Avalanche

Avalanche Rescue Training

$175.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Dec 13, 2026 (day trip)

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Being fast and effective at avalanche rescue can make all the difference to a buried person’s chance of survival — but rescue doesn’t end once someone’s out of the snow. Avalanche Rescue Training is an intensive day of hands-on, scenario-based practice that takes you beyond companion rescue basics and into what happens next: backcountry first aid, improvised toboggan builds, and the communication skills that keep a rescue organized when it matters most. Working through realistic scenarios back-to-back, with detailed debriefs after each one, you’ll sharpen the skills that actually make a difference when things go wrong. Do this course for your touring partners, and for yourself.

AST1 Washington for Skiers and Boarders

$295.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Dec 12, 2026 (day trip)

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Looking to ride in the backcountry this winter? Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) is an introductory course geared towards recreationalists with little to no experience in avalanche terrain. It’s also suitable for those with some experience who are looking for more formalized training. AST1 is recommended for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain outside of ski area boundaries.

AST1 Washington includes a self-paced online theory course + one in-person day with a certified CAA instructor @ Mount Washington.

AST1 Washington Extended - for Skiers and Boarders

$385.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Dec 19 - 20, 2026

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Looking to ride in the backcountry this winter? Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) is an introductory course geared towards recreationalists with little to no experience in avalanche terrain. It’s also suitable for those with some experience who are looking for more formalized training. AST1 is recommended for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain outside of ski area boundaries.

AST1 Washington Extended includes a self-paced online theory course + two in-person days with a certified CAA instructor.

AST1 Washington for Snowshoers

$295.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Jan 23, 2027 (day trip)

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Looking to explore the backcountry this winter? Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) is an introductory course geared towards recreationalists with little to no experience in avalanche terrain. It’s also suitable for those with some experience who are looking for more formalized training. AST1 is recommended for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain.

Our snowshoe specific AST1 is for those who are not skiers or snowboarders or whose riding skills are not yet up to the standard required for our ski/board AST1.

AST1 Washington includes a self-paced online theory course + one in-person day with a certified CAA instructor @ Mount Washington.

AST1 Washington Extended - for Snowshoers

$385.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Dec 19 - 20, 2026

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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AST1 Washington Extended includes a self-paced online theory course + two in-person days with a certified CAA instructor.

Looking to explore the backcountry this winter? Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) is an introductory course geared towards recreationalists with little to no experience in avalanche terrain. It’s also suitable for those with some experience who are looking for more formalized training. AST1 is recommended for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain.

Our snowshoe specific AST1 is for those who are not skiers or snowboarders or whose riding skills are not yet up to the standard required for our ski/board AST1.

AST1 for Sledders

$350.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio)

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Looking to get out sledding in the backcountry this winter? Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) is an introductory course geared towards recreationalists with little to no experience in avalanche terrain. It’s also suitable for those with some experience who are looking for more formalized training. AST1 is recommended for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain. Each course provides a theory session and a practical field session. Students are provided with take-home reference materials and tools which provide clear and effective learning progressions, emphasizing important knowledge and skills.

AST1 Cain - For Skiers and Boarders

$315.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Jan 30, 2027 (day trip)

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Looking to ride in the backcountry this winter? Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) is an introductory course geared towards recreationalists with little to no experience in avalanche terrain. It’s also suitable for those with some experience who are looking for more formalized training. AST1 is recommended for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain outside of ski area boundaries.

AST1 Cain includes a self-paced online theory course + one in-person day with a certified CAA instructor @ Mount Cain.

AST1 Washington for Families

$295.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Feb 15, 2027 (day trip)

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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An Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) course offered specifically for parents with their youth: who share backcountry adventures together, want to speak the same language, and are serious about safety!

Learning the core skills of avalanche awareness alongside your youth offers the opportunity to develop and share risk assessment conversations together and continues the foundation for future learning opportunities together.

AST1 Washington includes a self-paced online theory course + one in-person day with a certified CAA instructor @ Mount Washington.

AST1 Powell River

$430.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio)

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Looking to explore the backcountry this winter? Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) is an introductory course geared towards recreationalists with little to no experience in avalanche terrain. It’s also suitable for those with some experience who are looking for more formalized training. AST1 is recommended for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain.

Our public AST1 Powell River course is respectfully for Qathet area residents only - as this course was made possible with the coordination and support of the Knuckleheads Alpine Outdoor Society ("KAOS" who's mission statement is to provide and enhance access for the local Qathet area community to the backcountry).

AST Refresher - Mount Washington

$245.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio) Next Trip: Dec 29, 2026 (day trip)

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Maybe you took an avalanche course years ago. Maybe you never did, but you’ve been touring long enough to know your way around an avalanche transceiver. If you’re feeling rusty and know you could use a tune-up, without sitting through a full course curriculum, the AST Refresher is for you.

This one-day intensive is built around terrain travel and hands-on skill practice, not classroom review. We’ll work through decision-making, route selection, and rescue fundamentals in real terrain, with the day shaped around what you and your group actually need to work on. Our AST 1 online theory course is included if you’d like a refresher there too. This course is about getting back out into the field with confidence.

AST Refresher - Mount Cain

$265.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Maybe you took an avalanche course years ago. Maybe you never did, but you’ve been touring long enough to know your way around an avalanche transceiver. If you’re feeling rusty and know you could use a tune-up, without sitting through a full course curriculum, the AST Refresher is for you.

This one-day intensive is built around terrain travel and hands-on skill practice, not classroom review. We’ll work through decision-making, route selection, and rescue fundamentals in real terrain, with the day shaped around what you and your group actually need to work on. Our AST 1 online theory course is included if you’d like a refresher there too. This course is about getting back out into the field with confidence.

AST2 Washington - For Skiers and Boarders

$750.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Jan 7 - 10, 2027

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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As our adventures lure us into more complex avalanche terrain, it’s important to delve deeper into snow science and move beyond the internalized rule-based models learned in AST1. Avalanche Skills Training Level 2, an intermediate level course, provides the observational and practical tools to incorporate the experiential decision-making processes necessary for more nuanced terrain. Over the span of four days, our professional ACMG Guides and avalanche forecasters will teach advanced snow assessment and the finer points of decision-making. Along the way, we’ll cover group management considerations as well as advanced travel and rescue techniques.

AST2 Cain - For Skiers and Boarders

$770.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Jan 22 - 25, 2027

• STRENUOUSNESS
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• TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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As our adventures lure us into more complex avalanche terrain, it’s important to delve
deeper into snow science and move beyond the internalized rule-based models learned
in AST1. This Avalanche Skills Training Level 2 at Mount Cain is an intermediate level course and provides the observational and practical tools to incorporate the experiential decision-making processes necessary for more nuanced terrain. Over the span of four days, our professional ACMG Guides and avalanche forecasters will teach advanced snow assessment and the finer points of decision-making.