Hi there, I'm new to town, looking forward to getting out in the hills (or just pulling on plastic) with some of you once I get a little direction.

I've been rock climbing for 10 years but have also done some mountaineering, initially a 10 day instruction course, and then subsequent trips to NZ and about 6 weeks over in the French Alps.

I have gone over basic avalanche safety previously, mostly on an ice climbing course in NZ, also on my initial instruction course. However, for example, I cannot remember how to use a transceiver.

I would like to learn to ski backcountry (I have only skiied downhill, and that was some years ago now). I'd really appreciate some advice on which path I should take to brush up on my avi knowledge and comfortably and confidently join trips.

I see that there is an AST-1 snowshow, AST-1 ski, and AST-1 plus. The ski or plus version sounds like the direction I want to head in, but would it be practical to join on of these courses if I need to learn how to ski (properly) in the first place?

If that is the case, what about the snowshoe course? Is it still all the same theory? Would any backcountry ski trip organisers take me along if I have just undergone the AST-1 snowshoe course? (Providing it is a beginner level trip, obviously).

Thanks for the help,

Liam

Good morning, any AST-1 course would be fine. All courses cover the same material, so the snowshoe course would be OK. The presentation is really the only difference, so a course for snowmobilers would have a slightly different presentation from a course for snowshoers, but the material will be the same.

The club has had introductory backcountry trips. Check the trip schedule for introductory trips. If you have no skiing skills then I suggest that you learn some basic alpine skiing at a ski hill. You should be able to control yourself, to a greater extent than lesser, going down hill. Going up is were the difference in equipment allows one to propel oneself upwards. That experience can be learned on introductory trips. You will find that there are plenty of opinions about how and were to ski in the backcountry.  One book that many suggest is "Exploring the Coast Mountains on Skis," by John Baldwin. It brushes the topics relevant to backcountry skiers and provides basic information about ski trips local to BC mountains.

Unfortunately this year the snow pack has been poor and not very good for backcountry skiing and trips have been cancelled. CU out there

Hi Liam,

Peter summed it up well, but there are a few things I'll add specifically to the AST-1 courses and the Intro to Backcountry Ski courses.

For both the AST-1 on Skies and Intro to Backcountry Skiing, participants are expected to at least ski comfortably on equivalent to "blue" runs.  This is more of a bare minimum, as there are other factors out there that make for more difficult skiing (trees, steep sections, etc).  The introductory course is mean more as an introduction to the backcountry part of skiing, rather than on the skiing itself.

Should you have any more questions feel free to let us know.

Thanks,

Rob

Thanks for the info people, that helps a lot.

Hi all, there is something else I've been thinking about that I would like clarified.

I have learnt the basics of evaluating avalanche conditions, and avalanche S&R, in New Zealand, as part of more generic courses (intro to mountaineering, and ince climbing) run by proffesional guiding companies.

I currently have 'Avalanche Essentials' out from the library.

If I brush up on avalanches, evaluation, S&R, by this book, may I be permitted to join a basic level backcountry ski trip?

Or is it obligatory to have completed AST-1?

Liam,

One important reason for taking the avi training is to learn how to search for and recover a person buried by an avalanche. If you cannot do that, then you are letting your fellow trip partners down. If you are out with someone and they get buried, can you help them? If you cannot then it does not matter what books you have read, or courses you have taken. 

Hi Peter, perhaps you misunderstood my question.

If I am unable to help partner(s) caught in an avalanche due to insufficient skills and knowledge, then obviously I shouldn't be on the trip.

What I'm wondering is the opposite scenario. As long as I have the knowledge and skills to perform a rescue after an avalanche, does it matter whether that has come from a local course (AST-1) or other means (courses in other countries, brushing up via reading)?

Oh, I miss understood. I guess if it does not matter then AST-1 or equivalent would be asked for. If does matter then only AST-1.

Hey Liam,

basically it's up to each trip organizer to decide what is the minimum requirement for participants on their particular trip. As far as I know, there is no club policy setting a minimum requirement for participating on any club trip.

With that said, it's obviously a darn good idea for participants to be competent at avy rescue, and more importantly at staying out of avies in the first place... Attending a course is only one small step towards safer backcountry travel.

Go ahead and contact trip organizers for trips you're interested in and explain your background. 

Cheers!