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AST 2 Plus - Avalanche Safety Training Level 2
Register for course

Course Rundown

Accommodation

Accommodation not included. All inclusive package with breakfasts & suppers: + $150.00

Food

Food not included. All inclusive package including breakfast, suppers & accommodation: +$150.00

Course Cost:
$550.00 per person. All inclusive rate: Course, accommodation,breakfasts and suppers: $700.00
5% GST (Goods & Services Tax)

Duration:

4 days including a.m. & p.m. lectures - 36 hours of instruction

Location:

Rogers Pass, Glacier Park B.C.

Guide to client ratio:

1:8

Fitness:

Very good fitness

Ability:

Intermediate

Prerequisites:

AST 1 (at any time in the past), Type 2 skier (see Ability tab)

Ages:

This course is appropriate for participants 16 years old and up

Equipment:

No Equipment included. High quality equipment available at discount rental rate.

Transportation:

Transportation is available for an extra charge of $60.00 for the course

Booking deadline:

3 weeks before course

AST 2 Plus - Avalanche Safety Training Level 2

Course Description

This is the industries premiere Avalanche Safety Training 2 course.

An intensive fast track course of intermediate level, instructed at a world-class venue. The program has been specifically designed for the aspiring backcountry skier/boarder that has completed the AST 1 course and is of intermediate skiing ability. Participants will broaden their avalanche safety decision making with trip planning, safe route selection, snowpack evaluation and more. This "Plus" course is further augmented by additional MSA proprietary curriculum and essential skills training. Indoor morning and evening lectures supplement avalanche theory and safety principles, while 4 days of extensive training focuses on additional avalanche and ski touring safety skills. This course is 37 hours of instruction over 4 days, covering 53 critical lessons. The course is designed to serve both as a fast-tracked introduction to ski touring for those that have not toured much while at the same time greatly improving ths skill sets of even experienced ski tourers.

Under the close and direct supervision of their instructor, participants are given the opportunity to lead the group everyday. More experienced students will naturally have longer and more complex leads while less experienced students will lead according to their ability. This will develop critical independent avalanche safety decision-making and cement safe travel techniques as well as hazard mitigation.

One of the main goals of this course is not only to increase avalanche safety knowledge and skills, but also to empower participants to make critical safety decisions independently.

This course meets and surpasses the Canadian Avalanche Center’s (CAC) AST 2 already high course standards. Participants will obtain the MSA & CAA AST 2 Certificate after course completion.

Basing from the lodge, with its comfort and close proximity to perfect diverse terrain equates to a much higher quality and quantity of learning.

Overview of skills

• Understanding of snowpack formation, weak layers and avalanche mechanics
• Proficient use of avalanche safety tools such as the CAA Avaluator™, Parks Canada Ates Scale, avalanche bulletins and more
• Basic personal avalanche forecasting
• Avalanche terrain recognition
• Safe track setting and travel techniques
• Snowpack stability tests
• Rescue/safety tools & techniques
• Understanding personal limits in terms of training and experience
• Establish critical safe and conservative avalanche terrain decision making

The course is held at Rogers Pass, widely regarded as a world-class backcountry ski destination. This location is the perfect learning environment due to its reliable snowpack, complex terrain and avalanche control/forecasting infrastructure. All instructors are highly experienced Mountain/Ski guides holding the full IFMGA and/or ACMG certification. Small group sizes and leadership training allows each participant to garner maximum personal mentoring as well as lead time, track setting and making critical avalanche safety decisions under the direct supervision of their instructor.
This course is the obligatory prerequisite for taking future professional CAA courses.

Participants must have completed the AST 1 and have intermediate ski skills (Type II skier) some backcountry skiing/boarding experience is an asset.
In summary, this course is affordable and unique in design, boasting specially developed curriculum, teaching techniques and a very effective course layout. Course leaders are certified guides holding the highest qualification and certification- IFMGA/ACMG Mountain Guide or ACMG Ski guide holding a professional membership with the CAA.

*Disclaimer: Backcountry skiing/boarding in avalanche terrain poses potential dangers that can result in accidental injury or death, regardless of the level of training held by an individual or instructor. Safety is the Mountain Skills Academy’s foremost concern. We always use avalanche safety equipment, all instructors are IFMGA and/or ACMG certified guides as well as being members of the Canadian Avalanche Association. To achieve the goals of this course, students will backcountry ski/ ride into avalanche terrain and a complex mountain environment, neither of which can be rendered completely safe. As such the Mountains Skills Academy would like course participants to understand and accept the increased risks and hazards associated with this course. Agreement of fore mentioned risks and hazards as well as release of liability on the part of the Mountain Skills Academy is provided to students with the acceptance of the waiver during the registration process and through a formally signed waiver prior to the start of the course. The Mountain Skills Academy may not be held liable for any skiing or avalanche related accidents occurring during or after the course.

