Avalanche Safety Training Level 1 classes - 16 hr programs, General info

Avalanche Skills Training – Level 1 (AST 1)
The AST 1 course follows a curriculum developed by the Canadian Avalanche Association. Instructional materials & lesson plans are developed by the CAA.
Click here to go the www.avalanche.ca for more information.

The course demands a minimum of 16 hours. The AST is an excellent introduction to avalanche terrain recognition skills, snowpack theory, rescue skills and overall risk management. The class structure is highly interactive. The classroom component includes lecture, powerpoint, videos, displays, demonstrations, group exercises and interactive learning.
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Classroom Exercises require 8 hours and can be completed over a full day or two 4-hour evening sessions.
•Identify types of avalanches, where they start and how they move
•Learn to spot avalanche terrain and estimate the level of danger
•Discover clues of unstable snow and find out how and why snow changes
•NEW** learn to use the AVALUATOR system, the CAC’s new avalanche decision making tool
•Learn tips and tasks for an efficient avalanche rescue
•View the proper use of rescue equipment, learn limitations of safety gear
•Highlight safe travel habits for sledders.
•Discuss past accidents, participate in group activities, view images and video materials. NEW for 2006/07 multi-media projector & ‘electronic whiteboard’

Following the classroom, students provide their own snowmobile to participate in eight hours of hands-on field exercises.
This is very important. Proper terrain travel habits are the key to managing the risks in avalanche areas. Habits are hard to break but by actually practicing the appropriate travel techniques (rather than just attending a lecture on them) the odds are better that safer riding styles will be adopted.

Field Exercises include:
•Single and multiple beacon searches using analog and digital technology
•SOS, Ortovox, Tracker, Pieps & Barryvox avalanche gear and SEAR snow study equipment are available for student use and demo. Test and compare before you buy.
•Act as a searcher and a witness during 2 or more timed mock rescues
•Practice rescues using life size dummies and probe targets
•Learn how to keep your group safe while trail riding or hill climbing
•Dig a pit to see weak & strong layers, snow crystals and slab formation – skills necessary to understand Public Avalanche Bulletins that are available at www.avalanche.ca or 1-800-667-1105

(Maximum student to instructor ratio for field exercises is 8:1) (A Release of Liability must be signed before participating in any program.)

PLEASE NOTE the AST Level 1 replaces the Introductory Recreational Avalanche Course (IRAC). This change was made by the Canadian Avalanche Centre in 2006.

Follow this link for an explanation of the typical AST1 Course Schedule

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