Hilda Lodge AST 2+

Introduction

Ask any backcountry skier/boarder that has sampled a BC backcountry lodge, and you’ll hear raves like “best way to backcountry ski, period” or “best week of skiing of my life”. People keep coming back to lodges. Besides the fantastic terrain for sweet turns, these lodges also provide the perfect classroom for avalanche education.

Keith runs week-long avalanche courses at various backcountry lodges in British Columbia. This is the finest way to hone your ski touring skills, under the watchful eye of an instructor. All of the curriculum from AST2 is covered, plus you will have three additional days of ski touring with other students. You will also get individualized and group feedback throughout the course.

Both Hilda and the Lequereux Outpost have skiable terrain for all avalanche conditions, but require precise route-finding in order to manage avalanche risk. Therefore, only students with significant backcountry experience are qualified to attend. See prerequisites for minimum requirements below. Keith screens all applicants for Lodge Based AST2+ courses to make sure each student has the ability to handle the vertical ups and downhill terrain for each specific lodge. The runs are steep, long, and provide some of the best fall-line skiing on earth. You will have the opportunity to apply your skills by planning appropriate tours for the conditions. We alternate between travelling together as a full group and heading out in small groups for your self-designed tour, all under the watchful eye of an avalanche instructor with 30 years of experience leading students into the winter wilderness.

Keith is the co-author of the new AST Handbook, which is used for all AST courses. He also works in the psychological sciences. BE PREPARED FOR A FULLY ENGAGING AND INTERACTIVE COURSE!

This is not a guided trip. You will receive instruction and mentorship.  You will be responsible for planning and carrying out self-guided tours during 3 of the 7 days.

The Hilda week is right in the middle of February, a perfect time to be in the backcountry. You will be spoiled with semi-private accommodation, sauna, and terrain that is revered by backcountry skiers in the know. Price includes: 8 nights accommodation at Shon’s Hostel in Nakusp and Hilda (7 nights), Full Catering for 8 days by Tyler and Cate, Round-trip Helicopter Transfer to Hilda and your 8 day AST2+ course.

2020 Hilda Cost: 8 day AST2+ Course ($600), 8 nights Lodging and Heli Transfer($1675), 8 days Catering ($600) = $2875 & Tax

Click here for KAC Payment and Refund Policy

Prerequisites for the AST2+

• AST1 or permission from the instructor in cases of equivalent training.
• You must have a minimum of at least 30 backcountry days.
• You should be proficient skiing/boarding powder in at least 35-40 degree open and treed terrain.
• Your fitness must be sufficient for you to complete tours of at least 3,000-4,000 vertical feet each day for 7 days.
• A smartphone with a mapping app that has Valkyr terrain downloaded for offline use.

Objectives for the AST 2+

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Be familiar with Avalanche Danger Ratings verification techniques for personal use on a local scale.

• Be familiar with the Avaluator and the ATES technical model as a means to develop personal, local terrain ratings.

• Understand how human factors influence decision making.

• Use navigation and route-finding to take advantage of nuances in terrain to manage personal risk.

• Use travel techniques in avalanche terrain appropriate to the avalanche conditions.

• Proficiently carry out a companion rescue

PREPARATION

Please read the page dedicated to giving you all the pre-course information you’ll need at: Backcountry Lodge Information for AST2+ Students.

Typical Schedule (exact times subject to change)

Saturday: 3:00 pm: Check-in to Shon’s Hostel in Nakusp. 4:00 pm: Begin AST2+. 6:30 pm: Dinner.

Sunday: 6:30 am: Breakfast at Shon’s. 7:20 am: Drive to Burton. 8:00 am: Meet at Burton helicopter staging area for safety briefing and fly to lodge. 11:00 am: Get settled in rooms and have lunch. 1:00 pm: Companion Rescue practice and short tour. 5:00 pm: Appetizers. 5:30 pm: Class session on Human Factors and Decision Making. 7:00 pm: Dinner.