Course Itinerary

View logistics - Course Equipment, Accommodation, Food and Transportation options view logistics
Equipment List - What to bring?, what not to bring? We can answer those questions view equipment list

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Day one –

09:00 Meet at the Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge, Canmore

Introductions, sign waivers, course materials handout – MSA AST II handbook, , Write in the Rain field book, mechanical pencil.
Lesson 1 Safety discussion, UIAA Environmental & Mountain ethics discussion
Lesson 2 AST 1 Review
Lesson 3 AST 2 course objectives and layout
Lesson 4 Leadership in avalanche terrain
Lesson 5 Terrain exceptions
Lesson 6 Terrain verification
Lesson 8 Avalanche Danger
Lesson 9 Advanced Companion Rescue
Lesson 10 Field Session: Companion Rescue
Lesson 11 Multiple victim technique
Lesson 12 Multiple victim with 2 close burials
Lesson 13 Deep Burial technique
Lesson 14 Probing and Conveyor Belt Digging Technique

6:00 End of field day

17:30: Evening Session

Lesson 15 Avalanche Danger Exceptions
Lesson 16 Local seasonal snowpack and notable occurrences/weak layers
Lesson 17 Local Avalanche Danger Verification

20:00 End of day 1

Day Two –

09:30 (Britsh Columbia time) Glacier Park Lodge Hotel Lobby at Rogers Pass

Lesson 18 Morning meeting: Avalanche discussion including local weather & conditions. ATS plan review
Lesson 19 Avalanche Resources – Rogers Pass center

09:00 Ski touring – Demonstration & Guide Mentoring day

Lesson 21 Trailhead procedures
Lesson 22 Situational awareness
Lesson 23 Recognizing terrain transitions & conditions changes- Danger Exceptions
Lesson 24 Investigate Primary Concerns in regional avalanche forecast
Lesson 25 Investigate Avalanche activity
Lesson 26 Investigate Signs of Unstable Snow
Lesson 27 Investigate Loading
Lesson 28 Investigate Thaw Instability
Lesson 29 Investigate Local snowpack
Lesson 30 Investigate unstable snow
Lesson 31 Making safe route finding decisions on the go based on ATTS plan. a plan according to new terrain transition, safety plan, trip plan while keeping options open. Recognizing typical avalanche hazard areas (terrain traps, slope angles, avalanche paths, convex rolls, shallow snowpack areas, etc). Recognizing conditions changes
Lesson 32 Safe travel techniques & group management – Route finding, Terrain verification
Lesson 33 Field snow stability tests & investigating avalanche activity
Lesson 34 Finding known critical layers (ski pole hand shear test, compression test, Rutschblock test, ski cutting)
Lesson 35 Snowpack and weather recording (for those moving on to CAA level 1 professional course)

16:00 End of field day 2

17:30: Evening Session

Lesson 36 Post trip review
Lesson 37 Local avalanche bulletin
Lesson 38 Weather forecast
Lesson 39 Weather products
Lesson 40 Field findings
Lesson 34 Determining avalanche hazard/stability
Lesson 41 Route Planning
Lesson 42 Trip Planning
Lesson 43 MSA Avalanche Terrain Trip Safety Plan - ATTS plan. An integrated avalanche trip & safety plan (topo maps, terrain pictures, guidebooks, local knowledge, personal experience, utilizing weather forecast, CAA avalanche bulletin, Avaluator™, map/terrain shots/ATES Scale).
Student ATTS plan

20:00 End of day

Day three -Student lead Leadership day with Guide Mentoring

07:30 Morning meeting: Avalanche discussion including local weather & conditions. ATS Plan (Avalanche Trip Safety Plan) review

08:30 Ski touring

Lessons 21 –43 (See above, these lessons are taught on a continual basis throughout the course)
Lesson 44 Leadership in avalanche terrain – participants take turns leading the group, under close and direct supervision of the instructor. Lead times are dependent on participant ability and experience
Lesson 45 Independent critical avalanche safety decision-making system
Lesson 46 Independent situational awareness
Lesson 47 Independent transition & conditions recognition
Lesson 48 Independent group leadership & management

16:00 End of field day 3

17:30: Evening Session

Post trip review
Lesson 49 Decision Making Support System
Lesson 50 Human factors case study
Lesson 51 Confidence in Decision-Makin & Critical safe and conservative decision making strategy
Student ATS plan

19:30 End of day

Day Four -Student lead Leadership day with Guide Mentoring

07:30 Morning meeting: Avalanche discussion including local weather & conditions. ATS Plan (Avalanche Trip Safety Plan) review

08:30 Ski touring

Lessons 21 –43 (See above, these lessons are taught on a continual basis throughout the course)
Lesson 52 Special session on dealing with terrain crux’s & critical safe and conservative decision making

16:00 Back at Hotel

Post trip review
Lesson 53 Final safety discussion - Understanding the limits of your current skill and experience.
Course debrief
AST 2 Certificate handout
Next steps

16:00 Course closure

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Course Logistics

View Itinerary - A day by day summary of the course view itinerary
Equipment List - What to bring?, what not to bring? We can answer those questions view equipment list

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included for this course. The additional package for $150 includes 2 nights accommodation at Glacier Park Lodge.

