditions, suited to group ability, and the Avalanche Danger forecast for that day.  Days are typically six to seven hours in the field.

What You’ll Learn:

• Proper backcountry travel preparation in avalanche terrain
• Use of avalanche ‘danger scale’ and other information gathered by professionals
• Use of the Avaluator™
• Group management and safety in the backcountry
• Avalanche terrain recognition
• Route finding in avalanche terrain
• Decision making in avalanche terrain
• Snow profiles and stability tests such as the Compression Test and Extended Column Test
• Weather, snowpack, and avalanche activity observations
• Snow stability analysis
• Companion Rescue and group rescue skills including avalanche transceiver use, single burials, and multiple burials, shoveling and probing techniques

Note:  Agenda may vary with field conditions and group abilities

NOTE ON RISK: The course takes place in the backcountry in a winter environment. Conditions can be harsh and you need to be adequately dressed to enhance your comfort and learning. During the day we will be travelling through avalanche terrain, however, we do limit our exposure to avalanches so that we can operate in the program area no matter what the avalanche danger is for that given day. This can be a physically demanding course. Learning will be greatly enhanced if you are a comfortable rider or skier in all snow conditions. All of our guides/instructors carry first aid kits and emergency communication.

Instructors and Group Size

Yamnuska avalanche instructors are ACMG and IFMGA guides who are trained and certified by the Canadian Avalanche Association. They are true practitioners with years and in some cases, decades of experience in the backcountry, practicing what they preach.  Yamnuska has been offering Avalanche courses since the late 1970s and we have been instrumental in the curriculum development of the AST programs. We are proud of our rich history in training recreationists in Canada.   

On the field days, there is a maximum of 8 participants per instructor.

Program Logistics

Canmore courses begin at 9:30 AM at our classroom in Canmore (Map). Our office is located at 100, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore, Alberta.

Day one will primarily take place in the classroom, with the possibility of heading outside in the afternoon for transceiver practice. For split weekend courses, the classroom session is held on Day 2.

The remaining three days are spent traveling to a variety of backcountry locations ranging from Kananaskis Country to areas along the Banff/Jasper Parkway, as far north as Bow Summit. Specific destinations are selected based on current snow and avalanche conditions to ensure the best possible learning environment and skiing experience.

Transportation

Participants are responsible for their own transport to Canmore and for themselves and guides on the field days. Canmore is a 1 hour (100km) drive west of 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.

Park Passes

Please note that program venues may be within National Parks and/or Kananaskis Country. For programs where transportation is not provided by Yamnuska/Canadian Rockies Hiking by Yamnuska, guests will be required to purchase their own pass.

National Park passes are available both online at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/admission and in-person at National park gates and some information centres.

Kananaskis Country conservation passes are available online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx

Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation in Canmore is not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in both Canmore and Banff, including campsites, hostels, all levels of hotels as well as condo-style accommodation with kitchens or suites.  We recommend that you book your own pre and post-trip accommodations well in advance as all levels of accommodations in the Bow Valley fill quickly.

Food is not supplied. On the classroom day, we will take a one-hour break for lunch as well as several smaller breaks.

On the field day, it is important to have lots of snack-type high-energy foods as well as at least one to two litres of fluid.  We highly recommend bringing a Thermos-type container for a hot drink.  Due to the nature of the environment and winter temperatures we will often ‘snack’ along the way and often do not take an extended break for lunch.

Equipment and Clothing

Yamnuska supplies classroom materials: course manual (Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain), Companion Rescue Card, and Backcountry Terrain Ratings.  Please bring a notebook and pen as well as your Avaluator™ from the AST 1 course. On the field days, Yamnuska will supply, upon request, an avalanche transceiver with batteries, an avalanche probe and an avalanche shovel.  We also supply group snow study kits and snow saw. You will need to bring:

Skis or Split Board

Alpine Touring skis are essentially ‘downhill skis’ with a special touring binding that 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 in downhill skiing.

Snow Boards can be used in this program. If ‘boarding’ you need to be an advanced boarder and you must use a ‘split’ board. A snowboard and snowshoe combination is NOT acceptable on our regular AST 2 programs. However, we now offer an AST 2 for snowshoers only. Please don’t bring a board if you’ve never boarded in the backcountry before.  Poles are essential for boarders.

