AST 2 COURSE

IN Your SOUTHERN ALBERTA HOME RANGES? You bet.

Price
From $1,339
per seat · groups of 4+

When
Your Crew, Your Dates
Private courses available all winter

Day 1
Theory on Zoom
From home, 9:00 am start

Days 2–4
Southern Rockies
Field day where conditions are best

Group size
Max 8 per guide
IFMGA & ACMG guides, CAA members

Included
Rescue gear
Field book + certificate

AST 1 required. Please review the full prerequisites in the FAQ before booking.

Pick Your Dates Talk to a Program Manager

Every Cloud Nine AST 2 is taught by senior industry professionals with decades of combined experience across the avalanche industry: IFMGA Mountain Guides or ACMG Ski Guides who are also CAA Avalanche Professionals or Advanced Avalanche Educators. Built for backcountry users from Lethbridge, Pincher Creek and across Southern Alberta, this 4-day course runs in your home ranges, so there’s no long drive to the Bow Valley. Field days are based from Waterton National Park, Castle Mountain Resort and Fernie, BC. With three venues to choose from, each with its own terrain and snowpack, you’ll learn how to compare their conditions and decide where to go each day, a key trip-planning skill for when you’re heading out on your own.

Designed for intermediate backcountry users, the course teaches you how confidence and uncertainty shape good decisions, including when it’s reasonable to make exceptions to the danger ratings and avalanche problems in the avalanche forecast, or to the ATES rating of your planned route. You’ll leave ready to manage your own and your group’s exposure to risk, and to explore more of the complex backcountry the South has to offer.

Heli Bumps*

Getting a boost in an A-Star is about the backcountry equivalent of taking a Ferrari to the trailhead. Add a heli bump (or three!) from the Fernie townsite to any of your field days and hit the high alpine right out of the gate, spending more of your day learning in some of the best terrain Fernie, BC has to offer. Talk to a Program Manager for pricing and availability.

*Subject to avalanche hazard and conditions.

Sled Access*

Sledders, this one’s for you. Castle Mountain is the only place we run an AST 2 with snowmobile access, so your crew can reach the field day venues the way you travel on your own days out. Bring your own sleds; your guide’s riding double, and they promise not to backseat drive. Once at the venue, we switch to skis or splitboards, and we’ll cover how AST 2 decision-making applies when you’re travelling by sled. Same price as the regular course; just request sled access when you book. The easiest way is to talk to a Program Manager first.

*Subject to avalanche hazard and conditions.

How To Book:

Pick your dates: choose your crew size and start date in the calendar.
Book online: follow the steps through our booking portal.
We’ll confirm: once a guide is confirmed for your dates, our Program Managers will be in touch and your booking will switch from “Pending” to “Confirmed.” Easy!

Pick your dates

Thanks for coming back & bringing your friends

Cloud Nine AST 1 grads, $100 off. Welcome back! Your discount code arrived with your AST 1 certificate. Can't find it? Send us a note and we'll get it right over to you.

ITINERARY

Day 1 – Theory 7.5hrs

Hosted via Zoom Meeting - Course Start 9am.

