AST 1 Refresher

So you've taken your AST 1 or 1+ but it's been a few years or even just a long summer and everything you learned on your AST course seems a bit distant. Or maybe you got out a few times after your course and now have some more questions. Then this is the course for you!

Our AST 1 Refresher course will focus on updating and refreshing your skills, covering any changes in best practice or technology and practicing to make your winter travels in avalanche terrain safer and more enjoyable. Our avalanche safety instructors are  members of the Canadian Avalanche Association and Guides. Their extensive personal experience in winter guiding, avalanche operations and forecasting will add an extra dimension of interest to your training.

Other Options:

• If you haven't already taken an AST 1 course then that's the first step: Classic AST 1
• Want to spend more than a day refreshing and upgrading your avalanche safety skills? Check out an AST 2 course.

Pre-Trip Homework:

• Review Avy Savvy, specifically: 
  • Chapter 4: Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (Includes Online Trip Planner and Avaluator Trip Planner Exercises 
  • Chapter 5: The Avalanche Forecast (Including Avalanche Problems and the Avalanche Forecast Quiz) 
  • Chapter 6: The Daily Process (Including Route Finding Exercises). This section might be new for some depending on when they took their AST 1 course 
  • Chapter 7: Companion Rescue 

Waiver & Risk Management:

As you know, outdoor activities involve numerous hazards including, but not limited to, avalanches, crevasses, rockfall, slips and falls, equipment failure, poor weather, etc. And while we do our best to anticipate and mitigate these hazards we cannot completely eliminate them. So, as with anything fun, you will be required to sign our Participant Release to take part in one of our courses or trips.

The course will take place in an uncontrolledly backcountry winter environment. However, we will be on the periphery of avalanche terrain so as to enable us to run the course no matter what the avalanche danger is for that given day.  All our guides/instructors have an advanced first aid certification and carry first aid kits as well as emergency communication. The course is designed to provide a good platform for learning and is not meant to be overly physically challenging or to put you at risk. Our focus is on instruction so we find appropriate companion rescue and avalanche study areas close that are not overly difficult to access to maximize your avalanche education.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions: booking@blacksheepadventure.ca