AST2 Washington - For Skiers and Boarders

As low as:

$655.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio) Next Trip: Jan 30 - Feb 2, 2026
  • STRENUOUSNESS
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  • TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
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Add-ons

Avi Kit rental $60.00

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.

AST2 - Lift Tickets $70.00

We offer specially priced lift tickets for the duration of your course. Purchase is necessary to take part, unless you have a seasons pass or tickets of your own. For AST2, this option includes 2 days of Lift Tickets ($35/person/day). If the lifts will be used for more or less than 2 days for your course will be determined on course with your instructor. Additional lift tickets may need to be purchased. Please note that once purchased, lift tickets are non-refundable (unless the lifts are not used for the course).

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 $33.00

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 or trip for up to one year from the start date of the trip/course originally booked.

About


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.  

Curriculum

  • Closer look at the nature and formation of avalanches
  • Additional stability evaluation techniques
  • Winter backcountry travel and group management
  • Assessing avalanche danger 
  • Combining observations and experience in decision-making 
  • Safety measures and avalanche transceivers (multi-burial search)
  • Accident case studies  
  • Route finding and safe travel
  • Hazard and terrain recognition
  • Managing complex terrain
  • Small party self-rescue

Included

  • 4-Day of instruction with an ACMG-certified guide and/or CAA Avalanche Professional
  • Industry-recognized certificate of completion
  • Avalanche Canada student fee

Not Included

  • Transportation
  • Food
  • Accommodation
  • Personal equipment 
  • Avi Kit (available as add-on)
  • 2 Lift tickets (available as add-on)

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

Locations


Our courses are typically based at Mount Washington, but we also provide options at Mount Cain for participants who are able to find their own accommodation.

If you would like to set up a course at Mount Cain, please contact us to discuss whether this is an option for you and your group. 

The location of your course will be noted on the booking tab with the corresponding date. 

Itinerary


This course is a time commitment. Please ensure you leave your days and evenings free to maintain maximum flexibility for course delivery. Precise meeting and location details are typically decided upon by the group and the instructor. Below is a typical breakdown of each day: 

Day 1 – Theory and review (virtual or in-person depending on health recommendations at the time) 

Day 2 – Field day at location determined by guide and group

Day 3 – Field day at location determined by guide and group

Day 4 – Field day at location determined by guide and group

Participants will receive a pre-trip email one-week prior with trip details. Questions? Check out our FAQ page, or send us an email. 
Requirements

This course is the next step in your Avalanche Skills Training. As such, we have a more rigorous set of pre-requisites to ensure that everyone can get the most out of the course and complete it safely:

  • Are an advanced skier or boarder (able to ride blue/black diamond-equivalent runs comfortably and safely in natural conditions (powder, breakable crust, ect))
  • Moderate fitness (can tour uphill, gaining 500 - 1000m of elevation per day)
  • AST1 or equivalent
  • Approximately 20 days touring experience (or one season of touring as a minimum)
  • Prepared to spend the day outside in variable conditions (please see gear list)
  • 19+ (unless accompanied by a parent/guardian or attending as an all-youth group)

If you are unsure if you meet these requirements, 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 for commonly asked questions 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, please send us an email: [email protected] 

Avalanche Safety Gear

These items are available as an Add On “avi kit” when you book, or by request for $15/day

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

Hardware

  • Touring skis/splitboard/telemark
  • Poles
  • Skins
  • Touring ski/board/telemark 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 (synthetic or down insulated jacket is strongly recommended)
  • Lightweight gloves for climbing/skinning 
  • Warm gloves
  • Warm hat
  • Balaclava or another type of neck warmer
  • Baselayers (top and bottom)

Other

  • Water
  • Lunch and snacks (prepared ahead of time and consumable on the go) 
  • Sunglasses
  • Goggles
  • Sunscreen
  • Sun hat
  • Ski strap
  • Personal first aid (e.g. blister kit, medication)
  • Camera
  • 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: 'Ski Tak Hut' in Courtenay (https://www.skitakhut.com/pages/rentals) offers backcountry ski and splitboard rentals. Clients on IAG courses and trips are eligible to receive a unique 25% discount code towards their gear rentals from Ski Tak Hut - for the duration of their course/trip with us. These discount codes are distributed directly by IAG to our clients upon request. Rentals from Ski Tak Hut can be ordered online using the unique discount code. Note you will be asked to show the booking confirmation you received from us when you pick up your gear.

