AST 2

Utilizing Avalanche Canada Materials

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

Learn skills that will help you play safer this winter!

Colwest Alpine Adventures specializes in Avalanche Safety Training Courses for climbers, mountaineers, skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers. We offer flexible scheduling for private groups.

*Have your own group, or need CUSTOMIZED course dates & preferred topics? Contact us by utilizing the registration form at the bottom of the page*

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

The course curriculum follows Avalanche Canada guidelines.

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 the resulting decision-making process. The introduction and application of Avalanche Canada’s Avaluator are also 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, no need for you to rent.
AST 2 Course Fee – $515 Includes:
  • 30 hours of instruction from CAA Professional Members
  • 4:1 student-instructor ratio
  • Course Manual
  • 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 2023 – 2024.

AST 2Virtual Classrooms (7:00pm-9:00pm)Field Days (full days)StatusLocation
Course 1Feb 13, 14 & 15 Feb 23, 24 & 25openKamloops / Coquihalla
Course 2Feb 28, 29 & Mar 6 Mar 22, 23 & 24openKamloops / Coquihalla

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+ – 2024: 7-day course covering leadership, track-setting, orienteering, downhill group management & many other skills. Please contact us for more details. The immersion style of this course has consistently been popular with participants. Full details, including a personal equipment list included with your course confirmation. Course fees will be approximately $1885.00/participant, including all taxes, food, transportation to the lodge, instruction and course materials.

Note – Course schedule will be dependent on group enrolment.

AST 2+ Virtual Classroom (7:00pm-9:00pm) Field Days (full days) Status Location
Course 1 TBDTBDopenKamloops – Blue River

*Have your own group, or need CUSTOMIZED course dates? Contact us by utilizing the registration form below*

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.

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
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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