Women's Avalanche Skills Training 2 (AST 2) - Whistler

If you’ve taken AST-1 and added some backcountry experience, AST-2 is your opportunity to develop, practice and refine more advanced skills. Progress beyond the basics with this Avalanche Canada course and additional MSAA curriculum.

Students spend one day in the classroom building on existing knowledge and concepts about snow science, terrain, weather, planning, and emergency management. The next three days are spent in the field with our most experienced guides, where classes dig into advanced snow assessment, stability tests, more complex ideas about decision making, trip planning and route finding, managing unforeseen events, and more challenging companion rescue scenarios.

Where AST-1 provides the fundamentals to start safely exploring, AST-2 builds on those with the skills, knowledge, and practice to start stepping into more challenging terrain, multi-day trips, exciting objectives, and is the capstone to your recreational avalanche education.

Course includes:

• Avalanche Skills Training Level 2 Certificate (upon successful completion)
• Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain Fieldbook
• Canadian Avalanche Association Mandatory Student Fee
• Use of Snow Study Kit with Thermometer, Crystal Screen and Loupe
• Recommended Reading: Students are encouraged to purchase ‘Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain’ to aid their learning

Lift Ticket *Days 2-4 only: If you do NOT currently possess a valid Whistler Blackcomb lift ticket (Seasons Pass, Spirit Pass, Edge Card, Epic Pass, etc.), you may buy a Lift Ticket through our office at checkout.

Day 1: Classroom portion - 9:00am - 5:00pm

Everyone will sign waivers and the guide will review what you covered in your AST1 before starting on the course theory. The day will include a short morning and afternoon break as well as a lunch break. The day will end with a debrief along with homework, some handouts and a resources list.

Day 2-4: Field Days - 8:30am - 4:30pm

The guide will lead a short briefing (discussing current conditions and weather) and have everyone perform a gear check. From there you will head up the mountain to apply the skills you learned in the classroom. The days will end at approximately 4:30pm with homework. The end of the course will have a course debrief and discussion of what steps you can take after your AST2.

Location: Depending on group ability and conditons the field days can be hosted in other destinations such as the Duffey or Squamish. This will be a group decision made on either day 1 or 2. If you have purchased lift passes for this course and the field day location changes MSAA will issue a 100% refund.

Rentals/Purchase:

If you require rentals we have teamed up with local rental companies to provide discounted rentals. Visit our rental page HERE for more information!

Day 2: (Field Day): Dress appropriately for the conditions.

Clothing:

• Weatherproof shell jacket and pants
• Down or synthetic insulated jacket
• Mid layer fleece top
• Insulating top and bottom under layers and socks
• Warm hat/toque and balaclava
• 2 pairs of gloves
• Sunglasses and sunscreen

Equipment:

• Lift Pass (If you do not have a season pass or Epic Pass or Edge Card, you can purchase a backcountry ticket from MSAA for $59)
• Backpack-25-35 Litres
• Alpine touring skis/splitboard, skins, bindings, and boots
• Avalanche Safety Kit (transceiver, shovel, probe)
• Helmet
• Poles
• First Aid Kit with blister kit
• Rite in the Rain notebook and pencil (optional)
• Map, compass, GPS (optional)
• Lunch, snacks, and water

Rentals/Purchase:

If you require rentals we have teamed up with local rental companies to provide discounted rentals. Visit our rental page HERE for more information!

Day 2: (Field Day): Dress appropriately for the conditions.

Clothing:

• Weatherproof shell jacket and pants
• Down or synthetic insulated jacket
• Mid layer fleece top
• Insulating top and bottom under layers and socks
• Warm hat/toque and balaclava
• 2 pairs of gloves
• Sunglasses and sunscreen

Equipment:

• Lift Pass (If you do not have a season pass or Epic Pass or Edge Card, you can purchase a backcountry ticket from MSAA.
• Backpack-25-35 Litres
• Alpine touring skis/splitboard, skins, bindings, and boots
• Avalanche Safety Kit (transceiver, shovel, probe)
• Helmet
• Poles
• First Aid Kit with blister kit
• Rite in the Rain notebook and pencil (optional)
• Map, compass, GPS (optional)
• Lunch, snacks, and water

• AST1 Review
• Group Leadership
• Avalanche Types
• Terrain Management Techniques
• The Avalanche Forecast
• Trip Planning
• Avalanche Danger Exceptions
• Companion Rescue Theory

• Trailhead Procedures
• Obtaining Field Observations
• Advanced Companion Rescue
• The Bulletin & Avalanche Problems
• Perform Snowpack Test
• Situational Awareness & Leadership
• Recognizing Terrain Transitions
• Recognizing Avalanche Hazard Areas
• Safe Travel Techniques & Group Management
• Snow Stability Test
• Snowpack & Weather Recording

• Local Avalanche Bulletin
• Weather Forecast
• Mountain Conditions Report
• Field Findings

• Leadership in Avalanche Terrain
• Independent Safety Decision Making
• Safe Track Setting
• Situational Awareness & Leadership
• Safe Travel Techniques & Group Management
• Advanced Companion Rescue

• Local Avalanche Bulletin
• Weather Forecast
• Mountain Conditions Report
• Field Findings

• Recap of lessons from previous two days
• Dealing with Terrain Crux
• Course Debrief
• Final Safety Discussion
• Next Steps: Mountain Navigation, Crevasse Rescue, Ski Mountaineering

Click HERE for the full curriculum