Camp Highlights

Avalanche course tailored for backcountry skiers/snowshoers
Custom learning materials developed by our Lead Winter Guide
Classroom day in the ACC Clubhouse's beautiful Heritage Room
ACC Clubhouse accommodation available for a small additional fee

Dates & price

course dates:

Nov 28-29, 2020
Dec 7-8, 2020
Dec 12-13, 2020
Jan 2-3, 2021
Jan 16-17, 2021
Feb 6-7, 2021
Feb 27-28, 2021
Mar 13-14, 2021

$230 per person

Learn Backcountry Avalanche Safety Essentials from an Expert

Winter backcountry travel is exploding in popularity. More people than ever before are taking their skiing outside of resort boundaries. But lacking education and awareness of avalanche hazard can prove fatal for you or for your partners and completing an AST1 course is now considered almost a mandatory requirement before venturing into the backcountry.

Our 2-day course gives a thorough introduction to avalanche basics and a framework with which to make decisions in the field. We cover the standard curriculum (as outlined by Avalanche Canada). By the end of this course you will know how to identify avalanche terrain, complete an avalanche rescue and how to read the avalanche bulletin so you can start planning your own backcountry adventures.

On top of this you can look forward to enjoying a classroom day in our Clubhouse's Heritage room with beautiful views over the Bow Valley and a field-day in Kananaskis or Banff National Park. And for those coming from further afield, enjoy our on-site, award-winning Clubhouse accommodation for a modest additional fee.

Camp Objectives

The ultimate goal of our avalanche training program is for you to come home safe at the end of your future winter excursions. Our AST1 course lays the foundations by focussing on the following topics:

Introductory snow science

Avalanche formation and release

Identifying avalanche terrain

Basics of trip planning

Optimal use of tools and resources like the avalanche forecasts to mitigate your avalanche risk

Use of appropriate travel techniques in avalanche terrain

Introduction to companion rescue

Unlike some providers, we like to take our AST courses to where conditions offer the best learning experience. As well as the ever-popular Bow Summit, this course could also see you doing your field day in various destinations in Kananaskis. At the end of the course you will receive an Avalanche Canada certificate signed off by your instructor. This is a formal recognition of your training.

Day by Day Adventure Itinerary

Day 1
Participants meet at 8:30am in the Heritage Room at the ACC’s Canmore Clubhouse. Curriculum topics which will be covered this day include:

Introductions, course goals, agenda, waivers
Understanding avalanches: formation and characteristics
Avalanche terrain recognition
Introduction to the ATES (Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale)
Changes in the mountain snowpack, snow metamorphism
Lunch break from 12:00-1:00pm
Assessing and reducing risk
Accessing public avalanche bulletins
Using the AVALUATOR
Safe travel choices and proper route planning
Companion rescue techniques
Discuss program for Day 2 in the field

Our classroom day is limited to 16 people to make for the best possible learning experience!

Day 2
Your field day location will vary depending on conditions but you will typically be either in Kananaskis Country or the Icefields Parkway, making real-life observations and gaining hands-on experience. Curriculum topics which will be covered on this day include:

Re-group at the parking area, sign-out gear
Field observations
Companion rescue techniques and practice
Managing risk in avalanche terrain
Route selection, track setting and terrain related hazard
Snow profiles and stability tests
Companion rescue scenario
4:30pm Course debrief, presentation of certificates

Our field day will see a maximum participant-to-guide ratio of 8:1 to make for the best possible learning experience!

Is this Camp For Me?

Entry Level

The Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 Course is open to everyone with an interest in learning to be safer in the winter backcountry. Don't own your own ski or avalanche equipment yet? No problem, it's totally okay to take the course with rented snow shoes and beacon/probe/shovel (ACC members get a 10% discount on rentals at Gear Up in Canmore!)

Food, Accommodation and Guiding

Food

Food is not provided as part of the course. Please bring along a packed lunch and some snacks for both days.

Accommodation

As this course is offered out of the ACC Clubhouse in Canmore, we invite all out-of-town participants to stay with us. Located on a high bench overlooking the Three Sisters, Ha Ling and Mount Rundle, the ACC Clubhouse hostel is the perfect place to relax while completing your AST1. You can reserve a room for the night between your classroom day and field day upon reservation. Or if you need to stay longer, call our reservations team on 403 678 3200 ext. 300.

For full details on the Canmore Clubhouse accommodation click here.

Guiding

We have a dedicated team of instructors (below) who are excited to provide you with knowledge to start of your backcountry experiences safely.

We want to provide the best possible learning experience and give you maximum opportunity to ask questions. So for our field day on Day 2, we bring in an extra guide/instructor where necessary to keep participant-to-guide ratios below a maximum of 8:1.

The course overall is set up in a fantastic way and includes all essential knowledge and basic skills that every person who is heading out into the mountains should learn. The content of the course and the manner of our instructors to present the information is remarkable. Great course and great guides! Thank you so much!

The guides consistently asked us to make our own decisions and build our own measure of the snowpack. We were repeatedly asked what we would do given these circumstances.The AST 1 course was an excellent and very enjoyable experience for both myself and my son.

- 2019 AST Course Participants -

Popular AST 1 Locations

more information

Email us
403 678 3200 ext. 213
Gear list

Organizing Fantastic ACC Adventures For Over 100 Years

Local Knowledge - based out of Canmore, AB, we know the Rockies region and the best local caterers, guides and porters
Dedicated resources - full-time office staff, ACMG guides and group equipment on-hand to ensure your trip runs smoothly
Not-for-profit - any money we make on camps and courses is reinvested into providing services for our members and the mountain community

Cancellation policy and travel Insurance

Please be sure to review our cancellation policy before registering for ACC Adventures:

Cancellation Policy
We sell Tugo^® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips:

Travel Insurance

Included WITH YOUR CAMP FEE

2 days instruction by ACMG certified ski guides
Audio-visual avalanche presentation created by Doug Latimer
Avalanche Canada course materials including textbook
Avalanche Canada course certificate
Classroom space at the ACC Clubhouse

Participants Must Provide

Transportation to and from the field location on Day 2
Accommodation is available at the ACC Clubhouse for an additional $30 per night
Meals and lunches
Personal gear (see gear list)

Your Guides

Doug Latimer

Doug has 20 years of guiding experience behind him as an ACMG ski guide and an ACMG apprentice rock guide. As well as his private guiding he has spent a number of years working for the UoC where he taught a range of instructional programs in avalanche training, crevasse rescue and backcountry ski and ski mountaineering. He also somehow finds time to run a multimedia production company! In 2019, we are excited to announce Doug will be joining us as our on-staff winter guide; the perfect guy to take care of our Intro To, avalanche safety and other ski courses.

Phil Wilhelm

Phil grew up at the foot of the Rockies in Calgary, but that wasn’t enough, he had to move closer. He has now resided in the Bow Valley for the past 20 years pursuing his passions. As an assistant ski and rock guide he is often guiding ski trips or rock climbs. On his days off you can find him skiing or climbing for fun, or maybe fly fishing to satisfy his zen side. Safety oriented, an eye for a good line, a sly sense of humour, and being an all round good guy makes Phil a great choice to guide your next adventure.

Sean Prockter

Sean is a certified ski & climbing instructor and former ski patroller who has been sharing his passion for the outdoors with members of the ACC for many years. When he is not skiing or teaching in the winter, you'll find him in Maligne Canyon guiding ice walks under his new company called Jasper Hikes & Tours. He lives in Jasper, AB with his wife and Dog, Suka.