ignorance is not bliss

Being the responsible adventurer that I am, I took an introductory avalanche training course (AST1) in 2008 to learn something about skiing safely in the back country. What I learned is that I knew nothing - avalanches are difficult to predict, potentially deadly, and the only safe option is to avoid avalanche terrain. Great. Avalanche terrain is pretty much everywhere in the mountains around here. I felt powerless and too paranoid to go anywhere. Now what.

I decided to join 10 fellow ski patrol members and take an advanced recreational avalanche training course (AST2). If the goal of AST1 was to teach me what I didn't know I hoped that AST2 would fill in some of those blanks.What a great course! I learned so much during four days of classroom and on-slope training. Now I feel empowered and excited to go touring!

The course began with a day of classroom training in Lake Louise. On day 2 we hit the snow at Crowfoot Glades on the Icefields Parkway. Appropriately, a class 2 loose snow avalanche came down Crowfoot Mountain (the now snow free section in the centre of the picture) while we were at the cars putting our gear on.

We began the day practicing beacon searches and companion rescues on flat terrain.

Honing in on a buried 'victim'.

From there we moved on to snow pack analysis. That pit is to ground so snow depth is under 2 meters.

The compression test and subsequent rutschblock did not produce any significant failures.

Day 3 and 4 were in Glacier National Park, aka, Roger's Pass. Our first tour was up Loop Brook to the Bonney Trees.

One of the biggest overhead hazards of the day was the outhouse.

Our guide, Mark, discussing overhead avalanche hazards on the up track. Once again, a class 2.5 loose snow avalanche appropriately fell from the slope above as we crossed through the runout zone. 

Looking back at Loop Brook while gaining elevation in Bonney Trees.

Lunch break on the lateral moraine flanking Bonney Trees on climbers left. Sapphire Col is in the upper left flanked by Mount Swanzy (right) and The Dome (left).

The final ascent to the top of Bonney Trees.

Our final tour was into the Illecillewaet Valley. Although the competition was stiff, today wins for the best weather and skiing. It was hot by the time we left the parking lot mid-morning. The tour begins on an old railway bed.

But the views quickly open up at the top of the valley. Perley Rock is the small feature on the right below Terminal Peak.

On the other side of the valley is Lookout Col to the right of the central peak (Youngs Peak).

Looking back down the Illecillewaet Valley. Our first set of turns were through the open trees to the left.

Looking back up the Illecillewaet Valley after our final run and the end of the course. Sweet!