Women’s Avalanche Skills!

 

VMG is excited to partner with She Can Retreats to offer women’s only programming. These programs are designed to empower women in the backcountry. Avalanche Skills Training 1 is the industry standard entry-level course.

This course teaches a basic understanding of five primary learning outcomes:

  1. Basic Avalanche Formation And Release

  2. Recognize Avalanche Terrain

  3. Plan And Execute A Backcountry Trip

  4. Travel Techniques And Group Management

  5. Demonstrate A Basic Companion Rescue

This course is essential for anyone that wants to travel in the winter backcountry.

Upon completion of this course, you will receive an official Avalanche Canada AST 1 Certificate. This certificate is a prerequisite for all higher level courses. Receive 10% off Intro BC Skiing by booking both courses with VMG.

 

Itinerary

Self-Paced Study - 8 hours

Access our professional online classroom.

  • Self-guided - learn at your own pace.

  • Avalanche Canada curriculum.

  • Case studies, videos, and quizzes to test your understanding.

Provided Course Materials:
Avalanche Skills Training Handbook (textbook)
Avaluator V.2" decision making guide (tool)

Thursday Evening - Live Zoom Classroom

Online classroom session via Zoom.

7pm - 9pm

Saturday - Field Day

Meet at Cloudburst Cafe, Squamish at 7am. Meet your instructor and group. Fill your thermos with coffee. Proceed to Diamond Head parking lot in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Note: tire chains are required to drive to the upper parking lot. Please check the BC Parks website for details.

7am - 4pm

 

Waiver

Please carefully read and make sure you understand the Avalanche Canada Waiver. You are required to complete this waiver in the presence of your guide/instructor before participating.

Goals

Self-paced Online Classroom

  • Factors leading to avalanche formation:

    • Weak layers

    • Slope angle

    • Weather

    • Triggers

  • Understanding the Avalanche Danger Scale and Public Avalanche Bulletins

  • Using the Avaluator tool (supplied)

  • Learn human and heuristic factors to avoid to make safer decisions.

  • Trip planning, safety plans, and essentials to carry in your backpack.

Thursday Evening - Live Session

  • Answer questions, review topics that need clarification.

  • Review equipment and trip planning procedures for the field day:

    • Equipment

    • Weather forecast

    • Avalanche Forecast

  • Field day location and itinerary for the day.

Saturday - Field Day

  • Field observations (wind, precipitation, sun, temperature, shooting cracks).

  • Learn about essential safety equipment and technology:

    • Shovel, transceiver, and probe

    • GPS navigation/communications

  • Transceiver search methods, probing for buried victims, shoveling.

  • Single burial scenario and multi-burial scenario. Triaging in an emergency.

  • Choosing a route, recognizing terrain, avoiding terrain traps, managing risk.

  • Snow pack analysis and profiles. Identifying layers in the snowpack.

 

Ratio

8:1  (min 4)

Participants : Instructor

Note: VMG offers private courses for groups. Please contact us to book your group today.

 

Pre-requisites

  • Practised touring on skis/split-board and using skins.

  • Comfortable skiing/boarding down GREEN runs (or harder).

  • Fitness to skin uphill 3km and 300m elevation gain.

  • No previous avalanche skills experience required.

 
 

Fee

$199 +GST (Self-paced study, Zoom classroom, Field day)

 

Note: We book private groups for courses. Please contact VMG.

 

Dates

 

Equipment

(click here for a full list)

  • Ski touring kit, splitboard kit, or snowshoes (including skins)

  • Helmet

  • Avalanche transceiver (3 antenna preferred)

  • Probe (3m probe preferred)

  • Shovel (extendable handle)

  • Snow saw (optional)

  • First aid kit with blister kit and tape

  • Headlamp, lighter, whistle, emergency blanket

  • Ski goggles

  • Sunglasses

  • Cell Phone (charged 100%) download GAIA GPS maps.

  • Lunch and snacks

 

Rentals

All Access Adventures - VMG participants receive 10% off.

 

Questions?

 

Learn to use shovel, probe, and beacon!

Avalanche Skills Training 1 is the quintessential introductory course for all winter backcountry users. Learn life saving rescue skills and the tools to chose safer terrain that lowers your risk.