THE AST CONNECT+

BANFF & LAKE LOUISE 
 

Have you taken your AST 1 & want more experience before diving into the AST 2?

Guided Ski Touring & Splitboarding Days with the opportunity to sharpen your skill sets with a Cloud Nine Mountain Guide. Cool trips, plenty of travel, and lot's of learning are what these day's are all about. Avalanche Canada recommends that students acquire on average 40 days of personal Backcountry experience before taking their AST 2 Course. The AST CONNECT+ Days are designed to bridge the gap to the AST 2 course, putting learned skill sets acquired on the AST 1 in working context. All the while lining up some of our Guides favourite objectives and chasing turns and good snow; all... day... long.
 

  Guided Touring Days to help you gain Experience

DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY (CANMORE & LAKE LOUISE)
 

  Small Touring Groups

8 STUDENTS MAX PER GUIDE
 

  AVAILABLE IN EACH OF OUR AST COURSE LOCATIONS

CANMORE AB - GOLDEN BC - LETHBRIDGE AB - FERNIE BC - REVELSTOKE BC
 

   Multi-Day Discounts

BOOK 2 OR MORE DAYS & TAKE 15% OFF

 

Just looking for a Day of Guided Touring? Perfect.

Are you just after a great day of Guided Ski Touring or Splitboarding with our Mountain Guides? No problem, feel free to join us for the skiing and riding and leave the skills work to others in your group. Too Easy.

 

Photo   @mattiasfredrikssonphotography

 

 

 

TRIP LOCATIONS
 

BANFF & LAKE LOUISE TRIPS:

The AST CONNECT+ Touring Days are based from Banff & Lake Louise and generally focus on trips and the terrain along the Icefields Parkway. Booking using the calendar date options above will register you for our Banff & Lake Louise trip location. AST CONNECT+ Days are available all season, Friday, Saturday & Monday - December to March.

Additional Trip Locations:

Or, you can add an AST CONNECT+ Day to any of our AST 1 Courses at time of booking, in the following locations:

  • Golden
  • Revelstoke
  • Fernie
  • Lethbridge & South Rockies

Note - Our "Additional Trip Locations" can only be booked at the same time as booking an AST 1, or by booking a Private AST CONNECT+ where you choose the location.

 

Itinerary

On our first day, you will Meet Your Guide Here in the village of Lake Louise between 0700-0830hrs (trip dependant) where we'll start with a brief round of introductions and a pre-departure briefing which will include the following: 

  • Review of any expected changes to weather or climbing conditions.
  • Expected Hazards, risk management plan, and associated mitigations for the duration of the trip.
  • Distribution of any required technical equipment you require
  • Presentation of physical Waiver of Liability Document & Signing. 

The Moraine Lake area is often one of the busiest trailheads in the Lake Louise area and Banff National Park through the summer months. So with that in mind, your Guide will travel with you (often leading in their own vehicle) from the Village centre to clear any traffic controls at the lower end of the Moraine Lake Road with you. 

After arriving, and your morning briefing facilitated by your Mountain Guides, the group will transport from Lake Louise to the venue for the day. Driving time from Lake Louise can be as little as 15min, or for objectives located along the Icefields Parkway, can be up to 30min from Lake Louise to access. 

Expect to return to your vehicle at approximately 1600-1630hrs. Our return time depends largely on the amount of available daylight and time of season, but expect a full day out regardless.

 

Logistics

Logistics to consider ahead of your AST CONNECT+:

  • ACCOMMODATION:

    Looking to get a little closer to our field day location? We suggest the following accommodation options in Canmore, Banff & Lake Louise to get you into the mountains and save yourself the drive the morning of your program.

  • TRIP FOOD & MEAL PROGRAMS:
    • Students are responsible for their own meals.
       
  • TRANSPORTATION: 
    • Students are responsible for their own transportation on course.
       
  • NATIONAL PARK ENTRY PASSES: 
    • Students are responsible for obtaining a National Park entry pass for their field days if required.

 

Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance

The AST CONNECT+ IS A NON-REFUNDABLE PROGRAM. The best method to protect your investment with us should unforeseen arise requiring you cancel your booking, is to purchase a Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance Policy. 

Lifestyle Insurance has covered many of Cloud Nine Guests on trips all over the world, and we have first hand experience seeing these policies activated by our Guests. 

Safeguard your trip costs and investment with us. Request a Quote from Lifestyle Financial.

Is this coverage required?

  • For Canadian Residents, coverage is suggested by not required to register.
  • For Non-Canadian Citizens, coverage is suggested but not required. It is strongly suggested that your policy includes Emergency Medical Coverage, unless you carry alternative policy which will respond in the event of medical emergency.

 

WAIVER - Release of Liability & Indemnity Agreement

Prior to booking you will be required to acknowledge that you have been provided a copy of our Waiver of Liability Agreement for your review. All participants, or their legal guardians wishing to participate on any Cloud Nine Programs, must acknowledge that they have been presented this document, have read it in its entirety, and understand the agreement being entered into by signing. While there is no obligation to enter into this agreement with us, it is a condition of our service provision. 

     REVIEW OUR WAIVER OF LIABILITY HERE

 

Book A PRIVATE GROUP AST CONNECT+

For those who prefer our smallest and most focused learning environments. Groups of 4+ can book a Private Group AST CONNECT+ on course dates that suit you and your crew best, and one of our ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guides will join you on your terms. You pick the Group Size, and pick a Field Day venue and date outside those available on our Public Programs. 

Private Rates for our Canmore AST 1 start at $129/person. 

How Do We Book It?

Contact our office to confirm availability for your preferred dates. We'll provide you with a private booking link for you and your group, and register either together or individually.