Winter 4x4 Vehicle(s): 'Far Out Wilderness' (https://faroutwilderness.com/ski-tours-winter-4x4/) is a 4x4 vehicle rental service in Victoria that offers clients access to a fleet of rugged, reliable, and fully-equipped vehicles designed to conquer the most challenging winter terrain. Their vehicles come with snow tires with the 3 peak mountain symbol, chains, and ski racks. They also provide emergency equipment, including SOS, SPOT messenger systems, GPS, tire pump, toe rope, tire pressure gauge, a map to BC's backcountry roads, and a first aid kit. Everything you need to get safely to the ski slopes! Upon request, IAG clients can receive a 5% discount code towards their rentals from 'Far Out Wilderness'.

If you require other items from the personal gear list, perhaps check out Sports Rent based out of Victoria, Blue Toque Sports based in Courtenay, and/or on social media mountaineering/hiking groups to name a few.

Questions about gear? Check out our FAQ page  and blog, or send us an email. 

Testimonials

Graeme is badass!!!!! The new snow over the course made for a lot of relevant discussion and excellent skiing. Graeme did an excellent job of managing the different ability levels of group. He kept everyone safe while leaving space for independent discussion and decision making. Digging pits repeatedly over the 4 days was great. Really nice to practice the companion rescue with multiple burials. I will be taking more of these courses with riding partners in a new location to keep learning. Anon. ,
What a fantastic course in plenty of different terrain. This was exactly what I was looking for to get me into the backcountry with more knowledge. Graeme is an awesome instructor with just the right amount of serious learning to fun ratio. Thanks Graeme! Ryan Seigel,
Joe was amazing. Great communicator. Was able to share tons of information while giving us lots of opportunities to ask questions and make decisions. 10/10 would recommend Joe to anyone. Anon.,
I have been ski-touring for 40+ years and along the way have learned many excellent snow lessons. But many of them were in the school of hard knocks, from sudden uncomfortable circumstances, including 4 avalanche rides and a crevasse self extrication adventure. In contrast, AST 2 was a safe, pleasant, stimulating, and stress free way to add to my practical knowledge of the effects of weather on snow, snowpack analysis, safe route finding in complex terrain, and finding buried skiers efficiently. All this occurred while Jan guided us through the best of both slack-country routes of Mt Washington and the adjacent terrain not accessible to the general public. Jan is an engaging and superlative teacher as he freely shares his wealth of avalanche knowledge and experience. And did I mention 60cm of new snow fell during Day 3 of the course? Jim Melling,
Mike made this course into a big win considering the lack of snow, boring snowpack, and difficult travel conditions. He has excellent communication skills and was able to listen to and help students find the information they were looking for. I appreciated how Mike was able to bring the concept of leadership and decision making into the course -- exploring human factors, behavioural psychology and group dynamics as an important piece of our time together. Despite poor travel conditions we were able to evaluate and interpret hazards in a variety of terrain with Mike's keen eye and experience. Thanks for an excellent course! Mattias, AST2 Mt. Washington
The course was wonderful in so many ways. Joe is a conscientious instructor who was very in tune with the group's needs as well as individual needs. He was extremely knowledgeable and instructed in a form that was easily received and understood. Safety of all group members and communication was paramount. Joe encouraged group discussion in the field and in the classroom. His vast experience, knowledge and humble demeanour made for an amazing weekend of learning. Not to mention Mother Nature provided us with an ever changing classroom that Joe confidently and safely used to enhance our learning. Thank you for this opportunity. I will be recommending your services to many others. Shauna, AST2