Equipment List

• Skis / Boards: We recommend a short (160 – 185cm) wide ski designed for powder.  Please see the note under rental information if you are renting ski equipment.
• Snowshoes (for snowshoe departure only)
• Winter boots or insulated hiking boots (for snowshoe departure only)
• Ski poles (even if on snowshoes)
• Climbing skins ‘Stick-on type’ (only required if using skis or split boards)
• Daypack (large enough for spare clothes, lunch & equipment, 30L minimum recommended)
• Avalanche transceiver – digital transceiver with triple antennae.  If you have an older type, single or double antennae, we will loan you a transceiver.
• Avalanche shovel (collapsible metal shovel designed for companion rescue, loaners available on request).
• Avalanche probe (loaners available on request).
• Avaluator ^TM
• Sunglasses and/or ski goggles
• Thermos flask and/or water bottle (1 – 2 Liters)
• Sunscreen
• Pocket knife
• Small Blister and Personal 1st-Aid Kit
• Hand Sanitizer
• Helmet (recommended) 

Optional Equipment

• Compass with clinometer
• Snow thermometer

Yamnuska supplies but feel free to bring if you have:

• Snow saw
• Snow Study Kit

On the field days, there can be prolonged periods of inactivity in very cold temperatures. Don’t be afraid to bring extra layers. 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. Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.

Clothing List:

• Long Underwear (top and bottom). They should be synthetic such as Capilene or Merino Wool.
• Warm pants (softshell, insulated, or fleece)
• Warm shirt (not cotton)
• Sweater or fleece jacket
• Insulated jacket or vest. This is essential for staying warm while taking breaks or when the weather gets really cold.
• Waterproof jacket with hood and pants (Gore-Tex or nylon) A hardshell set up is essential when the weather turns really wet.  Gore-Tex, H2NO or similar material works great.
• Socks (wool outer, synthetic blend liner). A good pair of socks goes a long way in preventing blisters.
• Wool or fleece hat that covers the ears
• Buff
• Warm gloves and light glove liner
• Gaiters, are only needed if your ski pants are not elasticized at the ankle

• Alpha SV Jacket (Men’s & Women’s)
• Rush Jacket (Men’s & Women’s)
• Rush Bib Pant (Men’s & Women’s)
• Atom Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Atom SL Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Cerium Down Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Nuclei Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)

Rental Information

Skis, Boots, Boards, Snowshoes, Skins & Poles can be rented from:

• Canmore: Gear Up – 1302 Bow Valley Trail (403 678-1636)
• Lake Louise: Wilson Mountain Sports  – (1-866-929-3636)

*Please note that your ‘DIN’ or ‘Release Value’ settings on your ski bindings are critical to your safety while skiing.  Our expectation is that everyone arrives on programs with their ski binding’s release value correctly set. We have noted that some ski rental shops will not set release values on touring bindings. We advise you to rent from a shop that will set release values on your ski touring bindings unless you are proficient and comfortable setting your own DIN/release value. Failure to have Release Values correctly set could result in a serious injury.

Please call our office if you have any questions.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require full payment on registration. Our AST 2 courses are very popular. Many people book the AST 1 and AST 2 at the same time.

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

Please familiarize yourself with our detailed booking instructions and conditions.

Risk is an inherent part of all mountain activities. We strive to manage and reduce it however, it is impossible to totally eliminate. Learn more about our safety and risk management approach here.  Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Please view our sample waiver copy.

The Simpson Group offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical, and Personal Effect Loss for both Canadian and International Travelers. Other providers offer similar services and we encourage you to select an appropriate level of coverage. We highly recommend purchasing this insurance to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. The two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider are Medical and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

Insurance Risk 
One of the ways to mitigate risk is by purchasing appropriate insurance. Simpson Group Insurance Services who are travel & health risk specialists, work with technical and high-risk insurance solutions both in medical and non-medical spheres.  We highly recommend that you review your insurance needs to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Simpson Group have a team standing by to answer any of your questions.

Emergency Medical Evacuation
While there is typically no charge for search & rescue in the National and Provincial Parks for active pass holders, costs such as air & ground ambulance after the rescue are not covered by your park pass. The chance of a large bill associated with this risk is a real possibility.

For Canadians
A common myth is that healthcare across provinces is fully covered. There are many things which do not carry interprovincial agreements. Ambulance services, medical evacuation, and some services which one province charges more than another you’d be responsible to pay the difference.

For Internationals
A common myth is that healthcare in Canada is free. Although it is less expensive than US healthcare, charges for non-residents can still be very high. Proper medical health insurance is essential if you were to get injured. Most coverages exclude rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, backcountry skiing and the like. Simpson Group can make sure all those risks are well covered.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
We recognize that our guests’ schedules may change for many reasons, business, family, flight delays, injuries, and other unplanned events.  For these eventualities, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment. We can assure you that circumstances do arise that prevent guests from participating in trips or courses and trip cancellation & interruption insurance is a relatively easy way to manage your level of risk of unforeseen events.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend Simpson Group Insurance Services.  For more information and to purchase a plan, visit Simpson Group’s website.