AST Refresher - Mount Cain

As low as:

$265.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)
  • STRENUOUSNESS
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  • TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Add-ons

Island Turns and Tours Guidebook $69.00

Save on postage and have this indispensable trip planning guide delivered to you at your course. With well over 500 Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale rated Island tours, this guidebook allows you to apply the learning from your IAG/HVI course to doing real trips in the mountains.

IAG Cancellation Coverage $14.00

As per our Cancellation Policy, your trip or course is 100% non-refundable as of 30 days prior to the trip/course start date. Purchasing this add-on will allow you to cancel your trip/course within that 30 day time period for reasons of injury, illness or family emergency, and will provide you with a credit for the full value of your trip/course fee which can be used on any Island Alpine Guides or Hike Vancouver Island trip or course for up to one year from the start date of the trip/course originally booked. If needed, credits can be transferred to another person of your choice. We charge a $25 admin fee in these cases.

Avi Kit Rental $25.00

Avalanche kit rental includes transceiver, shovel and probe. If you are bringing your own avi kit, this must include a modern, digital, 3-antenna transceiver, and a solid shovel and probe. If you do not have all three of these things then you must rent a kit from us to take part. Avi Kits once rented are non-refundable.

About


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.

Curriculum

  • Analyze maps, weather forecasts, ATES ratings, and avalanche bulletins to choose suitable terrain for the day
  • Use of planning tools and other resources in pre-trip planning process
  • Review of mountain and snowpack areas of concern
  • Assess terrain for easiest and safest route of ascent
  • Efficient up tracking through simple and challenging terrain
  • Opportunities to practice setting a skin track and route find
  • Group management practice, ascending and descending
  • Using the Avaluator trip planner and slope assessment car as decision-making tools
  • Practice and feedback

Included

  • Online theory course
  • Pre-trip planning session
  • A day of backcountry ski touring with an ACMG guide
  • IAG Lifetime Learning Guarantee 

Not Included

  • Transportation
  • Accommodation
  • Food
  • Personal gear and equipment
  • Avi kit (transceiver, shovel, probe - available as an add-on)

Questions? Check out our FAQ page for details about our booking and cancellation policy, and other commonly asked questions.

Location

 
Mount Cain is a volunteer-run ski hill located about 20km from Woss on Northern Vancouver Island. 

About Mount Cain & Amenities

  • Volunteer-run ski hill located 20 km from Woss - see driving directions here
  • The road to Mount Cain is a serious mountain road and requires chains and winter tires 
  • Washroom facilities available
  • There is no potable water (rental cabins supplied with water jugs, otherwise please bring what you require)
  • Parking lot is often used for car camping (there may be other groups using this area, so please be respectful of others by keeping the noise to a minimum and packing out what you pack in)
  • Check out Mount Cain’s accommodation rental page for accommodation details. 
  • If you are taking your course at Mount Cain, you will need to be a member of MCAPS to purchase a lift ticket for yourself. See their website for details. 


Itinerary


Online Theory Platform: We’ve partnered with Altus Mountain Guides to bring you a comprehensive online AST theory course you can complete at your own pace prior to your field day. You’ll work through a series of videos and presentations covering essential avalanche knowledge, followed by a final exam to confirm your understanding. Completion of the online course is optional for AST Refresher. You’ll have access to revisit the course material for two months after receiving the login details/beginning the course.

A link to access the online theory portion of this course will be shared with everyone registered approx two weeks before the scheduled in-person day. Completing the theory portion of the course close to the field date helps keep the information and any questions fresh in your mind for discussion with your AST Refresher instructor.

Feild Day:

08:30: Meet at Mount Cain outside the Main Lodge. Start the day with our pre-trip planning session (outdoors) then spend a full day touring, gaining knowledge about local terrain and putting skills into practice along the way,  all facilitated by an experienced ACMG guide. 

16:00 - We will end the day with a structured debrief to cement important lessons of the day. 

Exact meeting details will be provided one-week prior in a pre-trip email. 

Questions? Check out our FAQ page for details about our booking and cancellation policy, and other commonly asked questions.

