Attention Ski Leaders! This is sure to become another popular course offering from your Training and Leadership committee. Have your Avalanche Safety Skills picked up some rust over the year? If your AST courses were a few years ago and you recognize the need to refresh your technical skills, this course may be for you.

This is NOT a ski course per se, but rather it is a comprehensive update on avalanche skills. This course is for people who have already taken an AST 1 / 2 or an older basic / advanced RAC course and want to catch up on what has been going on with: the Avaluator 2, the new Avalanche Canada web site, new tests (PST, ECT), analyzing fracture character and its importance (with both CT and RB results), more on the ATES scale (advanced or technical model), managing persistent weak layers, Yellow Flags and Lemons for interpreting snow profiles, digital beacon technology advances, what’s new with avalanche balloons and the Avalung 2, shovel recommendations and new designs, tactical avalanche triage, refresher on the strategic / conveyor belt shoveling, new multiple and deep burial search strategies (i.e. micro-search strip), human factors research and more additional snow safety skills.

Length: TWO days (One day of theory INDOORS and one field day OUTDOORS). The first day is at a location TBA in Canmore. The second day will be a ski tour, likely in the Bow Summit or Lake Louise area depending upon road conditions. The intention is to practice terrain management, some of the field tests and their interpretation and some of the new avalanche search and rescue techniques.

Level: For existing trip leaders. If you are not a trip leader, here's yet another perk to becoming a trip leader with our section. ;-)

This course is designed to improve leadership skills and build confidence of those leading Ski Touring trips for our section.

Prerequisites:

AST 1 / RAC plus experience are absolutely essential; AST 2 or ARAC highly recommended; must have good ski skills in variable ski conditions with a pack on.

Food/ accommodation: meals and accommodations are the responsibility of participants. Bring a bag lunch for both days. All day Sunday will be spent outdoors.

This course is arranged through Rescue Dynamics and is taught by Cyril Shokoples, an internationally certified mountain guide and Past President of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Cyril has received the Distinguished Service Award from both the ACC and the ACMG. In 2013, Cyril was inducted as an honorary member of the ACC. He has taught the ACC's North Face National Leadership Courses for the past 15 years and has a long history of instruction with the Calgary Section.

The cost for the weekend course is only $257.00

Some handouts may be provided at the course.

Pencil and Paper: please bring a pencil and notebook or paper for making notes.

Appropriate clothing for a variety of weather conditions that might be encountered.

Those interested in attending, please email the course coordinators with a short email confirming your status as a trip leader and plans to lead ski trips for the Section this upcoming season.

Upon being accepted and moved from the wait list, participants must pay $257.00 and should send an INTERAC e-Transfer to the ACC Treasurer using the Treasurertandl@ACCCalgary.ca email address.

Please also send the e-Transfer password to the treasurer and a payment confirmation email to the trip coordinators.