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  • Canada West Mountain School - Experts in Mountain Adventure Since 1982

Canada West Mountain School

Mountain guiding | Avalanche skills | Outdoor instruction

  • Custom
    • Custom Programs

      • Private Avalanche Training – 2022/23
      • Custom Backcountry Skiing
      • Custom Ice Climbing
      • Custom Alpine Instruction & Guiding
      • Custom Hiking & Backpacking
      • Private Squamish Rock (Full day)
      • Private Squamish Rock (1/2-day)
    • Contact us today to create your custom course, tour or expedition!

      Canada West Mountain School specializes in private, customized training and Guided trips. We work extensively with schools, clubs, companies and individuals to arrange everything from 1-day class sessions to International expeditions.

      1-888-892-2266

  • Avalanche
    • Courses

      • Custom Avalanche Training – 2022/23
      • AST Refresher 2022/23
      • AST-1 Seymour (Midweek)
      • AST-1 Classic (Seymour)
      • AST-1 Classic (Whistler)
      • AST-1 Classic Snowshoe
      • AST-1 PLUS (N. Van & Whistler)
      • AST-2 (2 weekends)
      • AST-2 (4-day course)
    • Preparation

      • Preparing for your AST Course
      • Avalanche Training FAQ
  • Skiing
    • Backcountry Courses

      • Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding
      • Ski Touring Weekend
      • Ski Mountaineering
      • Crevasse Rescue 22/23
      • Winter Snow Camping 2022/23
    • Guided Trips

      • Custom Backcountry Skiing
      • Garibaldi Neve Traverse, BC
      • Spearhead Traverse, BC
      • Mt Waddington, BC
      • Pantheon Range, BC
  • Squamish Rock
    • Rock Courses

      • Squamish Rock Intro (1-day)
      • Top-Rope Anchors (1-day)
      • Top-Rope Anchors (2-day)
      • Sport Lead Rock Climbing
      • Trad Lead climbing
      • Lead Multi-pitch
      • Rock Rescue
      • Private Squamish Rock (1/2-day)
      • Private Squamish Rock (Full day)
    • Guided Rock

      • Guided Rock – Alpine
      • Squamish Rock Classics
    • Ice Climbing

      • Advanced Ice
      • Ice Essentials

  • Hiking
    • Hiking program

      • Mountain Navigation
      • Wilderness Survival
      • Overnight Backpacking
      • South Chilcotins Wilderness
      • Garibaldi Wilderness
      • Custom Hiking & Backpacking
    • NEW! South Chilcotin Wilderness traverse

      Join our 7-day wilderness adventure hiking though the sub-alpine wilderness of the Dickson Range in the South Chilcotin Mountains north of Pemberton. More details here –  South Chilcotin Wilderness Traverse.

    • Scrambling

      • Scrambling Essentials
      • Blackcomb Peak, BC
  • Mountaineering
    • Alpine Training

      • Mountaineering Essentials
      • Complete Mountaineering
      • Alpine Skills Week
      • Intermediate Alpinism
      • Crevasse Rescue
      • Mountaineering Refresher
    • Guided Alpine

      • Mt Garibaldi
      • Mt Matier, BC
      • Mt Joffre, BC
      • Tantalus Range, BC
      • Mt Waddington, BC
      • Bugaboos, BC
  • 1st Aid
    • Wilderness First Aid

      • Intro Wilderness First Aid (2-days)
      • Advanced Wilderness First Aid – 40 hr
      • Wilderness First Responder (80 hr)
      • WFR – Re-certification  (3 days)
      • Wilderness First Responder Bridge (40 hr)
  • Expeditions
    • Americas

      • Mt Logan – 2023
      • Mt Waddington, BC
      • Aconcagua, Argentina
    • Europe & Africa

      • Swiss Alps Classics
      • Mt Elbrus, Russia
      • Mt Kenya, Kenya
      • Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
    • Asia

      • Khan Tengri, Kyrgyzstan
      • Ama Dablam, Nepal
      • Mt Everest, Nepal
Home / All Programs / Custom Avalanche Training – 2023

Custom Avalanche Training – 2023

Avalanche-15Anyone can book a Custom Avalanche Safety Training program with Canada West Mountain School. We have been working with individuals, high schools, clubs, SAR teams, Colleges/Universities, Military groups, and many other groups and organizations over the decades to deliver our high-quality, professional level of Avalanche Safety training on a Custom basis. We arrange your Custom Avalanche Skills Training course (AST-1, AST-2, or Awareness level) on dates of your choice and your preferred location (we can come to any location in Western Canada). Groups can be on skis, snowshoes, split-boards, or snow-machines. On our Custom AvalancheTraining programs, we also offer the option to modify the content and delivery to meet your specific needs. Contact us if you are looking to make sure you and your backcountry partners are safe this winter!