Module 1 - AST 1 Fundamentals Review
- Review Avalanche Formation and Characteristics
- Review Avalanche Terrain Characteristics
- Review ID of Terrain Traps
- Discuss the evolving focus of Human Factor on Decision-Making in Avalanche Terrain.
- Review a model for Pre-Trip Planning and Risk Assessment Process.
- Review Decision-Making Competence, and individually assess how our Competencies may have changed since the AST 1.
Module 1.2 - Introduction to the Decision-Making in Avalanche Terrain Field Book
- Beyond the AST 2, The Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain Field Book will become one of your new and primary support structures for both pre-trip planning, and field based decision making. Review the layout of this new tool with your instructor, and develop tactics on your field days to begin to use this as a tool to:
  - Make Terrain-based decisions
  - Observe and Record Avalanche Problems of Interest
  - Ensure proper execution of Snowpack Stability Tests
- Quick Reference Materials include:
  - Pre-Departure, Trailhead, and Travel Checklists
  - Avalanche Rescue Procedures
  - Key Indicators of increased Avalanche Risk
Module 1.3 - Avalanche Character Types
- Curious about the difference between a Windslab and Stormslab? Or what constitutes the difference between a Persistent and a Deep Persistent Slab? We'll dig into the subtleties of avalanche character, how to manage and what to expect from each.
Module 2 - Leadership & Travel in Avalanche Terrain
- Managing risk and maintaining reasonable risk levels in more complex or periods of elevated snowpack hazard require a broader ownership of skills in choosing your groups, and applying appropriate group management or travel techniques - expect to cover these tactics in depth.
Module 3 - Avalanche (Companion) Rescue
- Learn the theory of how to execute more advanced or complex companion rescues. We discuss common search methods that will address the added complexity inherent with multiple victim/burial avalanche rescue.
Module 4 - Decision-Making Support Systems
- Since the AST 1, the way we use and interpret the information in the Public Avalanche Bulletin, the ATES Rating System, and your AVALUATOR will have changed. Learn how intermediates approach and apply information from these essential support products in new ways reflective of the experience you've acquired since your AST 1.
Module 5 - Terrain Exceptions
- Not all trips have an ATES Rating. Learn a systematic process for making exceptions to a trips given ATES rating based on local exceptions in terrain character. And better still, learn to develop an ability to create your own ATES Ratings on trips where none are available to you.
Module 6 - Terrain Verification
- Using a series of images depicting challenging and complex terrain, you will have the opportunity to plan routes up and down through a variety of images presented. The Goal? To help develop and broaden your ability to verify specific terrain characteristics that are used to maximize your experience and manage risk effectively.
Module 7 - Route Planning
- Learn to apply Google Earth, Gaia GPS & FatMap as part of your pre-trip planning processes. Combine these with your own weather analysis, information in the Public Avalanche Bulletin, and create a product that can be used to ID hazard, plan your travel timings, and line up the best uptrack locations and descents.
Module 8 - Post-Trip Debrief Processes
- Learn to facilitate and structure an effective Post-Trip Debrief with your crew.
Module 9 & 10 - Understanding Avalanche Danger & Exceptions
- Learn to more broadly examine the information provided in the Public Avalanche Bulletin to determine whether exceptions to a given Hazard Rating exist on a more local geographic scale.
Module 11 - Confidence, Uncertainty, and Decision-Making Quality.
- The ability to make decisions in the Backcountry is one thing. Understanding how and why we make those decisions puts you one step closer to being ready to leave the temple.
- Discuss the principles of expressing confidence level in your decision making, snowpack stability test results, weather, or team.
- Discuss the methods for expressing uncertainty, and interpreting that uncertainty when conveyed to you in the Public Avalanche Bulletin, the weather forecast, or by your partners.
- Begin to understand the ways in which humans make decisions and draw conclusions in the Backcountry, and learn to recognize what constitutes a high-quality or low-quality decision.

Day 2 – Field Day 7-8hrs

Field Day Location: TBD, chosen based on conditions and emailed the week before your course.

Meeting Time - TBA, emailed the week before your course. Start times vary based on field day location, typically 0900-0930hrs.

Meet Your Field Guides / Instructors
AM Hazard Evaluation Meeting - Group Exercise
- Discuss changes to your weather forecast overnight with your Guide, and assess impacts on Avalanche Hazard Ratings.
- Review General Plan for the Field Day, including essential equipment required, and emergency response procedures.
- Review inputs in the Public Avalanche Bulletin, and relate information in this product directly to our proposed trip plan.
- Guides to present Waiver of Liability Forms for Students.
- Companion / Avalanche Rescue Gear student sign out.
- Review of Trail Head Procedures.
- Depart for Field Day.
Session One - Advanced Avalanche (Companion) Rescue Techniques
- Review of basic, Single Burial scenarios.
- Introduction to Multiple Burial scenarios.
- Introduction to FLAG function on modern beacons, and application.
- Review use of analog or modified analog modes when experiencing elevated complexity in the search field.
- Review procedures for activating outside emergency response, mountain rescue programs, first aid considerations and emergency communication devices.
- Student-led scenarios.
Session Two - Snow Profiles
- Learn proper snow profile construction and tips for efficient builds.
- Learn how to identify key layers of interest, and relate them directly to the problems listed in the Public Avalanche Bulletin.
- Learn to monitor the potential for exceptions to exist when your snow profiles do not produce problems on a local scale, based on those listed in the Public Avalanche Bulletin.
- Learn the how to take measure of snow hardness or resistance, and relate these observations again to specific problems noted in the Public Avalanche Bulletin.
- Learn basic snow crystal identification (rounds, facets, depth hoar, surface hoar, crusts).
- AST 1 Review - The Compression Test.
- Learn Snow Stability Tests, which provide likelihood of propensity for propagation - Extended Column Test / Propagation Saw Test.
- Learn to effectively communicate your snow stability test results in avalanche specific language (instant street cred on social media), and make balanced applications of their results to your broader decision making processes.
Session Three - Afternoon Tour / Travel Objective
- Review The AVALUATOR Card
  - Revisit the process for using your AVALUATOR Card in the field, and identify potential for exceptions to the given score to be present.
- Review The ATES Rating Systems
  - ID potential for exceptions to exist on a local scale to your your objectives overall ATES Ratings.
Session Four - Learning to Find The Line
- Discuss with your Guide/Instructor the subtleties of visually ID'ing and accessing the lines and descents that inspire you, and are available to you when balanced against current conditions.

