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Highlights
Learn the basics of avalanche safety in the beautiful Rockies
Take an in-depth course on the basics of avalanche safety beginning in a classroom setting in Calgary or Canmore.
Learn how to keep yourself and your adventure friends safe in areas with avalanche risk.
Put your skills to the test on the second day, where you’ll head out into the field to sharpen your knowledge.
Add an optional extra day of backcountry skiing to demonstrate real-world mastery of your newfound skills.
Avalanche safety is a must-have tenet of backcountry adventure and a critical step in keeping yourself and your adventure partners safe in the wintertime and shoulder season. The Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies tour is a practical chance to learn the basics of avalanche safety in one of the most beautiful mountain environments in the world.
This tour is the perfect start to a lifetime of mountain adventures! You’ll spend a day in the classroom in Calgary or Canmore, learning from an experienced instructor. On Day 2, you’ll head out into the mountains to continue to sharpen your skills in avalanche risk assessment, companion rescue practice, and snow study. Add an optional third day to go backcountry skiing, exercising your new knowledge in a real-world application. This is a must for snow-loving skiers, snowshoers, hikers, and more!
Avalanche safety is a must-have tenet of backcountry adventure and a critical step in keeping yourself and your adventure partners safe in the wintertime and shoulder season. The Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies tour is a practical chance to learn the basics of avalanche safety in one of the most beautiful mountain environments in the world.
This tour is the perfect start to a lifetime of mountain adventures! You’ll spend a day in the classroom in Calgary or Canmore, learning from an experienced instructor. On Day 2, you’ll head out into the mountains to continue to sharpen your skills in avalanche risk assessment, companion rescue practice, and snow study. Add an optional third day to go backcountry skiing, exercising your new knowledge in a real-world application. This is a must for snow-loving skiers, snowshoers, hikers, and more!
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Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies Itinerary
Day 1 Lecture Day in Canmore or Calgary
Your AST 1 course begins in either Canmore or Calgary depending on your booking. You’ll have an intro session with the group and then dive right into learning: avalanche phenomena and implications, avalanche formation, triggers, avalanche terrain recognition, the ATES scale, companion rescue, using transceivers, and more.
If these terms are alien to you, don’t worry- you’re about to learn the ropes.
Overnight Location: Not included in tour price
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Bow Summit Field Day
Show what you know out at Bow Summit today, where you’ll be issued training gear and begin to practice your field observations. Spend today honing what you learned yesterday in a natural environment, even practicing a group rescue scenario.
Overnight Location: Not included in tour price
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 3 Optional Backcountry Ski or Splitboard Day
Ready to show what you know? Add on an optional backcountry skiing or splitboarding day with the group to exercise your skills training on the mountain. Not only will this be perfect practice, but it’ll be wicked fun, too!
Overnight Location: Not included in tour price
Distance: None
Meals: None
Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies Price and Dates
This guided skills training course is run as a fixed-departure tour where you’d be joining a group.Important notes:
- This tour is available in Canmore/Banff and Calgary. While some dates have courses running in both destinations, some are in either Canmore or Calgary-only.
- Note that you can book an optional third day for an extra charge
Start
Finish
Duration
Spaces Left
Price
Sat, Nov 23
From Calgary
Sun, Nov 24
to Calgary
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Sat, Nov 23
From Canmore
Sun, Nov 24
to Canmore
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Wed, Nov 27
From Canmore
Thu, Nov 28
to Canmore
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Sat, Nov 30
From Calgary
Sun, Dec 1
to Calgary
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Sat, Nov 30
From Canmore
Sun, Dec 1
to Canmore
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Sat, Dec 7
From Calgary
Sun, Dec 8
to Calgary
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Sat, Dec 7
From Canmore
Sun, Dec 8
to Canmore
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Tue, Dec 10
From Canmore
Wed, Dec 11
to Canmore
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Sat, Dec 14
From Canmore
Sun, Dec 15
to Canmore
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Sat, Dec 21
From Calgary
Sun, Dec 22
to Calgary
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Sat, Dec 21
From Canmore
Sun, Dec 22
to Canmore
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Thu, Dec 26
From Canmore
Fri, Dec 27
to Canmore
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Sat, Dec 28
From Canmore
Sun, Dec 29
to Canmore
2 Days
5+
Spaces left
CAD$315
Accommodation on the Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies
There are no included accommodations on this tour. You will be responsible for choosing and booking your own accommodations, although we are happy to lend a hand. Travellers taking this course can enjoy a discounted rate at Clique Hotels & resorts.
