Alright, all this talk this season about the shitty snowpack has really opened my eyes to something I've actually been interested in all my life - avalanches. I've been reading stuff on the 'net, and am halfway through Bruce Tremper's book and I love it. Since I do not live in the mountains (yet), I've decided I'd like to take a week either late this season or sometime next season and attend an avalanche training program followed by a multi-day backcountry tour.
Hopefully somebody could lead me in the right direction. Being that I'd have to travel to wherever I went, I'm very flexible on where I go, although unless the dollar gets significantly better, Canada would be preferred. Is there anywhere in particular that would stand out for this sort of thing? Are there any must-do tours that I need to know about? For some reason I've always wanted to sleep in a tent on top of a mountain in the winter...
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02-04-2009, 07:30 PM #1
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Travelling to do avi course / backcountry tour
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02-05-2009, 08:12 AM #2
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Do it. I am currently stuck in Nebraska going to school right now, and traveled to take an avy course last year. This season I did not buy a season pass, and all my ski days have been in the BC in Colorado. I don't know where you're located, but I am able to make it to the mountains in just about 7 hours.
I'm not so sure that taking the class and then jumping right into a multi day tour directly after (assuming I read your post correctly) is the best idea. Hell, you might not even like skinning, so IMO it's best to try it out first before you go sinking a bunch of dough into new gear (beacon, probe, shovel, at bindings, skins).
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02-05-2009, 09:44 AM #3
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Already have beacon/avalung/etc., but ideally I would just rent the touring gear. Found a place in Whistler that looks promising - www.whistlerguides.com. The Spearhead Traverse tour sounds promising.
I'm headed out to W/B in March, so I'll stop in and have a chat with them.
The mountains are very, very far from where I am. If I'm going to pay for a plane ticket out west, I might as well do as much as possible.
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02-05-2009, 01:37 PM #4
Can I just retire now?
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I know Cascade Powder Cats has an avy 1 class that is only about $100 than taking avy 1 from most other places and includes a couple nights in their yurt, meals and cat rides. Not in Canuckistan though.
Be careful about buying snowboard goggles for skiing. Snowboard goggles come in right eye and left eye (for goofy-footers) dominant models. This can make it hard to see correctly when skiing because you are facing straight down the hill, not sideways.
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02-05-2009, 02:30 PM #5
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Search, and you shall find...
Canadian Avalanche Centre AST Course Locations and Dates
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02-05-2009, 02:59 PM #6
No I'm not an Australian
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Spearhead is a long schlep with a big pack for your first time touring.
Originally Posted by paulster2626
Originally Posted by Downbound Train
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02-05-2009, 03:03 PM #7
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Stay in Canada and take a Canadian level 1 course rather than lose money on the exchange rate to come to the US. Canadian level 1 is supposed to be approximately equivalent to US level 1 and 2 combined. Lots of patrollers and guides travel from the US to Canuckistan to take it.
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02-05-2009, 09:39 PM #8
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Check out Burnie Glacier Chalet. They do a pretty sweet 9 day CAA Level 1 course that involves lots of touring in a sweet, rarely seen mountain range.
Christoph is a pretty good guy.
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02-05-2009, 09:51 PM #9
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Looks pretty sick - definitely in the consideration pile! Originally Posted by wetcoaster
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02-05-2009, 09:53 PM #10
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Well, I've done many long schleps with large packs before, although never on skis. I don't think I'd have a problem keeping up though; aside from bowling, there isn't really anything that I can think of that I truly suck at. Originally Posted by PNWbrit
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02-06-2009, 10:44 AM #11
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In Colorado the 10th Mountain Division www.huts.org have Avy classes that are three days and you stay at a hut during the class. You'd be in the mountains and could tour around or go to other huts afterward.
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02-06-2009, 11:28 AM #12Hugh Conway Guestgo in good weather and good conditions in spring and do it in a day (not best for the first time touring) Originally Posted by PNWbrit
Travel to a range with a real (i.e. interesting) snowpack and big terrain for your courses
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02-24-2009, 10:10 AM #13
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The Canadian level one is a professional level course, if you want a recreational level course then you are looking for the AST 1 or AST 2. You would not be allowed to attend the "Level 1" course in Canada unless you have some previous experience in the B.C and an AST1 or AST 2. I think the best thing for you is to take a AST 2 course, it is usually a 4 day event with one day in the class and 3 days out touring with your instructor. I would recommend the following places: Originally Posted by Sirshredalot
http://www.yamnuska.com/avalanche-courses/
https://pr1web.ucalgary.ca/CamRecWeb...treekey=050o02
http://www.simplyadventures.com/
To get a better handle on what courses are out there and what the Canadian standards are go here:
http://www.avalanche.ca/CAC_Training_Program
The last thing I would say is that there is no better/bigger place to ski tour than Rogers Pass.live in a van! That way the snow is always knee deep and fresh at home.
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05-29-2009, 01:11 AM #14
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Travelling to do avi course / backcountry tour
I am currently stuck in Nebraska going to school right now, and traveled to take an avy course last year. This season I did not buy a season pass, and all my ski days have been in the BC in Colorado. I don't know where you're located, but I am able to make it to the mountains in just about 7 hours.
I'm not so sure that taking the class and then jumping right into a multi day tour directly after (assuming I read your post correctly) is the best idea. Hell, you might not even like skinning, so IMO it's best to try it out first before you go sinking a bunch of dough into new gear (beacon, probe, shovel, at bindings, skins.
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05-29-2009, 10:59 AM #15
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Silverton Avalanche School.
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05-31-2009, 10:29 PM #16
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Yeah I'll just start with the AST 2 somewhere in Canada - most likely Rogers Pass. If I enjoy skinning around then I can always get some input from the people who run the place I suppose.
Looking forward to it - when's it going to start snowing?
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06-29-2009, 10:50 PM #17
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There is a great little book put out by the Friends of Mount Revelstoke and Glacier, titled "Ski Touring in Rogers Pass" Besides detailing all the classic 1/2 to 7 day tours in the Pass, it has tons of photos, and a real hands on feel of the commitment to travelling in this type of territory in avalanche season. I'm pretty sure you can order it online thru the Rogers Pass bookstore. Of course, you can just go there first, but looking at all the freaky routes beforehand will amp up the anticipation of trying them, for sure
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