Avalanche Canada Training Courses Online

Avalanche Canada’s training courses are online and now is the best time for you to sign up.

We are privileged to have some of the world’s finest opportunities for winter backcountry exploration. But with this right to explore comes a responsibility—to yourself, your friends, and your family—to get avalanche training.

Avalanche Canada Training courses are the national standard for recreational avalanche training. The courses are designed by Avalanche Canada to suit the needs of recreationists and delivered by independent third-party providers, who are licensed by Avalanche Canada.

Fall is the perfect time to sign up for an Avalanche Canada Training Course. This season Avalanche Canada is introducing a new course, the AST 1 Refresher.

Find an avalanche training course here.

Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST 1)
Do you venture out of bounds, off the trails, or into the backcountry? An AST 1 is your place to start. You don’t need any experience to take this course, but it is a must for everyone recreating in the backcountry.
In an AST 1, you’ll learn how to recognize avalanche terrain, understand the avalanche forecast, plan your trips, and perform a companion rescue. An AST 1 is a minimum of two days and has both online/classroom and field components. Everyone in your group should take an AST 1—it’s the first step to travelling safely in the backcountry.

What you will learn:
• Avalanche formation and release.
• How to identify avalanche terrain.
• The basics of trip planning.
• How to use the avalanche forecast to mitigate your avalanche risk.
• Using appropriate travel techniques in avalanche terrain.
• Intro to companion rescue.

AST 1 Refresher Course NEW
This new course is aimed at individuals who have completed an AST 1 and are looking to refresh their skills and knowledge. This one day, field-based course provides a review of the material covered in the AST 1 and includes a discussion of new findings and recent developments. The course is ideal for those who want to keep their basic avalanche training skills up-to-date or who simply desire a refresher day in the field with an instructor.

What you will learn:
• A refresh of the AST 1 curriculum.
• Refreshing and practice of companion rescue skills.
• Any updates to avalanche safety education or techniques.
• How to use new AvCan tools or materials.

See the more advanced courses here.