Food

Days two to four breakfasts are included. Days one to three suppers are included (in hotel dining room). Please plan your own lunches by either bringing lunch food or buying packed lunches from the hotel. Please make sure to have enough high energy lunch and snacks to see you through a full day of ski touring. Alcoholic Beverages and pop not included.

Transportation

Provide your own transportation or add transport for an extra charge of $60.00. If you choose to include transport, please let us know.

Equipment

All participants must have the equipment detailed in the equipment list. Snowboarders must have split boards (available for rental). No snowshoes.

Please view equipment list

Equipment List

View logistics - Course Equipment, Accommodation, Food and Transportation options view logistics
View Itinerary - A day by day summary of the course view itinerary

Clothing

Changes of warm top and bottom under layers and socks. Mid layer fleece top, optional soft shell top, Hard shell Jacket. Soft or hard shell pants, warm hat, optional baklava or neck tube, 2 pairs of gloves, optional mitts, sunglasses and sunscreen. Street clothes and shoes, bathing suite.

Equipment

Backcountry Ski/snowboard boots
Backcountry Skis/Splitboard
Skins
Ski poles
Avalanche beacon
Probe
Shovel
Ski goggles- two sets is a good idea
Write in the rain book and mechanical pencil
First Aid Kit with blister kit
Glop stopper
Ski scraper
Compass (optional)
Map (optional)
Laptop computer (optional)
GPS (optional)

Food & Water

Breakfasts for day 2-4 are included as are suppers for days 1-3. Please bring lunch food for four days including plenty of high energy snacks and fluids. Or plan on buying packaged lunches from the hotel. A thermos for warm tea is a good idea. Water bladders are not recommended as they sometimes leak or freeze.

Other

None

Course Photographs

Fitness Explained

Good Fitness
In good general health- able to walk or ski for at least two hours at a slow pace (including breaks) in undulating terrain. Able to carry a light load (25lbs = 12 kilos).

Very Good Fitness
Exercise regularly (in gym, mountains, etc)- have fairly good cardio. Can walk or ski for several hours (including breaks) over several days in diverse mountain terrain at a moderate pace (including up hill and down hill). Able to carry a moderate load (35-45 lbs = 16- 20 kilos)

Peak Fitness
Follow a routine exercise schedule and may even be training for sports or expeditions. Excellent cardio and good stamina. Able to walk or ski all day at a moderate pace over several days in diverse mountain terrain including steeper uphill and downhill sections. Able to carry moderate loads of (35 to 55lbs = 25 kilos). You feel it would be reasonable for you to acclimatize on peaks.

Ability Explained

Introductory
Suitable for beginner level, no prior experience required.

Intermediate
You have previous experience and a good general knowledge of the sport.

Advanced
You have very good knowledge of the sport developed from regular practice.

Backcountry Skier Ability Level

Type I Beginner
Skis slowly and conservatively. Newer to backcountry skiing, links parallel turns and able to slide slip more difficult sections. Can stop when desired.

Type II Intermediate
Skis at a moderate pace. Links parallel turns in powder and can come to a full stop on demand. Able to handle varied snow conditions and terrain. Has no problem skiing in trees or negotiating short ski crux's (difficult sections).

Type III Advanced
Skis more aggressively, at higher speeds and able to ski advanced terrain. Can handle different snow conditions. Enjoys more technical terrain. No problem handling short cruxes and steeper sections.

Type IV Expert
Aggressive and fast, capable of skiing in all conditions. Able to negotiate difficult sections, ski in couloirs and prolonged steep terrain.

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Course Schedule & Pricing


Scheduled Course Date	Course Price	Register	Inquire
January 12 - 15, 2012	$550 + 12% HST		Inquire
February 4 - 7, 2012	$550 + 12% HST		Inquire
February 18 - 21, 2012	$550 + 12% HST		Inquire
March 2 - 5, 2012 - COURSE FULL	$550 + 12% HST		Inquire
March 24 -27, 2012 - COURSE FULL	$550 + 12% HST		Inquire
Please contact MSA directly for alternate date for pre-arranged groups of 4 or more people	$550 + 12% HST		Inquire
n/a	$550 + 12% HST		Inquire
n/a	$550 + 12% HST		Inquire

Private Course Option
We also offer our students the option of a private course. Join a group of friends together, let us know your group size and preferred dates. See chart below for private course prices.

*Bonus! The group organizer will save 10%. Single private course also available.


Private Date Option	Course Price	Register	Inquire
4 People	Please click Regiser for info -->		Inquire
3 People	Please click Regiser for info -->		Inquire
2 People	Please click Regiser for info -->		Inquire
1 Person	Please click Regiser for info -->		Inquire

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