Looking to ride in the backcountry this winter? Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) is an introductory course geared towards recreationalists with little to no experience in avalanche terrain. It’s also suitable for those with some experience who are looking for more formalized training. AST1 is recommended for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain outside of ski area boundaries.

Looking to explore the backcountry this winter? Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) is an introductory course geared towards recreationalists with little to no experience in avalanche terrain. It’s also suitable for those with some experience who are looking for more formalized training. AST1 is recommended for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain.

Our public AST1 Powell River course is...

This classic Coast Mountain Haute Route starts on Blackcomb Mountain and works its way around the spectacular Spearhead Range, ending on Whistler Mountain. Over three days, we’ll traverse through awesome terrain, bagging peaks and making ski descents along the way.

As our adventures lure us into more complex avalanche terrain, it’s important to delve deeper into snow science and move beyond the internalized rule-based models learned in AST1. Avalanche Skills Training Level 2, an intermediate level course, provides the observational and practical tools to incorporate the experiential decision-making processes necessary for more nuanced terrain. Over the...