Monday: 6:30 am: Morning meeting to discuss conditions (Alternate who runs the meeting). 7:00 am: Breakfast & pack your lunch. 8:00 am: All day ski tour with focus on terrain and travel practice. 4:00 pm: Appetizers. 5:30 pm: Class session including navigation and trip planning for tomorrow’s tour. 7:00 pm: Dinner.

Tuesday: 6:30 am: Morning meeting. 7:00 am: Breakfast & pack your lunch. 8:00 am: Self-guided tour in small groups. 4:00 pm: Appetizers. 5:30 pm: Class session. 7:00 pm: Dinner.

Wednesday: 6:30 am: Morning meeting. 7:00 am: Breakfast. 8:00 am: Morning session of companion rescue and snow science. 11:30 am: Lunch at cabin. 12:30 pm: Afternoon tour. 4:00 pm: Appetizers. 5:30 pm: Class session including navigation and trip planning for tomorrow’s tour. 7:00 pm: Dinner. 8:00 pm: Mid-course individualized feedback.

Thursday: 6:30 am: Morning meeting. 7:00 am: Breakfast & pack your lunch. 8:00 am: Self-guided tour in small groups. 4:00 pm: Appetizers. 5:30 pm: Class session. 7:00 pm: Dinner.

Friday: 6:30 am: Morning meeting. 7:00 am: Breakfast & pack your lunch. 8:00 am: Ski Tour with emphasis on leadership and group decision making. 4:00 pm: Appetizers. 5:30 pm: Class session including navigation and trip planning for tomorrow’s tour. 7:00 pm: Dinner.

Saturday: 6:30 am: Morning meeting. 7:00 am: Breakfast & pack your lunch. 8:00 am: Self-guided tours in smaller groups. 4:00 pm: Appetizers. 5:30 pm: Class session. 7:00 pm: Dinner and celebration. 8:00 pm: End of course individualized feedback.

Sunday: 7:00 am: Breakfast. 8:00 am: Clean-up chores. 9:00 am: Fly back to Burton staging area and begin travel home.

Our buddy Vince Hempsall wrote a very flattering article about his experience on the KAC Lodge Based AST2+ in March 2017.  Vince is the managing editor for Kootenay/Coast Mountain Culture Magazine.  You can check out his article here: Chasing Avalanches

Comments

This week was amazing.  I feel like I made huge progress.

The alternating course field days with the self-guided days was great.

The self-guided days forced us to apply what we were learning to real scenarios.

Evening sessions that are bite-sized and digestible.

I learned that even in high avalanche danger, there are still places that you can ski safely.

More information about Lodge Based AST 2+:
Sign up early. We plan these courses 4-5 years in advance in order to get prime weeks booked with the lodge.

Yes, you can take the Lodge Based AST 2+ even if you’ve previously done an AST 2. Students take the Lodge Based AST 2+ in order to learn greater avalanche skills in the setting of a beautiful backcountry lodge. Some students have taken the Lodge Based AST2+ two or three times!

For AST2+ Students only: Trip Cancellation/Interruption

We understand that the AST2+ week at a lodge is a big financial commitment. Occasionally events occur that may prevent you from joining us due to missed flight connection, job loss, death of a family member or your own illness or injury.  When an unexpected event prevents you from travelling, Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption reimburses travel costs if your trip is cancelled before you leave or disrupted after it has begun. To avoid any financial hardship that an unexpected cancellation or interruption could cause, we recommend purchasing Trip Cancellation/Interruption to protect your trip investment. Trip Cancellation/Interruption costs about 5% of your trip cost. Contact our preferred provider Lifestyle Financial and they can provide you with a quote for both Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance and Emergency Medical Insurance (if needed). Travel Insurance Link for Guests

Check out a video shot by one of our AST 2 students in 2013:

Your teaching skills were exceptional, though I found a lot of ownership in my own learning.

Experience of a lifetime, honestly. The venue blew my mind. The chance to ski here with your instruction and the opportunity to interact with a group was the real thing.

I learned the most I possibly could without overload of info.

The “real life” skiing, group dynamics, communication, all around love of skiing, and getting after it, was a perfect combo.