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  THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

The Kootenays! B.C. Rockies, well known for some of the most variable avalanche terrain in the world. The best place to learn, apply and evaluate risks and skills needed to survive exploration in the backcountry.  

AST1 and AST2 -  Avalanche Skills Training - 2009'

Canadian Avalanche-  COURSE- Dates/Price

 Surface hoar January 2009 in the Kootenays!  Tim Rippel photos:

 

Professional status provider as recommended by the Canadian Avalanche Association

Offering 1, 2 and 4 day Avalanche Safety Programs geared to backcountry skiers, snowboarders, mountaineering, snow shoeing, snow machine operators, foresters, miners, highway workers and anyone working or playing outside a controlled snow pack environment. 

Each course consists videos, slides, lectures and interactive discussion and full days of hands-on field training with state-of-the-art avalanche rescue equipment.  Participants will learn to read the clues of snow pack, weather and terrain.  You will learn to evaluate hazard and assess risk.   You will actively participate in transceivers searches, snow stability testing, snow pack analysis and  avalanche search & rescue scenarios.  Each course is a balance of classroom training and field practice.  Expect an  intense experience with a full schedule. The maximum participant ratio is 1 to 8. To avoid disappointment please book early.

Courses are instructed by Tim Rippel. A professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association, Mountain Rescue Professional and Mt. Everest and Himalaya guide outfitter, pro-patrol leader, Outside Operations Ski Area manager and has been certified by the ACMG working as a ski guide for 18 years.

Providing Canadian Avalanche experience and knowledge  for almost two decades.

 

Prediction, Prevention and the Language of Risk will be the focus in these courses. Explaining the fine points of the Avaluator. A new system for understanding and evaluating potential hazards and risk.

 

Thanks Becky

You and Tim put together a fantastic course.  I had a great time and feel like I learned a lot.  I feel much more confident in evaluating what is going on out there now.  I will recommend Peak Freaks to everyone I know.

 Thanks again, and good luck in the Himalayas!

Jonathan Armstrong RPF

                                                                                          

COURSE

DESCRIPTION

DATE

AVAILABILITY

COST

General Avalanche Awareness

1- day introduction or awareness refresher course.

Dec. to March

Limited

 offering

$75.00 per person + 6% GST

 

  Snowmobilers -Avalanche Skills Training.

20- hour Avalanche Skills Training-, 2 full days designed for snowmobilers.

 

         0  Booking forms    0  Curriculum  

Upon completion participants will receive the AST 1 certification.

TBA

 

No course offered this year!

$195.00 per person +5% GST

AST- Level 1- Avalanche Skills Training.

20- hour+   Avalanche Skills Training, 2 full days plus evening lecture night before course start.

Booking forms    O Curriculum  

 

***Evening session start 7:30pm the night before the course. Peak Freak's Nelson office. Ask for directions.

 

Dec. 20-21, 2008 

*Feb. 14-15, 2009

 

 

 

* Feb: instruction by Laura Adams. 

 

 

Dec. sold out!

 

 

$198.00 per person + 5%GST   

 

Includes lecture and necessary paperwork evening before.

AST- Level 2- Advanced Avalanche Skills Training.

40- hour+  Advanced Avalanche Skills Training

1- day classroom lecture, 3 days in the field- 4 total.  

Booking forms    O Curriculum  

 

***Morning start at Peak Freaks base camp lodge, Whitewater Road start 8:00am.

 

Jan. 20-23, 2009

Jan. 27-30, 2009

Feb. 20-23, 2009

 

*Feb: instruction by Laura Adams

 

 

 

 

January sold out!

 

$398.00 per person +5% GST

 

 

MESSAGE FROM THE CAA

AVALUATOR- Avalanche Accident Prevention Card

Each year in Canada, an average of 12 people are killed and many more are injured by avalanches. Many of the victims knew how to recognize dangerous conditions. Some even had formal avalanche training. So why did they get caught?

Growing evidence suggests that many avalanche victims died because they lacked a simple, systematic way of making decisions in avalanche terrain. In developing the Avaluator, we studied more than 1400 North American avalanche accidents and interviewed dozens of avalanche experts. We wanted to learn as much as possible from past mistakes and pass this knowledge on to you.

The Avaluator™ is designed to help you make some of your most critical decisions before and during your backcountry trips. The card and its accompanying booklet focused on four key decision and travel skills:

 

1 TRIP PLANNING (Online Avaluator™ Trip Planning Tool)
2 IDENTIFYING AVALANCHE TERRAIN
3 SLOPE EVALUATION
4 GOOD TRAVEL HABITS
Are you curious to learn more about decision-making in Avalanche terrain?

Peak Freak AST1 course participants will receive an Avaluator card and full days instruction on how to use it.

 

OPTIONAL COURSE CHALET ACCOMMODATION for AST 2 programs.  AST 1 accommodation available in Nelson.

Whitewater Chalet + $50CA per night, per person, minimum 3 nights on the 4 day program. Plus 6 % GST.   Whitewater Chalet information. 

 

  • All prices are in Canadian dollars, plus 6% GST and are based on a minimum of 4 participants. Maximum group size on all courses is 8.
  • Custom and private courses are available and are subject to availability of instructor. Book early to avoid disappointment.
  • AST Level 1-  Course includes: Curriculum, Instructional materials, Avalanche Awareness booklet, Completion Certificate, Avaulator Card
  • AST Level 2-  Course include: Curriculum, instructional materials, Competition Certificate and Course Manual provided by the CAA. 
  •  All courses start-end at Peak Freak Expeditions base camp situated in the heart of the Kootenay's on Whitewater Ski Area Road. We have several ideal terrain locations within a close proximity to our base camp.   

Tim and Becky, 

I just had to let you know how much I enjoyed the Advanced Recreational Avalanche Course. The course was extremely well organized. The instruction was motivational and insightful. I gained a great deal of confidence over the four days, as well as a lot of knowledge and skill. Tim, I'm sure you've heard this before, but I'd like you to hear it again... Your leadership is inspirational and I hope our paths cross again someday. Perhaps I will enroll in another course at some point. Thank you both! I'm also keeping in touch with several people from the course. Happy Customer!  Tobi Ridge- Nelson, B.C.

            

 

Bio Tim Rippel- Instructor Course Gear List   AST 2 Curriculum Course Base Camp