Day 3 & 4 – Field Days 8hrs

Field Day Locations: TBD, chosen based on conditions and confirmed by your guide during the course. Common objectives include the Waterton National Park, Castle Mountain Resort Area, and the Lizard Range in Fernie, BC.

Meeting Time - TBA. Start Times vary based on field day location. Plan for your group to meet between 0800-0930hrs depending on objective and location.

The main goal of Field Days 3 and 4 is to travel and ski/ride. Our objective will be to choose Field Day locations, which give us as much terrain as the snowpack conditions will allow. These days are used to put in context the learnings and processes you will acquire during your theory day on Day 1, along with providing hands-on practice of snow profile skill sets and on-field application of your primary support structures - the Public Avalanche Bulletin, ATES Ratings, the AVALUATOR Card and your Decision-Making in Avalanche Terrain Field Book - reviewed early in the course. These days are all about the process: students will have frequent opportunities to lead and to receive direct feedback and coaching from their Guides as they require.

Logistics

Logistics to consider ahead of your AST 2 South Rockies Course:

ACCOMMODATION:
- Waterton NP Field Days:
  Limited options exist in Waterton during the winter months and it's best to call ahead for availability. Check out mywaterton.ca for winter accommodation options.
- Fernie, BC Field Days:
  There are a myriad of options available to you for accommodation in Fernie. From shared accommodation at the Raging Elk Hostel to our Guides personal favourite: The Lizard Creek Lodge.

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.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Students will require one of the following travel equipment kits to join us on course:

Alpine Touring Skis
Splitboard

Note: Snowshoes are not appropriate for the AST 2.

In addition students will require the following:

Climbing Skins - trimmed to fit your specific equipment
Ski Poles
Boots
Daypack - IMPORTANT: You will require at minimum a 30L backpack. Anything smaller will not be sufficient to hold essential safety equipment.
Ski Helmet
Sunglasses (for the uptrack)
Ski Goggles (for the descent)
Lunch
Water
Thermos with a Hot Drink
Sunscreen
Small Blister Kit or Personal 1st Aid Kit
Small Repair Kit (optional)
Snow Study Kit (you can purchase one from us at an extra cost)
GPS
VHF Radio (optional)
Ear Defenders for Heli Bump

Avalanche Rescue (Companion Rescue) Equipment:
If you have your own transceiver, probe, and shovel, it's best to arrive with your own equipment. For those requiring this essential equipment, we stock *new rescue equipment replaced yearly, for your use on course, at no extra cost. Our avalanche transceivers undergo weekly diagnostic testing to ensure proper function.

Avalanche Transceiver (3 antennae unit, must have been purchased new in past 4 years)
Avalanche Probe
Avalanche Shovel (metal blades only)

ESSENTIAL CLOTHING

On our AST 2, this essential clothing list is provided firstly to help support a better quality educational environment for you while on course. On the field days, there will be 20-30 min blocks where our Guides are demonstrating skill sets such as snow profiles and companion rescue where the group comes to a stop for longer periods. Having the right technical clothing that will keep you warm and dry, serves to provide you with a better quality learning environment.

