To register for your private AST 1 or AST 2 course, please select your program date and hit “Book Now”.
Get trained by the leading recreational Avalanche Course provider in the Canadian Rockies. Our avalanche safety courses are held in Calgary and Canmore throughout the winter. A private AST Course can be delivered in a variety of locations in Alberta and British Columbia.
Avalanche is the greatest hazard facing ‘out of bounds’ backcountry skiers/riders, ‘sledders’ and ice climbers. The knowledge gained from Yamnuska’s avalanche safety courses will significantly improve your safety margins and introduce you to risk assessment. Yamnuska avalanche courses are taught by a core staff of senior full time certified guides and professional members of the Canadian Avalanche Association.
These safety courses follow and exceed curriculum established by Avalanche Canada.
We are a ‘Presenting Sponsor’ of Avalanche Canada. That means we provide financial support and professional resources to this invaluable organization. By taking an avalanche safety course with us you help support Avalanche Canada.
We offer courses in Calgary at the Calgary MEC Store, in Canmore out of our own classroom, and in Rogers Pass out of the Ramada Inn. Private AST courses can be held at your location or any of our regular training areas.
AST1 (click here) – We are the largest provider of recreational avalanche training in Canada. This intensive 2 day course involves a full classroom day then a field training and study day. We offer courses in Canmore and Calgary.
AST 2 (click here) – Four days of advanced avalanche training and study. We do an advanced classroom day then spend 3 days out in the field. We run this course in Canmore and Rogers Pass.
Special: Sign up for our AST 1 and AST 2 recreational avalanche courses at the same time and save 10% off the cost of both courses.
The AST 1 avalanche course is a great introductory program. If you are a regular backcountry enthusiast we recommend you sign up for the AST 1 course, get outside and build your experience level, then take the AST 2.
Course Agenda
Day 1: (At Yamnuska Office in Canmore or our Lecture Room in Calgary )
9:30 am
- Introductions, goals and objectives, agenda
- Avalanche phenomena, formation and characteristics of avalanches
- Avalanche Terrain Recognition, introduction to the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale
- Changes in the mountain snowpack, snow metamorphism
12:00 pm
- Lunch break
1:00 pm
- Assessing and reducing risk
- Accessing and utilizing the Avalanche Danger Scale and Public Avalanche Bulletins
- Using the AvaluatorTM
- Safe travel and trip planning
- Companion Rescue: A methodical approach
- Logistics for the Field Day
4:30pm
- Class ends
Day 2 at Bow Summit, on Highway 93, 40 km north of Lake Louise or at selected areas of Kananaskis Country or Banff National Park (Calgary courses).
9:00 am
- Meet, issue gear and introduce additional field day instructors
- Weather and avalanche bulletin group discussion
- Field observations (ongoing)
- Transceivers and companion rescue practice
- Managing risk in avalanche terrain (ongoing)
- Route selection, track setting and terrain recognition (ongoing)
- Snow pit and stability tests
- Group rescue exercise
4:30 pm
- Debrief and end of course
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 on the periphery of 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. All of our guides/instructors carry first aid kits and emergency communication. The course is designed to provide a good platform for learning and is not meant to be physically challenging or to put you at risk. Our focus is on instruction so we find appropriate avalanche study areas close to the road to maximize your avalanche education.
NOTE: Agenda may vary with field conditions and group abilities. A short tour of up to two kilometers is integral on the Sunday but if you’re not a skier, snowshoes are adequate. It is important that you be properly equipped for a full day in the backcountry in winter conditions (see gear tab).
Course Agenda
Day 1: (At the Yamnuska Office in Canmore)
8:30 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 TM
12:00 pm – Lunch Break
1:00 pm
- Safe travel and trip planning
- Review of Companion Rescue: A methodical approach
- Avalanche and back country safety gear
- Gear check
- Transceiver review
- Logisitics 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 risk 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.
Subject matter covered:
- Proper back country travel preparation on avalanche terrain
- Use of avalanche ‘danger scale’ and other information gathered by professionals
- Use of the Avalauator 2 TM
- 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 Rutsch Block
- Weather, snow pack and avalanche activity observations
- Snow stability analysis
- Companion Rescue and group rescue skills including: avalanche transceiver use, single burials and multiple burials, shovelling 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 & Group Size
Yamnuska Avalanche Skills Training instructors are ACMG guides and professional members of the Canadian Avalanche Association. They are true practitioners with years of experience in the backcountry, practicing what they preach. Yamnuska has been offering Avalanche Awareness courses since the late 1970’s. We have been instrumental in the curriculum development of the Avalanche Skills Training courses and are proud of our rich history in training recreationalists in Canada. We are a proud sponsor of Avalanche Canada.
