Service Description

Selkirk Powder Descents AST 2 course is designed for ski tourers/riders that have the fitness levels to climb 1500m vertical each day for four straight days. We feel the best way advance your decision making skills in avalanche terrain is by travelling through it. There will be many breaks along the way to discuss learning topics. We just want to be forthright about the fitness levels needed for Rogers Rogers. Revelstoke/Rogers Pass are excellent venues for an AST 2, however they involves long uphill climbs and steep descents. AST 2 is a four day course about developing your decision making tools as a backcountry skier. In this course you will be exposed to hazards and learn how to mitigate them. Students will take turns each day leading the group under Johns supervision as he offers mentorship with your route finding and terrain assessment skills. Up tracking skills and techniques are also covered in this course. Our four person AST 2 is a superior product to the alternative of doing an AST 2 with as many as eight people in the same course. We can travel faster and further than 8-10 person groups and provide a better learning experience being able to cover more terrain. * WE REQUIRE ALL PARTICIPANTS TO AT LEAST BE INTERMEDIATE SKIERS/SNOWBOARDERS AND BE FIT ENOUGH TO TOUR 5-10KM AND CLIMB 1500M VERTICAL FOR FOUR STRAIGHT DAYS TAKING BREAKS ALONG THE WAY* In a small group setting of only four participants everyone will have ample opportunity to lead the group under the supervision of a fully certified ACMG Guide and Avalanche Professional with the Canadian Avalanche association. As we travel through various types of terrain we will discuss where accidents can occur and learn from mistakes made in the past. Learning the latest snow instability tests and when/where to get the most important information for reducing risk will be a daily exercise on this course. Each day we will have rescue exercises so that by the end of the course you will be confident in your skills in companion rescue scenarios should an avalanche occur. This course is the perfect foundation for you to start the never ending learning process of recreating in avalanche terrain. If conditions allow Glacier Travel techniques will also be taught on this course Group sizes are kept to a minimum for increased learning and mentorship during the course. Where the group decides to ski tour each day will be based on the latest weather forecast and avalanche conditions. ​