AST 2

Utilizing Avalanche Canada Materials

Hey folks, winter will be upon us before we know it. Need a safer ride? Want to expand your knowledge? Jump on one of our AST 2 courses.

Pre-course instructions will be provided via conference call in the comfort and safety of your home or office.

Avalanche Skills Training – AST 2 – 2024-25

Learn skills that will help you ride more safely this winter!

Colwest Alpine Adventures specializes in Avalanche Safety Training Courses for climbers, mountaineers, skiers, & snowboarders.

Have a group of 6 or more? We can set up convenient dates that fit your schedule.

We have discovered that having a group of people similar in fitness and skill often translates to a better course experience. This is your opportunity to coordinate a select group of participants.

Avalanche Canada’s AST 2 course is a 3-day, 3-evening course that focuses on improving the participants’ ability to travel safely in the Avalanche Terrain. The course is at an advanced level. Participants need to have previously completed an AST 1 or RAC 1.

Course content will include snowpack evaluation, snow profile interpretation, and companion rescue techniques (shovelling, probing, and transceiver use). Emphasis will be placed on terrain evaluation, group management, route finding, and decision-making. The application of Avalanche Canada’s Avaluator will also be covered.

Prerequisites
  • Successful completion of an AST 1 or RAC 1 course.
  • Basic skiing or split boarding ability.
  • Touring equipment or split board required.
  • Note: We will provide all the necessary snow safety equipment; you do not need to rent.
AST 2 Course Fee – $515 Includes:
  • 30 hours of instruction from CAA Professional Members
  • Terrain Recognition, applying the principles of the Avaluator
  • Small party self-rescue
  • Industry Recognized certificate of completion
  • Use of the following safety equipment (shovel, probe, transceiver)

AST 2 Courses Dates – BC Interior – Please note, all dates are 2025

*Have a private group, or do you need CUSTOMIZED course dates? Contact us by utilizing the registration form at the bottom of the page*

*if you are on a mobile device, swipe right to see the complete schedule

#In-Person Classroom
(7:00-9:00 pm)
(Virtual or online available)		Field Days
(3 full days)		StatusLocation
1Feb 12 & 13Feb 14, 15 & 162 spotsKamloops / Coquihalla Trophy
2Mar 12 & 13Mar 14, 15 & 162 spotsKamloops / Coquihalla Trophy

Field days will be held at locations as convenient as possible for student groups while balancing appropriate terrain with current snow and weather conditions.

AST 2+ – 2025: 5-7 day course covering leadership, track-setting, orienteering, downhill group management & many other skills. The immersion style of this course has consistently been popular with participants and instructors alike. 
If you have a group of 6 or more who are interested in an AST 2+, please contact us directly. We will discuss timing, locations, and expectations.

AST Registration

Registration for Colwest avalanche-related courses.

AST Registration

Registration for Colwest avalanche related courses.

    Please select the course you would like to sign up for
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Try one of our week-long, hut-based AST+ courses. Learn while you are immersed in the environment.
Learn while you are on the ‘sharp end of the stick’, in a leadership role. Understanding terrain is a key piece.
Snow is complex, pick up some techniques. Travel through snow ghosts
Have fun exploring some of the BC’s vast backcountry. Leading will be in a downhill setting as well.

Thanks for the links! I’ll definitely be checking them out!
And thanks again for being an awesome, fun instructor! It was a really great learning experience, And I’m very glad that I took the course!

Crystal

Hi Brad,
It was our pleasure to have such an instructor such as yourself. Your depth of knowledge and experience combined with your teaching style and sense of humour and practicality made the entire experience most enjoyable. I certainly hope to do some backcountry skiing with you in the future.

Nick

You have really put on an amazing course and I am really happy with the knowledge that I’ve learned. I really believe you are the best or one of the very best in our province at what you do. Your course was enjoyable and also really challenged me – I had a friend that took a similar course stateside and I must’ve learned about three times as much in yours.

Dave

You have really put on an amazing course and I am really happy with the knowledge that I’ve learned. I really believe you are the best or one of the very best in our province at what you do. Your course was enjoyable and also really challenged me – I had a friend that took a similar course stateside and I must’ve learned about three times as much in yours.

Peter

Thanks for the great course Brad. Lots of great practical tips and advice from your wealth of knowledge and experience.
Thanks again and cheers!

Jordan