Managing Avalanche Terrain
Decoding the backcountry.
A focused field-based course designed to expand upon your terrain management skills.
The Managing Avalanche Terrain course delivers big mountain concepts at your level and allows you to develop advanced terrain skills and build experience in just one day.
Our small course sizes provide a great environment to learn in with dialed instructors and endless terrain to choose from. This one-day course gives you the lowdown to navigate through complicated avalanche terrain on your way to find the best turns on the mountain.
Your morning begins learning how to plan a day trip using the best resources available. Then, head outside to put your plan into action! You’ll begin to assess terrain and snow conditions as you travel and adapt to the conditions you find. Later, head to the Hummingbird Lodge to debrief and swap numbers with your future touring buddies over tasty après beverages and snacks.
You must have completed Avalanche Skills Training 1 in order to book the Managing Avalanche Terrain course.
What you'll gain
- Skills to help you plan, prepare for, and execute a safe backcountry trip;
- Advanced trip planning skills using the regional avalanche forecast, weather forecast, maps and other online resources;
- Techniques to minimise risk when travelling in the backcountry;
- How to recognize and classify avalanche terrain;
- The ability to recognize changing conditions and adapt your trip plan as you travel.
Required experience
| Backcountry Knowledge | Advanced beginner - have you just started to explore the backcountry and want to increase your knowledge? Have you been exploring for a while and want to dial in those skills? Great! We’ll tailor the course to your skills and experience. The AST 1 course is a prerequisite. |
|---|---|
| Fitness Level | Some - a reasonable level of fitness is required. You should be comfortable being outdoors in cold weather all day, and able to undergo consistent moderate physical activity throughout the day. You won’t be left behind, and snack breaks on the way up the skin track are always encouraged. |
| Riding Ability | A strong intermediate to advanced riding ability is required, with confidence in untracked powder and trees. There are no groomed runs in the backcountry! |
| Touring Ability | Advanced Beginner - you should be comfortable moving around on your touring equipment. We will use pre-existing skin tracks and start to set our own. |
Course dates
- February 22, 2025
We are excited to offer Early Bird Avalanche Education pricing from October 15, 2024 - December 5, 2024 for select courses.
Early Bird: $166.50 + GST
In-season: $185.00 + GST
Key information
- This is a 1-day course that takes place from 8:00am - 4:00pm, meeting at the Hummingbird Lodge at Whitewater Ski Resort;
- MAT courses require a minimum of 4 participants to proceed. If a course has fewer than 4 participants it will not run and those scheduled to take the course will have the choice of a full refund or to be scheduled at a later date (if available);
- All participants in this course must complete the AST Student Release as well as the Whitewater Backcountry Access Waiver on the first day of the course.
Booking information
- To book, call (250) 352-6954 or email ;
- Lift tickets are included in program prices unless otherwise stated;
- Program availability and lesson formats are subject to change;
- Lessons must be paid in full at the time of booking;
- Taxes are not included in the advertised price and all lessons are subject to 5% GST.
Cancellation policy
- A $25 administration fee will be applied to all cancellations after the time of booking;
- If a cancellation is made 30 days or more in advance of the program, you will receive a full refund, less a $25 administration fee;
- For cancellations made between 30 and 15 days in advance of the program, 50% of the total program fees will be refunded, less a $25 administration fee;
- Cancellations made within 15 days of the program start are not eligible for a refund;
- Refunds will not be issued for no-shows.
FAQs
