






Avalanche Canada’s (formerly Canadian Avalanche Centre) “Avalanche Skills Training” (AST Level 1) course is a comprehensive program combining classroom instruction and 2 days of field activity, for a total of 19 hours of direct instruction. The course focuses on understanding, recognizing & avoiding avalanche hazards. AST Level 1 will focus on terrain recognition, basic snow pack structure, weather, safe route finding & avalanche rescue techniques.
Snowmobilers, skiers, snowshoers, search-and-rescue volunteers, and outdoor leaders. No previous avalanche training experience is required for the AST Level 1 course.
“Enjoyable high quality instruction. Thank-You.”
“Super fun weekend and super glad I took the course!”
“Great organization and preparedness on behalf of Hope Mountain Centre.”
“The excellent instructors that Hope Mountain Centre was able to provide made the course 100% effective and worthwhile.”
“Considering the difference in skill levels on the team, I felt (the instructors) worked very patiently and systematically with all of us so we did not get left behind.”
“Excellent experience… Thank you all for your expertise.”
“The instructors were awesomely positive, skilled at what they were teaching and skilled teachers.”
Cost: $250 per person. Snowshoes are also available for $10 weekend rental. Group discounts are available. Price includes:
Participants must be physically mobile and have at least moderate physical fitness and stamina. Field classes will take place in the mountains, requiring participants to ski or snowshoe approximately 2 km from a highway, gaining approximately 200 metres elevation.
Friday
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM – Introductory classroom session – University of the Fraser Valley, Hope Campus, 1250 7th Avenue, Hope, BC
Saturday
8:00 AM – Classroom session – University of the Fraser Valley, Hope Campus, 1250 7th Avenue, Hope, BC
Afternoon – Field-based activity in Hope
4:00 PM – End of day
Sunday
9:00 AM – Meet at Coquihalla toll booth for field-based activity at Coquihalla Summit. Note: Coquihalla Summit is our first choice for the Sunday activity if snow is deep enough, but as our back up we’ll use Manning Park Ski Area–it’s a bit higher and typically has more snow.
4:00 PM – Leave Coquihalla toll booth for home
MEETING LOCATION MAP & ITINERARY (available shortly)
**Please be aware that our programs run regardless of weather conditions, unless we determine that it will affect the safety of participants and/or equipment.
Friday and Saturday: University of the Fraser Valley, Hope Campus, 1250 7th Avenue, Hope, BC
Sunday: Old Coquihalla Hwy toll booth or Manning Park ski area depending on snow depth.
MEETING LOCATION MAP & ITINERARY available shortly.
Participants may wish to stay in Hope on Friday and Saturday night, and enjoy our local restaurants, cafes, and movie theatre. A great selection of motels and B&Bs are available in the Hope area. Click HERE for details.
Participants must get to Hope with their own vehicles and travel to the field locations with their own vehicles (carpooling is encouraged). Field locations are accessible via paved highways.
Everyone age 19 & over must sign a liability waiver form in order to participate in this program. Please take the time to read this form because you must understand and agree to it when you sign it. By signing it you are waiving certain rights, including the right to sue. These forms will be available to sign when you check in. Please seek legal counsel if you have any questions.
Everyone age 18 & under must have an informed consent form signed by their parent or legal guardian in order to participate. Please contact us if you need this form prior to arrival at this program.
If a registration is cancelled 7 days or more before a program starts, HMCOL will refund the program fee and equipment rental fees (as applicable) minus an administrative cost of $20 per person. Program and equipment rental fees will not be refunded if a cancellation is received less than 7 days before the start of a program. A program may be cancelled at the discretion of HMCOL. If a program is cancelled, participants will receive a full refund of program and equipment fees.
Please be aware that our programs run regardless of weather conditions, unless we determine that it will affect the safety of participants and/or equipment.
Hope Mountain Centre carries liability insurance and maintains excellent safety records. Due to the nature of outdoor programs, these trips do involve some personal risk. Hope Mountain Centre assumes no responsibility for personal injury or damage to personal property and we will require each participant to sign a liability release and assumption of risk form before participating in this program. Please be aware that activities typical of this program involve many risks, dangers and hazards including, but not limited to: accidents which occur during transportation or travel to and from events; slips and falls; loss of balance; impact, cold water immersion; repetitive strain injuries; dislocated shoulders; hypothermia, frostbite, sunburn; changing and inclement weather conditions including storms, blizzards, whiteouts and high wind; steepness of terrain, tree wells, crevasses; avalanches, cornices, landslides and falling ice, snow and objects; encounters with domestic or wild animals; negligence on the part of releasees and other participants. While we love animals of all kinds, we ask that you please leave Fido at home.
Register online to reserve your spot. Call 604-869-1274 or email us at lklassen@hopemountain.org for more information.