AST 2 McDermott Hut – Fernie

The AST 2 curriculum, developed by Avalanche Canada, will build on skills learned in the AST 1 course. It is a 4 day course that includes 1 full classroom session, and three field sessions, with additional pen-to-paper sessions in the evening.

About the Course

"AST 2 - Get your crew together and book it. Mel put together an awesome course! We got some great turns, had some laughs, and most importantly, we learned how we can be more safe in the backcountry. Will never forget this trip."
- Dan Elgie, AST 2 Participant

"McDermott hut was great, clean, and well equipped. The meals were great, I'm a big eater and I never felt like I went hungry. Good variety in snacks. It was nice having some greens in the taco night." - AST 2 Participant

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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.

Corin Lohmann

Ski Guide

Corin loves sharing the mountain experience and the connections that are made while learning and exploring in the backcountry. Since 2011, Corin has been guiding ski trips in the mountains of Western Canada. He lives in Fernie with his family and spends his summers running icewalks.com ; a glacier guiding business in Jasper National Park.

More Info

This course is for those practiced in backcountry travel, who have taken the AST 1, and are looking for feedback and coaching in their decision making process. You should have a good level of fitness and know how to use, and trouble shoot, your backcountry touring equipment.

All participants are required to sign a waiver.

Day 1 - Classroom

Time: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Best Western Fernie

This is a typical classroom day format with a lot of content to cover. We will discuss terrain travel at length and give you tools for progressive planning and travel techniques. We will also build on the basics of seasonal snowpack structure that you learned in the AST 1 course.

In the afternoon the class will plan our 3 day backcountry trip. We will make a travel plan, rescue plan, and assign gear.

There will be quick breaks throughout the day, but no time available to leave for lunch/snacks. Lunch is also available for purchase at the venue.

Please bring your transceiver to the class room day!

Day 2 - Class & Field Day

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Starbucks Fernie

Day 2 is a big day! We will meet in the morning to review our trip plan and make any necessary changes. Your guide will check everyone’s gear before we head out for the trail head. The tour to the hut will give everyone a chance to make observations, track set, and lead the group. In the evening the guide will prepare dinner while the students complete a hazard evaluation of the day. After dinner, the group is responsible for planning the next day’s objective. For dessert, we get together and review all of the hard work and everyone will have the opportunity to contribute!

Day 3 - Field Session

Time: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: McDermott Hut

Today is the highlight of the course. After the morning weather observations and meeting, we spend all day ski touring! This is your opportunity to receive the most direct feedback on your decision making in avalanche terrain.

The evening is similar to the night before, with additional learning topics and feedback.

Day 4 - Field Session

Time: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: McDermott Hut

Once again, we gather our morning snow and weather information and discuss. We will go for another ski tour before packing up and heading back to civilization. A debrief will be held at a local establishment of the groups choice!

4 days of instruction with an ACMG Ski Guide
Hut accommodation
Meals while at the hut (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, appys, 2 dinners, and 2 desserts)
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain textbook by Bruce Tremper
Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain waterproof field book
Course certificate

Equipment List

Required items: Please bring the following on Day 1, Classroom Session

Lunch & Snacks – there will be a lunch break and there is a Boston Pizza on site
Digital Avalanche Transceiver with Fresh Batteries: 3 Antenna type transceiver required, if you are unsure, send us an email indicating the make and model
Paper and pen AND PENCIL for notes (you will be provided with a field book)
Compass
Lap-top (google earth application recommended)
Smart-phone with topographic map/GPS app (GAIA recommended)

Required Items: Please bring the following on Day 2, Field Day

Water: thermos or flask 1-2L, hydration pack not recommended due to cold freezing the tube
Some additional snacks/treats/drinks to supplement provided lunch
Digital Avalanche Transceiver
Avalanche Shovel: collapsible & metal
Collapsible Avalanche Probe
Skis: ‘Alpine Touring with touring bindings’ or ‘Telemark’

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
Multi-Day Pack: large enough for spare clothes, lunches, shovel, probe, sleeping bag, and share of group gear (first aid kit, breakfast/dinner etc.). 40-60 litre size recommended
Compass
Sunglasses and/or Ski Goggles
Sunscreen
Headlamp
Sleeping Bag – the hut is very warm, so a 3 season bag will be fine
You will be provided with field book, but please bring pencils
It is HIGHLY recommended that you arrive with a GPS App installed on your phone. GAIA is preferred.

The Guides Hut in downtown Fernie have transceivers for rent as well as a limited supply of touring equipment.

During the field day there can be longer periods of inactivity in very 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. 1 pair for ski touring and 1 pair for the hut.
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!

Comfortable hut clothing and hut booties (not bulky!) Guides will often bring a wool or cotton t-shirt and thin pants or tights.

A note on clothing: Typically, you will wear the same base layers everyday while touring, and bring a cotton shirt and thin pants for the hut.

Optional Equipment: Not essential, but feel free to bring anyway

Camera
Chemical hand warmer & toe warmer packets
Snow saw
Snow Study Kit

AST 2 McDermott Hut – Fernie

About the Course

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