AST 1 – Revelstoke – Town Based

Avalanche Safety Training (AST 1) in Revelstoke. This is a vital first step in backcountry avalanche terrain exploration. Nationally-standardized curriculum by Avalanche Canada. Interactive classroom day and 8-hour field trip.

About the Course

All participants must complete the waiver acknowledgement before booking.

Curriculum: The AST 1 Revelstoke, with a field trip to a local venue such as MacPherson, features a nationally-standardized curriculum developed by Avalanche Canada. This course is the essential first step in developing your decision making framework for venturing into winter backcountry avalanche terrain. Day one of the course will be an interactive classroom day, followed by an 8 hour field trip the following day. All participants must read and agree to the terms of the waiver before booking an AST course.

At the end of the course you will be able to:

Recognize avalanche terrain
Match terrain to the avalanche hazard
Demonstrate methods of group travel that reduce risk in avalanche terrain
Interpret the avalanche forecast
Use avalanche rescue equipment and understand the basics of companion rescue
Understand factors that affect the seasonal snowpack
Know how to navigate the Rogers Pass Winter Permit System
Obtain the AST 1 certificate

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our Instructors and Guides

The Mountain Addicts team is obsessed with safety. All of our guides are members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). The ACMG is the only internationally recognized professional association of trained and certified mountain guides and instructors in Canada. Our guides come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and Mountain Addicts will find your perfect match.

Mel Makepeace

Ski Guide & Owner

Mel is the owner of Mountain Addicts, an ACMG Ski Guide and Professional Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. She began her career as a ski patroller in 2008 and now travels the world ski touring and heli-ski guiding. Mel particularly loves facilitating mountain travel confidence in women.

More Info

Ability to ski off-piste in a controlled manner.
Ability to ascend roughly 300-600 vertical meters over the course of the field day.
All participants are required to sign a waiver.

Day 1 - Classroom Day

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: To Be Determined (TBD)

Prepare for a full day of immersive learning! Our aim is to keep you engaged throughout. On this classroom day, we lay the foundation for safe travel in avalanche terrain, emphasizing the importance of trip planning from the comfort of your home. We'll delve into identifying avalanche terrain and dive into companion rescue theory, setting the stage for practical companion rescue training.

We've scheduled quick breaks throughout the day, but do remember to bring your own lunch and snacks, or come prepared to purchase something nearby. We'll keep the caffeine flowing with coffee and tea on the house.

Don't forget to bring your transceiver for classroom day; it's an essential piece of equipment.

Day 2 - Field Day

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Nordic Centre at MacPherson

On Day 2, we put theory into practice. The morning begins with a meeting to discuss the Public Avalanche Bulletin, weather conditions (past, current, and expected), potential trip plan adjustments, and emergency protocols. Safety checks of our rescue gear precede our journey onto the skin track. Our travel will be restricted as our focus shifts to the core learning objectives: companion rescue skills, avalanche terrain recognition, and group travel practices that mitigate avalanche risks.

During the field day, you'll encounter two group rescue scenarios, rounding off the day with a contribution to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Rest assured, our AST 1 course is led by a Canadian Avalanche Association member, and field trips are guided by an ACMG Ski Guide, meeting the highest safety standards.

Equipment List

Required items: Please bring the following to the classroom sessions

Lunch & Snacks (We will have a break and there are food options near-by)
Pen & Paper
Note: coffee/tea are provided on Saturday at the classroom venue
Digital Avalanche Transceiver with Fresh Batteries: 3 Antenna type transceiver required, if you are unsure, send Mountain Addicts an email indicating the make and model of your transceiver.

Required Items: Please bring the following on the field day

Lunch & Snacks: Bring a variety of small snacks to eat on-the-go, such as bars, jerky, cheese, as well as a sandwich is recommended. We don’t often have the time/weather for a lengthy sit-down lunch which makes tupperware items requiring utensils impractical.
Water/Tea: A warm thermos of tea/hot chocolate as well as 1L of water, hydration packs are not recommended due to cold freezing the tube.
Digital Avalanche Transceiver
Avalanche Shovel: collapsible & metal
Collapsible Avalanche Probe: longer is better
Skis: ‘Alpine Touring with touring bindings’ or ‘Telemark’. Please practice transitioning your bindings from ski-mode to walk-mode and back again. Mel Makepeace loves the Icelantic Nomad Lite for ski touring performance.

Split Board: with split board skins. Please practice transitions from touring mode to riding mode at home before the field day

Ski Poles: recommended for all modes of travel
Climbing Skins ‘Stick-on type’
Boots: appropriate for your mode of snow travel
Day Pack: large enough for spare clothes, lunch, shovel and probe. 30 liter minimum size recommended.
Sunglasses and/or Ski Goggles: we recommend both as high output activities will fog up your goggles. Goggles with multiple lenses are especially handy; XSPEX Goggles “Chaos”
Sunscreen

Optional Equipment: Not essential, but feel free to bring

Chemical hand warmers & toe warmers packs
Snow Saw
Snow Study Kit
Field Book & Pencil
Compass, Inclinometer

Mountain Addicts have limited gear available to rent.

Field Day Clothing

During the field day there can be longer periods of inactivity in cold temperatures. To maximize your learning experience, be sure to bring lots of extra clothing so that you can focus on the course and not the cold. Bring clothing of varying thicknesses that can be ‘layered’ to achieve comfort and versatility. Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. You may have heard the expression “Cotton Kills”.

Below is a recommended clothing list:

Base Layers (top and bottom): Wool or synthetic materials preferred, such as Rab® Forge Leggings and Top
Water Resistant Jacket: A quality hardshell for staying dry when it’s dumping is an essential piece of ski touring kit. Our guide’s use the Rab® Khroma Kinetic Jacket.
Water Resistant Ski Pants: Waterproof pants help keep you warm in the powder. Pants with ventilation that you can open and close are ideal. Check out the Rab® Khroma Kinetic Pants.
Warm Mid-Layer Shirt, Sweater, or Fleece such as the Rab ® Alpha Flash Jacket.
Insulated Jacket or Vest: A feather down or Primaloft™ insulated jacket is essential for staying warm while taking breaks or when the weather gets really cold. Don’t be afraid to double down! The Mountain Addicts love the Rab ® Neutrino Pro Jacket.
Socks: wool or synthetic, no cotton.
Wool or Fleece Hat that covers the ears.
Buff: great for protecting your face in cold and windy conditions. Mountain Addicts have buffs for sale.
2 Pair of Gloves: we always recommend ski touring with at least 2 pair of gloves. One pair for sweating in, and another pair for keeping your hands dry and warm. Check out these options: Rab ® Pivot GTX Glove and Rab ® Khroma Tour Infinium Gloves.
Ski Helmet: recommended for skiers and riders. We love Pret helmets!