Requirements


This course is beneficial for individuals at all stages of learning. Intimate group sizes allow guides to tailor the curriculum to individuals' experience levels.

Groups made up of people with a variety of levels of experience actually enhance the group learning potential as they model perfectly what real groups of tourers are like, and the decision making challenges that they face.

That said, to safely partake, we do require that you: 

  • Are a strong intermediate skier or boarder (able to ride blue square-equivalent runs comfortably and safely in natural conditions)
  • Have moderate fitness (able to hike for 2-3 hours/day)
  • Have a basic understanding of your gear, and any limitations (consider practicing with your transceiver beforehand and your transitions with your touring set up in and out of walk and ride mode) 
  • Are prepared to spend the day outside in variable conditions (please see gear list)
  • You have access to a vehicle with winter tires and chains
  • You have taken Avalanche Skills Training One, Avalanche Canada's Avy Savy online course or have equivalent training or experience.
  • Age 19+ (unless accompanied by your legal guardian)

Note: if you are unsure if you meet these requirements, in particular the riding ability, please reach out! We are always happy to discuss alternatives or set up private courses to meet individual needs.

Preparation

To help you get the most out of your course, you will be asked to complete some homework in the week leading up to your trip. This will be sent in the pre-trip email one-week prior.

Questions? Check out our FAQ page for details or send us an email. 

Gear List


The equipment list provided aims to prepare you to be comfortable in the field regardless of the weather. Please ensure that all your gear is functioning and in proper repair. If you have any questions, send us an email (link).

Avalanche Safety Gear

These items are available as an add on “avalanche kit” when you book, or by request for $18. 

  • Avalanche Transceiver (must be a modern, digital three-antenna)
  • Shovel: Collapsible aluminum shovel
  • Probe: Normal length probe somewhere from 220cm to 320cm

Hardware
  • Ski touring skis/board
  • Poles
  • Skins
  • Ski touring/snowboard boots
  • Day pack (30 - 40L, or whatever will fit your gear)

Clothing
  • Waterproof/breathable jacket and pants
  • Lightweight, breathable jacket and pants (for uphill skinning/climbing)
  • Insulated jacket (down or synthetic insulated jacket is strongly recommended)
  • Lightweight gloves for climbing/skinning 
  • Warm gloves
  • Warm hat
  • Balaclava or another type of neck warmer
  • Base layers (top and bottom)

Other
  • Water
  • Lunch and snacks (prepared ahead of time and consumable on the go) 
  • Sunglasses
  • Goggles
  • Sunscreen
  • Sun hat
  • Ski strap
  • Camera
  • Personal first aid (e.g. blister kit, medication)

Trip Planning and Learning Aids

  • Avaluator Trip Planner and Slope Assessment tool (these will be available to you if you have taken an AST1 – if you have not, please contact us)
  • Current Island Avalanche Bulletin (saved to phone or printed)
  • ATES rating documents for the touring area (saved to phone or printed)
  • Map of the touring area
  • Notebook and pencil (Rite in the Rain recommended)

Rentals


Avalanche Kit: We offer rental transceivers, shovels and probes as an add-on kit when you book or by request pre-trip. If you do not have your own modern, digital, three antenna transceiver, collapsible shovel, and/or probe - please request a rental kit prior to your course/trip.

Touring Gear: We can offer our client's a 25% discount on their touring gear rentals from Ski Tak Hut for course and trip dates with us.  These discount codes are distributed directly by IAG to our clients upon request. Gear rentals from Ski Tak Hut can be ordered online using the unique discount code. Please note, to validate you will be asked to show the booking confirmation email you received from us when you pick up your gear.

If you require other items from the personal gear list, we suggest checking with: Sports Rent based out of Victoria, Alberni Adventure Gear based in Port Alberni, Blue Toque Sports based in Courtenay, and/or social media mountaineering groups to name a few.

Questions? Check out our FAQ page for information about gear fitting, rentals, add ons, and other commonly asked questions, or send us an email. 


Testimonials

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