Whether you are getting ready for your first winter of backcountry skiing and riding or you’ve been at it for years, the Avalanche Skills Training (AST) Level 1 or 2 course – developed by Avalanche Canada – is the perfect opportunity to learn about (or brush up on) safe backcountry travel techniques, route finding, slope assessment and companion rescue. Join us for a combination of classroom and field-based learning. As an Avalanche Professional, Keith is licensed by Avalanche Canada to provide courses in terrain that is appropriate for the avalanche conditions. Therefore, you will get a realistic experience in the field that will help you prepare for your own touring adventures.

I have been thrilled with the opportunity to teach avalanche courses to hundreds of people for the past 33 years. In addition to Rossland-based AST, I also teach the AST 2 program during week-long backcountry lodge trips.  I’ll admit, the reason I do this is that those lodge weeks are almost always the best weeks of my winter.  I find that the students get so much learning out of these trips.  We’re so lucky to be situated in the midst of these lodges, which provide the ultimate experience for backcountry travellers.

With additional background in the field of psychology, we add concepts like mindfulness training to our courses.  Current research about the brain is showing that the better we learn to regulate our bodies before making important decisions, the better our decisions will be.  We’re also bringing a greater focus to inclusion and belonging. You will help us create a culture where our differences are celebrated. We’ll use these concepts to greater understand each other in the hopes of improving our communication around risk management.

Learn about our courses here.

We donate 3% of all revenue from AST courses to climate change organizations that are working to try to help sustain our winter snow. Learn more here.