Avalanche Rescue Skills with Mark Klassen - Saturday, Jan 10, 2026

The Basics:
Event Type: Training 
Event Location: Lake Louise Area 
Event Starts:   Saturday, Jan 10, 2026 07:30 AM  
Event Ends:   Saturday, Jan 10, 2026 05:00 PM  
Registration Cut Off:   Monday, Jan 05, 2026 02:00 PM  
Difficulty Rating:   D2 - See Conversion Chart  
Trip Coordinator(s):   Simon Trudel
 

Participant Info:
Who's Invited:   Members Only  
Attendee Screening:   Attendees are Pre-Screened
Maximum Group Size: 6
Maximum No. Guests: 0
Maximum No. Guests Per Member: 0
Number Registered So Far:   0 (View sign-ups, waiting list)
Are Dogs Permitted:   No

Itinerary:

Discussion on safety equipment required for ski touring. Probing and digging exercise, usually in a hardened snowbank in a parking lot. Multiple burial and deep burial transceiver searches. Multiple burial avalanche scenario practice, including patient care and extrication.


More details can be found here:

https://www.alpinism.com/avalanche-rescue-skills

Required Items to Bring:

A full gearlist can be found here:

https://www.alpinism.com/avalanche-rescue-skills-gear-list


Recommended Items to Bring:

Before the course please do the following:

  • Be prepared for a day in the field where you will either be standing around or working hard. Bring lots of layered warm clothing. 
  • Practice with your transceiver as much as possible before the course. The better you are with your transceiver searching when you come into the course the more you will learn during the course. 

How to Get There:
Event Directions:  
 meet in Lake Louise, upstairs in the lounge at the Lake Louise International Hostel and Alpine Centre, at 7.30 AM. The exact location and time may change, if so this will be communicated shortly before the course. 

Course Itinerary
  • Morning meet. Indoor discussion on safety equipment required for ski touring.
  • Move to a field location, usually about a 20 minute drive.
  • Probing and digging exercise, usually in a hardened snowbank in a parking lot.
  • Short ski tour to another field site, usually 20 minutes or less.
  • Multiple burial and deep burial transceiver searches.
  • Multiple burial avalanche scenario practice, including patient care and extrication.
  • Roadside debrief.
Possible Itinerary Changes
There is always the possibility of having to change this itinerary due to weather or snow conditions. 
 

Notes:

Important

Each participant must fill out a Guest Information form and Acknowledgment of Risk BEFORE they pay you for the course. You will not be added to the participating list (and be able to pay) until this form is completed.

https://www.alpinism.com/guest-information-form


Participants will also need to fill a guide-specific waiver before the trip (this is in addition to the ACC waiver)


There will not be an organized carpool, but participants are welcome to coordinate among themselves.


POTENTIAL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS EVENT

READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING UP. By signing up for this trip you acknowledge these risks.


Wilderness Skiing

  • Avalanche

Avalanches can occur in the terrain in which we operate and can be caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. skiing/snowboarding). What are the risks? Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.


  • Terrain

Cornice fall, Crevasses,Cliffs,Trees, tree wells, forest deadfall, and tree stumps, Creeks, Rocks and Boulders, Holes and depressions below the snow surface, Variable and difficult snow conditions, Snowcat roads and road banks, Fences and other manmade structures, Snow immersion,

  • Impact or collision with other persons vehicles or objects,
  • Encounters with domestic or wild animals
  • Loss of balance or control, Slips trips and falls
  • Becoming lost or separated from one’s group
  • Communication, rescue and medical treatment

Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident rescue and treatment may not be available; Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field; If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow


  • Boots and binding systems

Even when set up correctly, a ski binding might not release during every fall or may release unexpectedly. The ski boot/binding system is no guarantee that the skier will not be injured.  Non-DIN-certified bindings, such as pin/tech bindings, present a higher risk of pre-release and/or injury as they are not designed to the same safety standards as a DIN-certified alpine binding. Unlike alpine ski boot/binding systems, snowboard and some telemark boot/binding systems are not designed or intended to release and will not release under normal circumstances.  Using such a system increases the risk of injury and/or death when caught in an avalanche.


Other

  • Slips, trips and falls both outdoors and indoors
  • Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact
  • Equipment failure
  • Negligent first aid
  • Negligence of other people

 





Payment Options:
  • Member $183.75 CAD
Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our participant responsibility guidelines!


Cancellation Policy
If a participant is unable to attend a paid course or trip, there will be no refund unless the participant finds a suitable replacement that is acceptable to the trip coordinator. Acceptable waiting list candidates will have priority. It will then be the participant's responsibility to recover funds from the replacement. If the coordinator cancels an event, participants get a refund (less any non-recoverable costs). Note that ACC National does not refund hut fees due to weather, delay, closures, or any other reasons. The Calgary Section of the ACC is a not for profit club and we only charge attendees what it costs us to provide courses or trips.

Trip Feedback
If you have any feedback, positive or negative, concerning this trip or any other, we want to hear from you! You can send any feedback you may have to the Section Chair.

Waiver and Membership Requirement
Participation in this activity is subject to you having a current membership and a current signed ACC Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks Agreement (the “Waiver”), which is signed in conjunction with purchasing/renewing your membership.

A separate Waiver is not required. Your membership Waiver in place at the time of the activity will apply to your participation in this activity. You can review your completed waiver by logging onto your profile at alpineclubofcanada.ca. If your membership renews prior to the activity taking place, you will be required to agree to a new Waiver upon renewal, this new Waiver will apply to your participation in this activity. By proceeding with the booking, you agree to the foregoing waiver terms. Bookings without a current Waiver at the time of the activity will be cancelled.

The Waiver is a legal document by which you waive or give up the right to sue or claim compensation following an accident. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY! You can review your completed waiver by logging onto your profile at alpineclubofcanada.ca.

SIGN UP HERE
The trip coordinator needs to review and accept your application for this event. Add yourself to the waiting list here.


Never (not until the event has passed) 
2 Days Before Event  
7 Days Before Event