The Avalanche Skills Training 2 – AST 2 course builds on avalanche skills development from the introductory course . This is a practical course which combines one day of classroom theory, followed by three days of field experience. The curriculum is is based on the requirements set out by Avalanche Canada.

Course Program

Day 1 Morning

Review of AST1

• 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 

Afternoon

• Safe travel and trip planning
• Review of Companion Rescue
• Avalanche and back country safety gear
• Gear check
•  Transceiver review
• Logisitics for the Field Days

Days 2- 4

Days will be spent on tours in to the backcountry which are designed to exercise your decision making skills. You will be in real avalanche terrain appropriate to the conditions and the Avalanche Danger forecast for that day. 

• Proper back country travel preparation in avalanche terrain
• Use of avalanche ‘danger scale’ and other information gathered by professionals
• Use of the Avaluator 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

2020 Course Dates
TBA

Price

55,000 yen

Course Venue

Niseko