Endorsed by Avalanche Canada
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.
*New for 2021*
Planning to venture out for some backcountry skiing missions this winter? Consider signing up for our mountain navigation course. Knowing how to properly navigate in the mountains is a core skill for both your summer and winter adventures. The focus of this course is map and compass use, trip planning as well as digital tools such as phone apps and Google Earth. This course will be a 2 classroom session / 2 full field day program, Mountain Navigation Course Outline. This course is strongly recommended for anybody taking either a Colwest AST 2 or AST 2+ course.
Course Fee – $195.00 (note, students who complete an AST 2 or AST 2+ course by the end of 2022 will receive a $95.00 refund)
| Navigation | Virtual Classroom (7:00-9:00pm) | Field Days (full days) | Status | Location |
| Course 1 | Oct 13 & 14 | Oct 16 or 17 | open | Kamloops Region |
| Course 2 | Oct 20 & 21 | Oct 23 or 24 | 5 spots | Kamloops Region |
Please note, all courses will be delivered with Covid-19 protocols in mind. Please review our Covid-19 “Best Practices” procedures here.
Please note, all courses will be delivered with Covid-19 protocols in mind. Please review our Covid-19 “Best Practices” procedures here.
Pre-course instructions will be provided via conference call, in the comfort and safety of your home or office.
Avalanche Skills Training
Learn skills that will help you play safer this winter!
Colwest Alpine Adventures specialize in Avalanche Safety Training Courses for climbers, mountaineers, skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers. We offer flexible scheduling for private groups. Let us know if you have a group of 6 or more and we will set up dates that are convenient for you.
Avalanche Skills Training
Avalanche Canada’s AST 2 course is a 3-day, 1-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. Introduction and application of Avalanche Canada’s Avaluator is also covered.
Prerequisites
- Successful completion of an AST 1 or RAC 1 course.
- Basic skiing, snow boarding or snowshoeing ability.
- Touring equipment or snow shoes required.
- Note: We will provide all the necessary snow safety equipment, no need for you to rent.
$415 AST 2 Course Fee Includes:
- 28 hrs of instruction from CAA Professional Members
- 6:1 student – instructor ratio
- Course Manual
- Terrain Recognition, applying the principals 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 2021 – 2022.
| AST 2 | Virtual Classroom (7:00-9:00pm) | Field Days (full days) | Status | Location |
| Course 1 | Jan 25 | Jan 27, 28 & 29 | open | Kamloops Region |
| Course 2 | Feb 1 | Feb 3, 4 & 5 | open | Kamloops Region |
| Course 3 | Feb 8 | Feb 10, 11 & 12 | open | Kamloops Region |
| Course 4 | Mar 15 | Mar 17, 18 & 19 | open | Kamloops Region |
Field days will be held at locations as convenient as possible for student groups while balancing appropriate terrain with current snow and weather conditions.
Due to the increasing pressure on backcountry locations we have decided to hold the majority of our field days during the week. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. We found that areas were over capacity on weekends last winter
AST 2+ – 2021 – 5-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 personal equipment list included with your course confirmation.
| AST 2+ | Virtual Classroom (7:00-9:00pm) | Field Days (full days) | Status | Location |
| Course 1 | Feb 14 | Feb 21, 22, 23, 24 & 25 | 6 spots | Kamloops Region |
| Course 2 | Feb 15 | Feb 28, Mar 1, 2, 3 & 4 | open | Kamloops Region |
Delivery of the AST 2+ courses will depend on the status of the Covid-19 pandemic public health orders. Sorry for any inconvenience.
*Have your own group, or need CUSTOMIZED course dates? Contact us*
Your Instructors: Brad Harrison & Terry Palechuk
Together, Brad and Terry have over 50 years of guiding experience and work in the avalanche industry.
Brad Harrison
- CAA Professional Member
- Executive Director, Backcountry Lodges of BC Association
- Chair, InfoEx Advisory Committee
- Contact Brad at colwest@shaw.ca or call 250-819-9774
Terry Palechuk
- ACMG Ski Guide
- Instructor, Adventure Guide Program, TRU
- CAA Professional Member / Chair, Avalanche Canada’s Education Committee
- Contact Terry at tpalechuk@tru.ca or call 250-573-4697
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 coursesThanks 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