Ladies on Edge AST 2 – Fernie

Book Now

Details

Women’s AST 2 — Avalanche Skills Training 2

Please complete the waiver acknowledgement before booking.

Mountain Addicts is partnering with Ladies on Edge to offer a women-only Avalanche Skills Training 2 (AST 2) course.

Join a small group of women for four days of professional avalanche education and practical skill development in the mountains. This course is designed to build on the knowledge gained in AST 1 while developing greater confidence and competence in terrain selection, trip planning, navigation, avalanche forecasting, observations and decision-making.

The four-day course includes one full classroom day and three field days, with additional evening sessions to prepare for the following day’s tour. You’ll spend the course learning both in the classroom and in real avalanche terrain, with coaching from ACMG Ski Guide Mel Makepeace.

With a maximum of six participants, there is plenty of opportunity for questions, discussion, feedback and hands-on practice. You’ll learn alongside other women who are looking to develop their backcountry skills in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Whether you’re ready to expand your terrain choices, want to become more confident making decisions in avalanche terrain, or simply want to deepen your understanding of the backcountry, the AST 2 is an opportunity to develop practical skills that you can take with you on future tours.

Skiers and splitboarders are both welcome.

Click Book Now to view the available course dates and register.

Please note: The date shown when booking is the first day of the four-day course.

Book Now

More Info

Prerequisites

The AST 2 builds on the skills and knowledge developed in the AST 1. You should be comfortable travelling in winter backcountry terrain and managing your own equipment for a full day in the mountains.

Before taking the AST 2, you should:
  • Have completed AST 1 or equivalent avalanche training and experience
  • Be able to ski tour approximately 800–1200 metres of elevation gain in a full day, depending on conditions and terrain
  • Be able to ski or ride off-piste terrain in a controlled manner
  • Be familiar with your touring equipment and able to independently transition between uphill and downhill modes
  • Be comfortable spending a full day travelling in winter mountain conditions and managing your own clothing, food, water and personal needs

 

Is the AST 2 right for you?

The AST 2 is a skills-development course, not an introduction to ski touring or snowboarding. The course puts greater emphasis on terrain selection, avalanche forecasting, route planning, observations and decision-making, so you should arrive comfortable managing your equipment and travelling in winter backcountry terrain.

You don't need extensive backcountry experience, but you should be able to focus on developing your avalanche skills rather than learning the fundamentals of touring.

Not sure if you're ready? Contact us before booking. We're happy to help you determine whether your experience is a good fit for the course.

All participants are required to sign a Mountain Addicts and RCR event waiver before participating.

Equipment Lists

Required Items — Day 1 Classroom Session

Please bring the following with you for Day 1, the classroom session:

  • Lunch & snacks — There will be a lunch break and you can purchase food nearby.
  • Digital avalanche transceiver with fresh batteries — A 3-antenna digital transceiver is required. If you are unsure whether your transceiver meets this requirement, email us with the make and model before the course.
  • Paper, pen & pencil — You will be provided with a field book, but please bring something to write with, including a pencil for working through exercises.
  • Compass
  • Laptop — We recommend having Google Earth installed before arriving.
  • Smartphone — Please have a topographic mapping/GPS app installed. Once registered for the course you will receive a link for a 3 month subscription to Granite for free.
Before you arrive

Please make sure your batteries are fresh, your mapping applications are installed and your laptop and phone are charged. This will allow us to spend more time learning and less time troubleshooting equipment.

Required Equipment — Field Day

Day 2 takes us into the winter backcountry for a full day of practical learning. Please arrive with all required equipment ready to use.

Avalanche Safety Equipment
  • Digital avalanche transceiver — 3-antenna digital transceiver required. Please bring fresh batteries.
  • Avalanche shovel — collapsible with a metal blade
  • Avalanche probe
Travel Equipment

Choose the setup appropriate for your mode of travel:

Skiers

  • Alpine touring skis with touring bindings or telemark skis
  • Climbing skins — stick-on type
  • Ski boots appropriate for your setup
  • Ski poles

Splitboarders

  • Splitboard with splitboard skins
  • Splitboard boots appropriate for your setup
  • Ski poles are recommended for touring

Important: Everyone should practice transitioning between touring mode and riding mode before the field day. Efficient transitions will allow you to spend more time learning and less time troubleshooting your equipment.