On the field day there is a maximum of 8 participants per instructor.
Program Logistics
Private Program logistics will depend on your group’s requirements and schedule. Please refer to your booking confirmation for specifics.
Equipment & Clothing
First day in the classroom. This is an indoor session, dress casually and comfortably. Yamnuska supplies course manual, Companion Rescue Card and AvaluatorTM. Please bring a pen and notebook if you wish to take notes. On the field day Yamnuska will supply, upon request, avalanche transceiver with batteries, avalanche probe and avalanche shovel. We also supply group snow study kits and snow saw.
Equipment List
- Skis / Snowshoes: if on skis, either ‘Alpine Touring’ or Telemark are required. We recommend a short (160 – 185cm) wide ski designed for powder and ski touring.
- Ski poles (even if on snowshoes)
- Climbing skins ‘Stick-on type’ (only required if using skis)
- Ski boots (only required if using skis)
- Daypack (large enough for spare clothes, lunch & equipment, 30 litre minimum recommended)
- Avalanche transceiver (dual or triple antennae, digital type only. If you do not have a transceiver or have an analogue type, we will loan you a digital transceiver on request)
- Shovel (collapsible avalanche shovel), loaners available on request.
- Avalanche probe, loaners available on request
- Sunglasses and/or ski goggles
- Thermos flask and/or water bottle (1 – 2 Liters)
- Sun screen
- Pocket knife
- Small Blister and Personal 1st-Aid Kit
Yamnuska uses updated and current avalanche equipment on all of our courses. Avalanche transceivers are Backcountry Access: Tracker DTS and Tracker 2. Both types are robust, simple to operate, digital transceivers. Probes are G3 and shovels are Voile Pro.
Please let us know in advance if you wish Yamnuska to provide you with an avalanche transceiver, probe or shovel for the field day.
Optional Equipment
- Camera
- Compass with clinometer
- Snow thermometer
Yamnuska supplies but feel free to bring anyway:
- Snow saw
- Snow Study Kit
-
Clothing
On field days there can be prolonged periods of inactivity in very cold temperatures. Don’t be afraid to bring extra layers as we don’t travel great distances. 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. Below is our recommended list:
- Synthetic or synthetic/wool blend underwear (top and bottom)
- Warm pants (softshell, insulated, or fleece)
- Warm shirt (not cotton)
- Sweater or fleece jacket
- Insulated jacket or vest
- Waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or nylon)
- Waterproof pants (Gore-Tex or nylon)
- Socks (wool outer, synthetic blend liner)
- Wool or fleece hat
- Warm gloves and light glove liner
- Gaiters, only needed if your ski pants are not elasticized at the ankle
Rental Information
Skis, Boots, Boards, Skins & Poles can be rented from:
- Calgary: Mountain Equipment Co-op. – 830-10 Ave. S.W. Calgary (Tel: 403 269-2420)
- Canmore: Gear Up – 1302 Bow Valley Trail (403 678-1636)
Please call our office if you have any questions.
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require full payment on booking. As a leading avalanche course provider, our courses do fill quickly.
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 rescue so long as you have a valid National Park Entry Pass which you can obtain on entry to Banff National Park.
Please make yourself familiar with our detailed booking instructions and conditions.
Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Please view our sample waiver copy.
There are two basic types of insurance that most travelers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We offer our guests coverage for both and highly recommend you purchase it.
Emergency Medical Expenses Insurance:
It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Obtain extra coverage if necessary. There is no charge for rescue in the national and provincial parks, however costs such as air or ground transportation, long term care and other services are not covered.
Cancellation/Trip 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 the Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment.
For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend the Simpson Group. This agency offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical and Personal Effect Loss for Canadian Travelers. We highly recommend purchasing this insurance. For more information and to purchase a plan, visit the Simpson Group’s website.
Please note that this coverage is for Canadian residents only. For guests who are not from Canada and who are interested in the ‘Visitors to Canada’ insurance package please contact the Simpson Group directly at JSimpson@simpson-group.com and reference your Yamnuska Mountain Adventure’s trip.
Dates:
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*Please select the program that has been set up for your group from the above list of dates.
PRICE:
Program cost varies depending on the type of course and inclusions that you have selected. Booking options and program pricing will display on the booking page.