Night 1
Accommodation in Canmore
Accommodation on this tour is not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in both Canmore, Calgary and Banff, including campsites, hostels, all levels of hotels as well as condo-style accommodation with kitchens or suites. We recommend that you book your own pre and post-trip accommodations well in advance as all levels of accommodations in the Bow Valley fill quickly.
What’s Included in the Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies Tour?
Logistics, Meals and Accommodation
This training course doesn’t include any meals, transportation, or accommodation. If you need any help with booking your own accommodation, we are happy to assist you if needed. Travellers taking this course can enjoy a discounted rate at Clique Hotels & resorts. For meals, please pack your own high-energy meals and snacks for field days.
Included
- Instruction classroom material
- Avalanche safety equipment use (probes, shovels, snow crystal cards)
- Certified and skilled instructors
Not included
- Flights
- Hotels
- Meals, drinks, or snacks
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions
- Visas if required
- Anything not mentioned as included
- GST (5%)
Optional Extras
- Optional Backcountry ski or splitboard day: CAD229 per person
- How hard is the Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Canada?
- Is there an age limit for participation in this training course?
- Will I get a certificate?
- Are meals included on the Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Calgary or Canmore to start this tour?
- Is the Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies tour guided?
- Where does the Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies tour end?
- What do I need to know about the backcountry ski day?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Canada?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Canada?
- When is the best time to travel to Canada for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 2/5. You’ll spend one day in a classroom and one day out in winter conditions in the mountains, skiing or snowshoeing up to 5km with up to 250m of elevation gain. If you add the optional ski or splitboard day, you’ll need to be an intermediate or better skier or snowboarder and be 18 years of age or older.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
The minimum age is 13. Those who are younger than 16 years old are recommended to be accompanied by a parent. Optional ski or splitboard day has an age limit of 18.
Yes! You will receive Avalanche Skills Training 1 Certificate. The AST1 is the prerequisite for the professional level Avalanche Operations Level 1 and our Avalanche Skills Training 2 course.
No meals are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip. Please verify that your insurance covers the included activities on this tour. Get your Travel Insurance.
Fly into the Calgary International Airport (YYC). Calgary courses are held at Suite 550 Guinness House in the Elveden Center at 727 7th Avenue S.W. Canmore courses are held in variable locations. We recommend renting a car if possible as you’ll need to transfer to Bow Summit on Day 2.
Yes, you will be learning from and supervised by an experienced guide.
The tour ends after the final lesson on Bow Summit. You will be responsible for finding your own way back to the airport.
Let us know if you wish to book the optional 3rd day of this tour, which involves a backcountry ski or splitboarding expedition. You need to bring your own equipment (snowboarders must use a splitboard), be 18 years of age or older, and be intermediate level or better. This extension will incur an additional fee.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to visit the Canadian Rockies for this tour is the wintertime between December and March when there’s enough snow to accurately learn about avalanches.
Customer Ratings
Located in Canmore, Alberta at the gates of Banff National Park, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is one of Canada’s premier providers of mountaineering, rock & ice climbing, backcountry skiing, hiking, and trekking experiences in the Canadian Rockies. For over 40 years, we have hosted thousands of clients from Canada and all over the world. Our brand is known for quality mountain experiences, safety, and well-organized itineraries. We have some of the best mountain guides and hiking guides in the industry. All Yamnuska Mountain Adventures climbing guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
