A journey that was certainly challenging at times, but the breathtaking scenery, camaraderie, and laughter made every difficult step worth the while! Can't wait for the next adventure.
Anik Descoteaux | BC
Highlights: All inclusive, full instruction, heli access, four day educational experience within B.C.’s most beautiful backcountry
Avalanche Skills Training 2 – BC’s mountains offer some of the world’s best opportunities for winter backcountry experiences and exploration. In order to explore, you have a responsibility—to yourselves, your friends, and your family—to get avalanche training.
Built around daily processes, we teach an approach used by professionals. It expands on the foundations of your AST 1. Providing a more advanced decision-making framework for traveling in avalanche terrain. 8 hours minimum of lodge-based instruction with three days in the field. Plenty of time to put your skills to practice.
The focus of this Avalanche Skills Training 2 course will be on developing and implementing a process for assessing and evaluating potential avalanche slopes in the backcountry in regard to the hazard that they present. The course will emphasize the practical collection and analysis of relevant data that an average backcountry skier would be able to use as the basis for making their decisions regarding travel in avalanche terrain.
This course requires an AST 1 as a prerequisite.
What's included with your tour
A 4 night stay at Ice Creek Lodge and all our lodge amenities. Build by mountain people for mountain people. After a long day in the field, guests can enjoy the comforts of the cozy timber-style lodge. Enjoy our wood-heated sauna and mountain-style bucket shower before settling down to amazing backcountry cuisine, good tunes, lodge magazines, board games, or your book.
New this year are 4 private bedrooms to spend your nights resting for your next big day of unbelievable turns.
- This tour includes all basic backcountry style cuisine
- We are able to cater to any dietary restrictions and/or preferences (please note that some changes to our basic meal plan may be subject to a price increase)
- We welcome you to bring your own alcohol. Please keep in mind your weight limits while you are planning your trip. Cans are lighter than bottles…. 😉
- We do have a soda stream onsite
This tour includes all helicopter transportation from our staging area in Burton, BC to Ice Creek Lodge, return flights included. We have been working with our pilot Mark Homis from High Terrain Helicopters for over 25 years. He is an incredible pilot.
Please note; that any emergency evacuations will be at the cost of the client.
At Ice Creek Lodge we strive to give you the best of the best. Our community is composed of professionals who are not only hardworking and knowledgable but also simply RAD! Your instructors are all certified by the ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides), are professional members of the CAA (Canadian Avalanche Association), and have attained WSBC level III OFA certification or better. All cooks are professional with Food Safe and basic first aid.
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Tell us what interests you most about this itinerary and any changes you might like to see, including change in duration, activities, etc.
What to bring
- Touring
- Skis or snowboard with proper touring set-up
- Comfortable boots
- Skins with good glue cut to fit your skis
- Shovel, beacon, probe in good condition
- Day pack, avalanche airbag systems are optional
- Headlamp
- Spare batteries
- Sunscreen
- Repair kit – individual and to suit group needs
- Gloves and good socks
- Down jacket
- Emergency tarp, small, compact, heat reflective
- Personal first aid kit with blister repair
- Helmet
- Skis, snowboard crampons, ice axe if you have one
- Digital thermometer
- Snow study kit
- Snow saw
Layering
- Thin gloves and good quality ski socks suggested
- Base layer; thin Merino or equivalent top and bottom
- Insulating layer for colder days, lightweight Merino recommended
- Shell; waterproof, breathable top and bottom
- Hat/toque, good gloves, goggles and sunglasses, spares for the group
Group Extras (optional)
- Group VHF radios required Frequency below
- Local chat, 158.940 simplex
- Satellite phone or InReach
- Compass and Topo map, Burton 82f13, download ICL KMZ file
Cabin Stuff
- Down booties/slippers or cabin shoes
- Casual clothes
- Towel
- Wet wipes
- Entertainment/board games – we provide a small selection
- Selection of music – we have an auxiliary cable to our bluetooth stereo
- We have a selection of guitars, a hand drum and a ukulele
Our guides
Our guides are all certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, are professional members of the Canadian Avalanche Association, and are WSBC level III OFA certified.
Planning a winter trip
Preparing for a winter tour at Ice Creek Lodge.