Available Dates

December 20th - December 21st, 2025

January 3rd - January 4th, 2026

January 17th -January 18th, 2026

February 7th - February 8th, 2026

February 21st - February 22n, 2026

March 14th - March 15th, 2026

March 28th - March 29th, 2026

Apirl 11th - April 12th, 2026

April 25th - April 26th, 2026

Aim

Develop snowpack, terrain, and weather awareness to make informed decisions for safe travel in avalanche terrain. Build the skills needed to assess risks and navigate backcountry environments confidently.

Objectives

• Confident identifying avalanche terrain and using the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES)
• Confident using companion rescue equipment
• Comfortable identifying inputs that cause avalanches
• Comfortable interpreting the public avalanche bulletin
• Comfortable using the Avaluator 2.0 as a decision making tool
• Understand how to conduct terrain analysis using Google Earth and route photos
• Understand Peak Planning Procedure™ and debriefing
• Understand identifying and locating persistent weak layers in snowpack structure
• Understand how the inputs that cause avalanches change the snowpack throughout the season

Prerequisites

• Comfortable skiing/snowboarding intermediate (blue) terrain at a ski resort if participating on skis / splitboard
• No prerequisites for participation on snowshoes

No prior experience is required. This course is suitable for beginners.

Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) teaches you how to recognize avalanche terrain and how to self rescue. It is designed for skiers, snowboarders, climbers, scramblers and snowshoers who want to travel in the backcountry around snow. This course is the beginning of your avalanche and snowpack education. To be a safe backcountry user, it is important to gain and master these skills. PeakSTRATAGEM is an approved avalanche skills training course provider for Avalanche Canada.