Base Layers - Either wool or synthetic, or a polypro base layer are the best options. DO NOT wear cotton base layers!
Mid Layers - Again, wool, synthetic or polypro is are best
Softshell Jacket or Gore-Tex Jacket
Softshell Pants or Gore-Tex Pants
Insulated Jacket - Large Parka style jackets are very important for the moments we are stopped during the field day. Down Parkas or Synthetic Down Parkas are a very important addition to your clothing systems for the course.
Socks - Wool blend, no cotton
Warm Gloves, with a light glove Liner
Toque or Beanie

TRIP CANCELLATION & INTERRUPTION INSURANCE

The AST Level 1 & 2 Courses are non-refundable. 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.

Acera 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 Acera Insurance.

Is this coverage required?

For Canadian Residents, coverage is suggested but 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 an 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

Booking TErms & Conditions

Before you book your course, please review our Booking Terms & Conditions. We do not accept bookings without your voluntary acceptance of these terms. Please read carefully as these terms outline specific policies and guidance for both our staff and clients with respect to refunds, cancellations, rescheduling etc.

REVIEW OUR BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS HERE

Please note before booking: The AST Level 1 & 2 Courses are non-refundable programs.
Those wishing to reschedule their course dates, may only do so pending our course availability. Rescheduling or order changes will incur a $25 admin fee per occurrence.

FAQ's

DO I NEED AN AST 1 CERTIFICATE TO PARTICIPATE?

Yes.

Completion of the AST 1 is a prerequisite for participation on any AST 2 Course. We suggest strongly that your AST 1 is accompanied by at least 25-30 days of personal backcountry experience prior to booking the AST 2 Lethbridge & Fernie course.

PHYSICAL & TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS

The following are minimum requirements for participation on course:

Must be able to ascend up to 700m vertical per day at a minimum. Strong groups may ascend +1,100m per day on Field Day 3 and 4.
Typical length of day can range from 8-10km, however stronger groups will likely take on longer duration field days.
Must have a strong base of fitness and able to maintain skin track pace of 3-3.5km/hr consistently, with breaks on the hour, for 7-9hrs per day.
Must have the ability to descend with confidence any black diamond rated terrain in variable snow conditions within the bounds of a ski resort.

Students who arrive on course and do not meet the above minimum criteria risk being asked to leave the course without credit or refund so as not to impact other student experience.

If you are uncertain about this course being right for you, we would strongly suggest contacting our office to speak with one of our Mountain Guides prior to booking.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?

The following is not included in your course fee:

Transportation
National Park Entry Passes
Meals
Accommodation
Ski & Splitboard Rentals
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain - Bruce Temper (available for purchase)
Cloud Nine Snow Study Kit (available for purchase)

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Your course fee includes:

An Experienced ACMG Ski Guide or IFMGA Mountain Guide, with CAA Avalanche Professional or Advanced Avalanche Educator membership, for the duration of your program
Companion Rescue Reference Card
Course Certificate
Avalanche Transceiver, Probe & Shovel

Need avalanche rescue gear? Just request this equipment at time of booking and we'll have it for you on course.

ARE STUDENTS SCREENED TO ENSURE THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET?

Yes.

Each student is required to acknowledge during the booking process that they meet these minimum requirements and have the prerequisites needed to participate on course. This requires however an honest self assessment from prospective students at time of booking, and occasionally students who do not meet the minimum fitness or technical requirements may arrive on course. In these circumstances, students not meeting these minimum requirements may be removed from the program to ensure there are no impacts to the experience of other students on course.

I'VE NEVER SKI TOURED OR SPLITBOARDED BEFORE - IS THIS COURSE FOR ME?

No.

We would suggest taking part in our AST 1 Course, and looking at booking a series of our AST CONNECT+ Days to acquire the experience you require to join the AST 2 Lethbridge & South Rockies Course.

How much do heli bumps cost?

Rates depend on the number of people in your group, and an additional C9G tail guide may be required. Talk to a Program Manager for a quote.

Please note that heli access is not included in our AST 2 South Rockies price.

WHAT IF I HAVE TO CANCEL?

It's best to be sure you can attend the course if you plan on booking.

The AST 1 & AST 2 Courses are non-refundable.

You are free to sell your seat and transfer the booking to another person, or rebook for a later date within 1 calendar year of your cancellation pending the availability of a seat on another program, and that your cancellation does not limit the our ability to provide the program to other students currently booked on your course date. Each transfer or rebooking will incur a $25 administration fee.