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“Almost an AST” Avalanche Awareness instruction
January 15 - January 18
Free
Join Doug Latimer, an ACMG Ski Guide, avalanche professional, and the ACC’s Lead Winter Guide, for a pair of three-hour evening Zoom sessions on 15 and 18 January.
The Great Plains Section of the ACC recognizes that it is hard for some folks to get out to an actual Avalanche-Canada-approved Avalanche Skills Training (AST) course, so we have worked with Doug to come up with an interim solution: an “Almost an AST” class that is the closest we can come to an AST1 in Saskatchewan. This is a FREE offering; the content will be almost identical to the classroom session of a full AST1, but we won’t have the field day since we lack avalanche terrain.
We will organize a local field day, preferably at Buffalo Pound, when we’ll cover practical avalanche beacon work, as much shoveling and probing as we can, and use our imaginations in discussions about actual avalanche terrain. This is not a high-output field day, so many layers and puffy jackets are advised. As this will not be in avalanche terrain, children are welcome, but the day is tailored to adults.
This offering is a great way to get yourself ready for a true AST1 course and give you time to develop questions to ask when you pay for an AST1 course (maybe 7/8 December 2024, nudge nudge).
Required for field day:
- Warn winter attire, as we’ll be outside
- Some form of winter footwear (depending on the snow depth, boots are probably fine)
- Lunch and a hot drink
- Backpack with extra gloves, puffy jacket
- Avalanche beacon, probe, shovel (if you have them, otherwise James will borrow the club’s and we will share)
Email James Lewis (james.lawrence.lewis@gmail.com) to ask questions, sign up, and receive the Zoom link.
Create lasting memories, meet new friends!
Register to attend a trip with the Alpine Club of Canada Great Plains Section
Trip Info & Guidelines
Guidelines For Trip Participants
All trips listed in the Great Plains Section’s trip schedule are coordinated by amateur volunteer hikers, skiers and climbers. When on a trip, participants must act in a manner that is safe and responsible and participants are expected to bring the equipment requested by the trip organizer. Participants should find out the requirements and demands of the trip well in advance by asking the organizer and researching the trip in guidebooks and other literature. You must be a member of the Great Plains Section of the Alpine Club of Canada to join a trip.
Further guidelines for participants
- Be prepared to complete a Release of Liability (Waiver). Waiver Form
- You must be a member of the Great Plains Section of the Alpine Club of Canada to join a trip.
- Sign up for trips that will challenge you, but are not beyond your abilities. If unsure, ask the trip organizer and tell them your experience and fitness level. People inexperienced in the mountains should start with easier trips.
- Learn about the trip before you attend (which route, number of kilometers, amount of vertical gain/loss, type of terrain, length of day, etc.).
- Give as much notice as possible to the trip organizer if you are unable to go on the trip. There are often waiting lists of other members who would like to go. If you do not provide enough notice of cancellation for your spot to be filled, your trip deposit will not be refunded.
- Ensure that you have the right equipment and that it is in good repair.
- For winter trips, ensure that you are using a digital avalanche transceiver and that it is in good working order. Single antenna/analog transceivers are not acceptable.
- Bring your helmet on all moderate and difficult scrambles and all climbing trips. Leaders may ask you to bring your helmet on certain ski trips as well.
- Be prepared to contribute to the trip and carry part of the group gear (ropes, etc.).
Personal Insurance
As a broker for TuGo, the ACC offers Emergency Medical Insurance, Trip Cancellation Insurance, Baggage Insurance and more. These policies are available to all Canadians travelling outside their home province within Canada as well as internationally.
If you require medical attention while you’re traveling outside of your home province, or outside of Canada, your provincial health care plan may not cover you. The ACC’s trip insurance covers air ambulance, emergency medical and many other medical expenses. Climbing, skiing and other backcountry accidents are not exempted (as they are with many insurers).
For more information and online quotes, click here.
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