  • Benefits of a Custom Avalanche Training program:
    • complete flexibility in scheduling - you can choose your own date and time
    • lower cost per/person - with larger groups, your cost is significantly reduced
    • custom content - we work with each group to tailor the course content, delivery and structure to meet your needs
    • set your own group size and participants - you are not forced to share your training course with anyone else

      Custom Avalanche Training courses with Canada West Mountain School include:
    • Your choice of dates for all instruction and training sessions
    • Professional in-person instruction by CAA Professional or Active members
    • on-snow practical field sessions in a backcountry environment
    • class theory split between in-person sessions, and our Virtual Classroom
    • All Avalanche Canada approved curriculum for AST courses
    • Backcountry Avalanche Awareness manual (AST-2 includes optional textbooks)
    • Avaluator V2 Decision Making package
    • Avalanche Canada Industry-recognized Certificate of Completion for AST-1 or AST-2

      Costs noted here for Custom AST programs do not include the following:
    • transportation to/from course areas
    • lift access fees (if applicable)
    • food
    • accommodation (if applicable)
    • avalanche safety equipment (rentals are available on request)
    • personal equipment, unless otherwise arranged
    • ski touring, split board, or snowshoeing equipment

    (*) - Custom courses held at locations outside of North Vancouver/Mt. Seymour may have additional costs associated with travel and classrooms. Contact our office directly for full details and pricing.  


     
    AST-1 Classic (16 hours)

    The AST-1 Classic course is suitable for skiers, split-boarders, snowmobilers, and snowshoers looking for a solid foundation of Avalanche Safety skills. This is our 2-day Classic Avalanche Safety course and can be held completely in Whistler; North Vancouver/Mt Seymour; or, at any location of your choice *.

      Custom Classic AST-1 Cost (*):
    • Group of 7-8 - $1,880 per group of up to 8 people
      $235 + GST per person based on 8 people/group
      $270 + GST per person based on 7 people/group (approx.)
    • Group of 5-6 people - $1,530 per group of up to 6 people
      $255 + GST per person based on 6 people/group
      $305 + GST per person based on 5 people/group (approx.)
    • Group of 1-4 people - $1,400 per group of up to 4 people
      $350 + GST per person based on 4 people/group
     
     
    Custom AST-1 PLUS (20 hours)

    This is our original Avalanche Safety course that Canada West Mountain School pioneered in the 1980s. The AST-1 PLUS course earns its reputation by giving students 2 class sessions and two full days in the field using completely separate backcountry regions to provide a contrast in terrain, snowpack, and weather patterns to provide the best possible learning environment.

      Custom AST-1 PLUS is recommended for:
    • Anyone who is venturing out on touring trips into more remote regions
    • People who are looking to travel into un-rated terrain
    • People looking for a course with maximum practical time in the field
    • Climbers/mountaineers needing more "slope-specific" terrain and snowpack observation skills
    • People with some previous basic avalanche skills already

      Custom AST-1 PLUS Cost:
    • Group of 7-8 - $2,200 per group of up to 8 people
      ($275. + GST per person based on 8 people/group)
    • Group of 5-6 people - $1,800 per group of up to 6 people
      ($300 + GST per person based on 6 people/group)
    • Group of 1-4 people - $1,400 per group of up to 4 people
      ($350. + GST per person based on 4 people/group)
     
     
    Custom AST-2 (40 hours/4-days

    For people with previous Avalanche safety training, this course is suitable for skiers, boarders, and sledders wanting to progress to a more in-depth evaluation of terrain, snowpack, weather, and decision-making. The Custom AST-2 course is ideally conducted using a variety of different terrain locations - typically Whistler, Vancouver/Mt Seymour, and/or a backcountry location off the Duffey Lake road area, though we can also conduct this course at any location of your choice throughout BC (*).

    Private AST-2 Cost (*):
    $575 per person (based on a group size of 6, pricing varies for smaller groups)

    (*) - Custom courses held at locations outside of North Vancouver/Mt. Seymour may have additional costs associated with travel and classrooms. Contact our office directly for full details and pricing.    


     
    Specialized Custom Avalanche training
    If you are looking for specific training for your group or organization, we will work with you and your team to develop exactly the right program in terms of content, delivery, schedule, student-to-instructor ratios, location, and anything else that you want to customize.

      Recommended for:
    • School-based outdoor programs
    • Small groups (less than 6)
    • Groups with specific areas of expertise (e.g. Search and Rescue; extreme terrain; expeditionary concerns, etc.)
    • People with previous avalanche skills already looking for a modified course format
    • Anyone wishing to combine skills such as Winter or Ice Climbing, Ski instruction, etc.
    • Students requiring a 1-day Avalanche Awareness course or Refresher course.
    Cost:
    Contact our office directly to discuss this program's details and costs.

  • Custom Avalanche Training
    • complete flexibility in scheduling - you can choose your own date and time
    • lower cost per/person - with larger groups, your cost is significantly reduced
    • custom content - we work with each group to tailor the course content, delivery, and structure to meet your needs
    • set your own group size and participants - you are not forced to share your training course with anyone else

      Custom Avalanche Training courses with Canada West Mountain School include:
    • Your choice of dates for all instruction and training sessions
    • Professional in-person instruction by CAA Professionals or Active members
    • On-snow practical field sessions in a backcountry environment
    • Class theory split between in-person sessions, and our Virtual Classroom
    • All courses are taught in accordance with Avalanche Canada curriculum
    • Backcountry Avalanche Awareness manual (AST-1 only; AST-2 includes optional textbooks)
    • Avaluator V2 Decision Making package (AST-1 courses only)
    • Avalanche Canada Industry-recognized Certificate of Completion for AST-1 or AST-2
Contact us Today
Please review the Cost Details, select your preferred dates below and click Check Availability. We will get back to you as soon as possible to finalize the details for your Custom Program!
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Contact Us

1.888.892.2266


info@themountainschool.com

240-400 Brooksbank Ave
North Vancouver, BC

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Canada West Mountain School acknowledges that we operate on the unceded traditional territories of the Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lô), Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations


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