Clothing & Personal Equipment
  • 40–60 L backpack — large enough for extra clothing, lunch, avalanche equipment and your share of group gear
  • 1–2 L of water in a thermos or bottle
    Hydration packs are not recommended as the tube can freeze in cold conditions.
  • Lunch and snacks
  • Hot drink/tea
  • Sunglasses and/or ski goggles
  • Sunscreen
  • Compass
  • Pencil — you will be provided with a field book
Navigation

We highly recommend having a GPS/topographic mapping app installed on your phone before the field day. You will receive your link for a free 3 month subscription to the Granite maps app with registration.

Please arrive with your phone fully charged.

Equipment Rentals

If you need to rent equipment, The Guides Hut in downtown Fernie has avalanche transceivers available for rent, as well as a limited selection of touring equipment.

If you are unsure whether your equipment is appropriate for the course, contact us before the field day. We are happy to help you confirm that you have the right setup.

Clothing & Personal Comfort

A field day in avalanche terrain can involve long periods of standing still in very cold and changing weather conditions. Being cold is uncomfortable, distracting and can take away from your ability to learn.

Come prepared with more clothing than you think you’ll need. A versatile layering system allows you to adjust your clothing as your activity level and the weather change throughout the day.

Recommended Clothing

Base layers

  • Top and bottom
  • Wool or synthetic materials recommended
  • Avoid cotton — cotton holds moisture and loses its insulating ability when wet

Mid layers

  • Warm fleece, wool or synthetic layer
  • Bring layers of different weights so you can adjust throughout the day

Shell

  • Quality waterproof/windproof jacket
  • Waterproof or highly water-resistant ski pants
  • Ventilation zips on pants are strongly recommended

Insulation

  • Warm insulated jacket or vest — down or synthetic
  • This is one of the most important pieces of clothing for the AST 2. You’ll want a warm layer to put on during breaks, while stopping to discuss terrain, or when conditions become particularly cold.
  • Don’t be afraid to bring more insulation than you think you’ll need.

Hands

  • Two pairs of gloves or mitts
  • One pair for travelling and working in
  • A dry, warm pair to change into during breaks or when your first pair gets wet

Head & neck

  • Warm wool or fleece hat that covers your ears
  • Buff or neck gaiter for additional protection from wind and cold

Socks

  • Wool or synthetic
  • Avoid cotton

Helmet

  • Ski or snowboard helmet recommended
Optional Equipment

These items aren’t required, but can be useful:

  • Hand and toe warmers
  • Camera
  • Snow saw
  • Snow study kit

A good rule for the field: if you’re debating whether you need another warm layer, bring it. You can always leave an extra layer in your pack; you can’t add one you left at home.

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.

Meet the Team

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.
Guide Bio

You might also be interested in...

AST 2 – Golden / KHR

Join the Mountain Addicts for an AST 2 course in Fernie this winter. Our ACMG Ski Guides want to help you gain mountain travel independence.
Learn More
Learn

AST 1 – Women’s Course Revelstoke Rogers Pass

This women's only Avalanche Skills Training 1 course is designed to create a safe, collaborative, and fun space for women to develop their backcountry and avalanche skills.
Learn More
Tour

Mountain Addicts x LOE Ladies Level Up Fernie

Join a crew of like-minded women for a full day of ski touring designed to build confidence, sharpen your skills, and connect with others who share your love for the backcountry. Lead by one of our amazing women ski guides.
Learn More

Are You Ready
To Book Your Place?

Book Now

Wait!

Do you want to stay in-the-loop on all of our new services and course dates?

Join the newsletter and you won't miss out!
Facebook-f Instagram