AST-1 BCMC 2022/23

Avalanche Danger scale
Avalanche test pit
Avalanche Test Pit in Whistler

This is a Custom Private AST-1 course offered to active members of the BCMC only. Please review the information in the Tabbed sections below, select your course date to the right, and then click on the “BOOK NOW” link in order to register and pay to confirm your course. For further information, please email the Canada West Mountain School office or contact the BCMC Course Coordinator.

Don’t forget that active BCMC Members are eligible for discounts ranging from 10%-20% on all regularly scheduled Canada West Mountain School Courses

Register Today

$230.00

Avalanche Canada Logo

Canada West Mountain School is an Authorized AST Provider

Ratio:
1:8
Pre Requisites:

Intermediate skiing or snowboarding level. No previous avalanche training required. Students must be very comfortable in a variety of snow conditions skiing/boarding with a pack on.

Category:
  • AST-1 Private BCMC Special price: $230. + GST
    Included in all Canada West Mountain School AST-1 courses:
    • 2 days of practical instruction including 1 full day of on-snow back-country training
    • 2.5 hrs of self-directed online learning through the Canada West Virtual Classroom
    • Avalanche Manual "Avalanche Skills Training Handbook"
    • AST-1 Certificate issued by Avalanche Canada
    • Avaluator V.2 Manual and decision making card
    • Course student handouts and reference materials
    • Access to our "On-Course" Avalanche Safety Gear rentals
    • Ongoing free consultation services from Canada West Mountain School

  • All Instructors on our Avalanche courses are Active or Professional Members of the CAA (Canadian Avalanche Association) and hold Level I or Level II Professional Certification with the CAA. Additionally, Canada West Mountain School staff are dedicated educators who are experienced in teaching these skills and conducting well run, professional courses.

    All CWMS staff also attend regular Industry training and have advanced 1st aid training, and many of the Instructors in our Avalanche Training program are also professional Guides certified through the ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides).

    Visit Guides and Instructors Page for complete details and background on each of our Guide Team.

  • Virtual classroom
    The first portion of the AST-1 course covers the theory required to develop the foundation of Avalanche Safety skills. Due to Covid-19 precautions, our Virtual Classes are set up to deliver the content in an engaging and interactive style and are delivered through a series of Online and Virtual lessons in advance of the practical field portions.

    You will learn the theoretical foundation for AST-1 online, through self-paced learning without joining in a physical classroom with other students. Learning through our Virtual Classroom in a self-paced manner requires about 2-3 hours of your time prior to the field sessions. When you sign in to the Virtual Classroom, Pre-trip planning details will be available in the Online Course materials, with complete details for your specific course date. Pre-trip planning and logistics details will be covered by online segments, email, and phone as needed.

    You will receive instructions on how to access the Online course content after you have registered for your AST-1 course. We are committed to providing the highest degree of online learning experience and flexibility; we welcome and encourage your ongoing feedback as we embark on this new adventure in learning with Canada West!

    Practical Training
    After completing the prerequisite Online Virtual Classroom material, students will meet on Day-1 for an in-person practical training session held on the North Shore. Day-1 is not an on-snow session so skis or split boards are not required for the first day. This session will focus on the following:
    • Team and Instructor Introductions, where you will get to know who you will be heading out with
    • Pre-trip planning - weather, snowpack, and terrain objectives for Day-2
    • Avalanche safety gear training and familiarization
    • Avalanche Rescue introduction and transceiver practice
    • Logistics planning and final field trip preparation details

    The Day-2 On-Snow field sessions will be held at Mount Seymour. The surge in numbers of visitors to Mount Seymour Park this season has led to severe parking and crowding issues. As a result, we are running our AST practical field session in a manner that helps reduce the impacts on the Park. The most important and valuable learning opportunities for any AST-1 course are the field-based sessions, and our strategy for the remainder of the 2020-21 season will allow us to provide the best possible field sessions

    In order to ensure that our AST students can get up to the trailhead on-time with minimal hassle, and to avoid the possibility of being turned away by BC Parks staff when the park is full (typically this occurs every weekend before 9 am), all Canada West Mountain School ASt-1 weekend course will use a chartered shuttle service to drive up and down each day (cost of the shuttle is included in the course fee). In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, traveling up with a Shuttle service allows our groups to meet at the bottom of the mountain (so no winter tires are required); the Mt Seymour Shuttles have priority access on the drive up, so everyone will arrive on the mountain earlier and together to avoid delays; and, arriving earlier means getting into the backcountry quicker. Full transportation details will be provided in the Field Session Planning Details of the Online Course.

    The practical training sessions are held during a full day of "hands-on" practical learning in the field working on snowpack, terrain, travel, and rescue skills. This on-snow practical field day will take place fully in the backcountry regions of Mount Seymour Provincial Park. All students must be fully prepared for a day of backcountry touring on skis or split boards (or snowshoes, on snowshoe-based AST courses).

    IMPORTANT NOTE ON MEETING LOCATIONS
    The specific meeting locations and logistics details may vary from one course date to another, please ensure you confirm the correct location for your course date!

    Students are responsible for getting to and from the course meeting location on the North Shore at the base of Mount Seymour. During the class theory sessions in advance of the field training, you will discuss and plan the logistics for the specific meeting points and times for the Practical Field session of your course, though typically the field session will start with a 6:30 am meeting at the base of the Mount Seymour Road

    Students are reminded to plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early to all course sessions, to allow for traffic delays, poor road conditions, parking, etc. The Practical Field sessions will start promptly at the times indicated - latecomers will risk missing the field sessions as once the group has departed there are no options to join them in the field at a later time.

    THEORY TOPICS
    Virtual Class theory sessions provide an overview of the course and cover the following topics:

    • avalanche hazard recognition
    • avalanche terminology
    • avalanche mechanics
    • mountain weather
    • snowpack structure
    • basic terrain evaluation
    • Weather observations

    FIELD SESSION TOPICS
    The Practical Field session will be spent in the backcountry regions of Mount Seymour Park, where you will have maximum time to focus on learning and practicing skills, including:

    • terrain evaluation
    • mountain hazard assessment
    • safe route finding techniques
    • snowpack analysis
    • snow testing techniques
    • transceiver searches
    • companion rescue review and practice

  • You will require an Avalanche Safety kit including a digital avalanche transceiver (beacon), collapsible avalanche shovel, and a probe. In addition, everyone needs to be fully prepared for a day out in winter conditions.

    Proper backcountry touring skis and climbing skins are required for the field sessions on Day-2; or, snowboard and snowshoe combo; or, a split-board and climbing skins.

    For students with snowshoe/snowboard combo, collapsible ski poles are recommended; and, a backpack that is designed to carry a snowboard while you are traveling uphill is required. Please note that snowshoeing with a snowboard on your pack is significantly harder work than skiing or using a split board for uphill travel.

  • Questions about Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST-1) course

    Do I need to bring special gear?

    What happens if the weather is not good?

    Where are the AST-1 courses conducted?

    How long are the days?

Related Programs