CanRock Mountain Guides AST 1 forIce Climbers is an avalanche safety course that is licensed by Avalanche Canada. We have crafted an AST 1 course designed specifically to provide ice climbers with tools and strategies to help reduce exposure to the amplified hazards of the ice and mixed climbing environment. Some of the avalanche related challenges facing ice climbers in the Canadian Rockies include:
Your instructor Paddy Jerome is a Canadian Avalanche Association professional member with 20 years of mountain guiding and avalanche forecasting experience. This avalanche training course is essential learning for ice climbers wanting climb in avalanche terrain.
Low 6:1 ratios and instructors with extensive avalanche forecasting experience. This AST 1 for ice climbers course has a small group atmosphere, highly skilled and experienced avalanche forecasters who are focused on your learning outcome.
Is this course too simple for you? Try our AST 2 course designed for more experienced backcountry users. Perhaps your partner and you just want to refresh your companion rescue skills, we have you covered. Click here.
Any fit ice climber is welcome to the course. We will be walking on snowshoes or skis on our field day so ensure that your snowshoes or approach skis are in working order.
Banff National Park or Kananaskis Country based program. We will choose a venue appropriate based on weather, snowpack & avalanche hazard conditions.
2 Days. Day 1 of online learning from the comfort of your own home and Day 2 in the field (Saturday or Sunday).
Ski touring skis or snowshoes
Ice Climbing Boots
Climbing Pack 40-litre
Avalanche transceiver
Avalanche shovel
Avalanche probe
Sunglasses
Thermos
Sunscreen
First Aid Kit
6
$140
$280
*Please add 5% sales tax to the above amounts. *Additional expenses such as food, gear rental, park fees, transportation or accommodation not included. 1:6
The majority (65-70%) of ice routes in the Canadian Rockies are in avalanche terrain. Avalanches hazard is the most significant threat to ice and mixed climbers. This is due to natural gullies and confined features where ice routes tend to flow on the sides of the mountain.
In spite of all this, ice and mixed climbers have been slow to embrace the use of avalanche companion rescue equipment and managing their avalanche risk. Thankfully that is beginning to change as more waterfall ice and mixed climbers are seeking to be greater informed about avalanche hazard.
On this online AST 1 course, we will learn:
In the field portion of the AST 1 for Ice Climbers you will learn: