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Avalanche courses · Whistler, Revelstoke, Banff and the Kootenays
Avalanche courses in Canada (AST 1 & AST 2), compared
Every AST 1 and AST 2 we could find near Whistler, Revelstoke and Rogers Pass, Banff and Canmore, Fernie and Nelson. Same Avalanche Canada curriculum, different field days, group sizes and refund rules.
10course providers compared, 27 courses
C$225cheapest published price, per person
1½–4½ dayscourse length
2 daysminimum for AST 1; AST 2 adds 3 field days
Start here
Where do you ski?
Sort:Showing 27 ·
Mountain Skills Academy & AdventuresAST 1 (ski/split)Whistler · 2 days
2
Not published, ask
What you needSkis or a splitboard; snowshoers are sent to MSA's separate Snowshoe AST 1. You need a Whistler Blackcomb lift/backcountry access ticket for field days.Their own pages disagree: . The main AST 1 Whistler page says $324 midweek / $364 weekend. An older page says $235 / $285. The booking page says 'from $299'. A women's AST 1 and a teen AST 1 are also offered.
Mountain Skills Academy & AdventuresAST 2 (ski/split)Whistler / Whistler Blackcomb backcountry
—
Not published, ask
What you needAST 1 required. Good fitness and backcountry experience; anyone who doesn't meet this may be rescheduled. Age 16+. A Whistler Blackcomb pass is needed for field days.Their own pages disagree: $699 on the current page, $599 and 'from $739' on others. They also conflict on length: 3.5 days (online + video call + 3 field days) vs '4 days'. Ratio 6:1. MSA also runs a hut-based AST 2.
Altus Mountain GuidesAST 1 (ski/split)Whistler · 1½ days
1½
$225 Wed / $275 Sat + GST
What you needNo prerequisites listed.Half-day online plus 1 field day, ratio 8:1. Whistler Blackcomb lift ticket is $45/day extra. Needs at least 2 participants to run.
Altus Mountain GuidesAST 1+ (ski/split)Whistler · 2026-27 price · 2½ days
2½
$329 weekday / $359 weekend + GST
What you needNo prerequisites listed.Ratio 8:1. Women-led sessions $359. Not included: WB backcountry lift ticket ($45), rescue gear, rental, lunch.
Altus Mountain GuidesAST 2 (ski/split)Whistler · 2025-26 price · 4½ days
4½
$750–$879 + GST
What you needNo prerequisites listed.Ratio 6:1. Price depends on whether the session is weekday-only. These are 2025-26 prices; 2026-27 not yet confirmed.
Extremely CanadianAST 1+ (ski/split)Whistler Blackcomb backcountry · 2½ days
2½
$392 + taxes & fees
What you needTouring skis or splitboard, skins and avalanche safety gear. Group products 16+.Evening online session (6–8 pm) plus 2 full field days. Ratio 8:1. Lift ticket not included; course price gets $87/day discounted tickets. 10% off for Epic Pass holders. 25% off when bundled with Intro to Backcountry.
Extremely CanadianAST 2 (ski/split)Whistler · 2026-27 price · 4 days
4
$795 + taxes & fees
What you needAdvanced skiers/riders. The page recommends 50+ touring days, but its FAQ says a full touring season or 20+ days since AST 1+. Touring skis or splitboard, skins, avalanche gear. Age 16+.4 field days with online support. Season runs Nov 20, 2026 – Apr 10, 2027. Groups of 3–6.
Mountain Addicts Guiding and InstructionAST 1 (ski/split)Revelstoke classroom + Rogers Pass field day · 2 days
2
$345 + GST
What you needMust complete the waiver before booking, or the booking is cancelled.About 16 hours: 1 classroom day plus 1 field day at Rogers Pass (about 250 m of climbing). Max 8. A women's-only version also runs. An older 'town-based' Revelstoke AST 1 page listed $299.
Mountain Addicts Guiding and InstructionAST 2 (ski/split)Revelstoke · 4 days
4
from $846
What you needAST 1 or equivalent training and experience. Able to tour roughly 800–1,200 m of elevation a day and ski/ride off-piste in control.1 full classroom session plus 3 field sessions. Price is from the booking page.
Mountain Addicts Guiding and InstructionAST 1 (ski/split)Golden / Kicking Horse
—
$339 + GST
What you needNo prerequisites listed.Classroom day plus an 8-hour field trip. The Golden page doesn't state a day count.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort – Mountain Sports SchoolAST 1 (ski/split)Revelstoke Mountain Resort · 2 days
2
Not published, ask
What you needAge 15+. Backcountry equipment not included.Their own pages disagree: $359 on the current AST page, $349 on another page (with December 2025 dates). 8:30 am–4:30 pm, max 8. Taught on the mountain by resort AST trainers.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort – Mountain Sports SchoolAST 1+ (ski/split)Revelstoke Mountain Resort + backcountry day · 3 days
3
Not published, ask
What you needAge 15+.AST 1 plus a third backcountry touring day. Pages conflict: $489 vs $479.
Hangfire Avalanche TrainingAST 1 (snowmobile)Revelstoke area (online class + field day)
—
Not published, ask
What you needNo prerequisites listed.Online class plus 1 field day. Pages conflict: full course $399 on one booking page, $379 on others. Field day alone $220 or $240. Online class $159.
Hangfire Avalanche TrainingAST 1 (ski/split)Kicking Horse, Golden
—
Not published, ask
What you needNo prerequisites listed.Online class plus a field day at Kicking Horse, 8:30 start. Pages conflict: $299 on Hangfire's course table vs $239 on a booking page. A women-only version and a Golden/Rogers Pass version are also listed.
Yamnuska Mountain AdventuresAST 2 (ski/split)Rogers Pass
—
$1,269 + GST
What you needAST 1 (from any approved provider) needed for the certificate. Backcountry experience such as a Yamnuska intro/Wapta trip plus about 5–7 personal touring days. Age 19+.Includes instruction, books, and safety/snow-study equipment.
Yamnuska Mountain AdventuresAST 2 (ski/split, lodge)Purcell Mountain Lodge (fly-in from Golden)
—
$3,399 + GST, PST, room tax
What you needAST 1 needed for the certificate; same backcountry experience guidance as other Yamnuska AST 2s.Includes return flight from Golden, double-occupancy lodging, meals, instruction and equipment.
Yamnuska Mountain AdventuresAST 1 (ski/split/snowshoe)Canmore classroom + Rockies field day · 2 days
2
$349 + GST
What you needMinimum intermediate skier at a ski hill. Skis, splitboard or snowshoes. 18+ unless with a parent or guardian.1 classroom day plus 1 field day. Includes avalanche safety equipment. Runs most winter weekends. Book AST 1 and AST 2 together for 10% off both. Lodging not included.
Yamnuska Mountain AdventuresAST 2 (ski/split)Canadian Rockies (Canmore-based) · 4 days
4
$879 + GST
What you needAST 1 (from any approved provider) needed for the certificate. Backcountry experience: at least a Yamnuska Intro to Backcountry, Wapta or Intro to Ski Mountaineering trip plus about 5–7 personal touring days. 18+ unless with a parent or guardian.Includes 4 days of instruction, books, and safety/snow-study equipment.
Cloud Nine GuidesAST 1 (ski/split)Canmore / Banff / Lake Louise · 2 days
2
Not published, ask
What you needNo prerequisites listed.Their own pages disagree: from $315/seat vs from $335/seat. Runs every weekend Nov–Feb. 25% subsidy for Bow Valley residents aged 18–30; 10% off for military and first responders.
Cloud Nine GuidesAST 2 (ski/split)Banff / Lake Louise
—
Not published, ask
What you needNo prerequisites listed.Their own pages disagree: $849/seat on the homepage vs $795/seat on another page. Cloud Nine also lists AST 2 Golden & Rogers Pass ($1,179 vs $1,239 conflict) and AST 2 Lethbridge & Fernie (from $1,225).
Mountain Addicts Guiding and InstructionAST 1 (ski/split)Fernie · 2 days
2
Not published, ask
What you needNo prerequisites listed.1 classroom day plus 1 field day, max 8. Includes book, Avaluator 2.0 and certificate. Booking listings conflict: from $339 vs from $347. A Youth AST 1 also runs in Fernie.
Mountain Addicts Guiding and InstructionAST 2 (ski/split)Fernie (town-based) · 4 days
4
Not published, ask
What you needSimilar to the Revelstoke AST 2. Per the FAQ, you need backcountry touring experience to attend without AST 1.1 classroom day plus 3 field days. Includes 3-month GRANITE subscription. Lift tickets extra, sold at a discount. A booking listing called 'AST 2 - Fernie' shows from $736, but it isn't confirmed to be this course.
Mountain Addicts Guiding and InstructionAST 2 (ski/split, hut)McDermott Hut, Fernie · 4 days
4
from $1,239
What you needPracticed in backcountry travel; AST 1 taken.Self-directed online learning plus 4 days touring from McDermott Hut, with evening sessions.
Hangfire Avalanche TrainingAST 1 (snowmobile)Fernie (online class + field day) · 2026-27 price
—
$399 (online $159 + field day $240)
What you needNo prerequisites listed.2026/27 field dates listed as Jan 16 or 17.
Kootenay Backcountry GuidesAST 1 (ski/split)Kootenay Pass or Whitewater backcountry (Nelson) · 2 days
2
$347 + tax
What you needSkis or splitboard only, no snowshoes. Splitboarders must know how to assemble the board, click into bindings and skin.Home online learning plus 2 full 8-hour field days.
Kootenay Backcountry GuidesAST 2 (ski/split)Kootenay Pass / Whitewater; lodge-based version at Mt Brennan · 4 days
4
$674 + tax
What you needAST 1 within the last 10 years. 10–20 backcountry days recommended. Able to ski/split 1,000 vertical m on back-to-back days and travel 10 km following a track. KBG also suggests its MAT course first.About 8 hours online before the first field day, then 4 full field days.
Whitewater Ski ResortAST 1 (ski/split)Whitewater Ski Resort, Nelson · 2½ days
2½
Not published, ask
What you needYour own gear; rentals available at Whitewater.Whitewater's AST 1 course page no longer loads. A 2019 resort blog describes 2.5 days run by the ski patrol: a Friday-evening classroom session plus 2 field days. No current dates or price found on resort pages.
Copied from each provider’s own pages on Oct 19, 2026. Every “See dates” button opens the page we used. Where a page says which season a price is for, we show it. All prices in Canadian dollars. Prices change; the operator’s page wins if it disagrees with this one.
Read this before you pay a deposit
Refund terms vary far more than prices. Extremely Canadian gives back 90% up to 7 days out and Hangfire refunds all but $20 at 7+ days. Cloud Nine and Kootenay Backcountry Guides don't refund AST courses at all, and Yamnuska keeps everything under 42 days out. Buy insurance or book where you can still bail.
'AST 1' isn't one product. Altus's base AST 1 is 1.5 days ($225–$275), while AST 1+ versions (Altus, Extremely Canadian, RMR) add a field day for roughly $90–$130 more. Compare field days, not just the course name.
In Whistler, add a backcountry lift ticket to the course price: Altus charges $45/day and EC discounts tickets to $87/day. Yamnuska ($349) includes avalanche safety gear in its AST 1.
For AST 2, KBG ($674, 4 field days) and EC ($795, 4 field days) are the clearest-priced options. KBG and Mountain Addicts state concrete fitness bars (1,000 m back-to-back days; 800–1,200 m/day). Use those to judge whether you're ready.
- AST 1 runs a minimum of two days, with an online/classroom part and a field part. It covers recognizing avalanche terrain, reading the avalanche forecast, trip planning and companion rescue. avalanche.ca ↗
- AST 2 is the next step after AST 1 plus some backcountry experience. It adds a more advanced decision-making framework for avalanche terrain. Avalanche Canada sets a minimum of 9.5 hours of classroom time and three field days. It lists no formal prerequisite, so each provider sets its own entry rules. avalanche.ca ↗
- Avalanche Canada does not run courses itself. Licensed independent providers deliver them, and every provider and instructor must carry liability insurance. Avalanche Canada says to choose a licensed AST provider and check for its logo. avalanche.ca ↗
- Avalanche Canada's site has a 'Find a Course' search and a provider database. Not every provider posts its courses there, so use the provider database if your region shows nothing. avalanche.ca ↗
- Snowmobilers should take a sled-specific AST. Avalanche Canada lists sled-course providers on its Mountain Snowmobiling page. avalanche.ca ↗
The providers
Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures
- Based
- Whistler / Squamish, BC
- Courses
- 2
- Refunds
- The general AST cancellation terms were not found; the booking pages say they sit in MSA's Terms & Conditions. The one-day AST 1 Refresher page says: cancel within 10 days and you lose 100% of tuition; cancel earlier and pay a $75 rescheduling/refund fee. MSA may cancel a course for low enrolment with 48 hours' notice.
- Age
- AST 2: minimum age 16
- Private
- AST 1 private $1,949 for up to 8 people; AST 2 private $2,999 for up to 6
Policy from: mountainskillsacademy.com, mountainskillsacademy.com, mountainskillsacademy.rezdy.com
Altus Mountain Guides
- Based
- Squamish / Whistler, BC
- Courses
- 3
- Deposit
- 20% deposit when booking more than 30 days out. The balance is due 30 days before the start. Inside 30 days, pay in full.
- Refunds
- More than 30 days out: deposit refunded in full. 30–14 days out: deposit lost. Under 14 days: full amount lost. Cancellations must be in writing. If Altus cancels before the start, you get a full refund. Altus recommends trip-cancellation insurance.
- Private
- Custom AST courses offered (AST 2 custom group as low as $592 pp + GST)
Policy from: altusmountainguides.com, altusmountainguides.com, altusmountainguides.com
Extremely Canadian
- Based
- Whistler, BC
- Courses
- 2
- Refunds
- Group courses: cancel at least 7 days ahead for a 90% refund, a free reschedule, or a 100% credit. Private courses: the same options, but 14 days ahead. Once you change your dates, refunds are no longer allowed. Illness or injury inside 7 days may need medical documentation. If EC cancels for weather, you get a full refund.
- Age
- Group products 16+
- Private
- AST 1+ private $2,369 + tax; AST 2 private $3,709 + tax
Policy from: extremelycanadian.com, extremelycanadian.com
Mountain Addicts Guiding and Instruction
- Based
- Revelstoke, Golden & Fernie, BC
- Courses
- 6
- Contact
- info@mountainaddicts.ca
Cancellation terms not published where we looked. Get them in writing before you pay.
Visit Mountain Addicts ↗Policy from: mountainaddicts.ca, mountainaddicts.ca
Revelstoke Mountain Resort – Mountain Sports School
- Based
- Revelstoke, BC
- Courses
- 2
- Refunds
- No AST-specific cancellation terms found. The resort's general refund page could not be confirmed to apply to AST.
- Age
- AST 1: 15 and over
- Contact
- 250.814.5060
Policy from: revelstokemountainresort.com, revelstokemountainresort.com
Hangfire Avalanche Training
- Based
- Revelstoke, Golden & Fernie, BC
- Courses
- 3
- Refunds
- AST 1: full refund less $20 pp with at least 7 days' notice; no refund inside 7 days. Moving a field day also needs 7 days' notice. AST 2: full refund less $30 pp at 14 or more days out; no refund inside 14 days. Optional Cancellation Coverage ($30 sled / $20 ski) refunds cancellations between 7 days and 24 hours before the field day, less a $20 admin fee and the coverage fee. Missing a day because of weather counts as a cancellation.
Policy from: hangfiretraining.com
Yamnuska Mountain Adventures
- Based
- Canmore, AB
- Courses
- 4
- Deposit
- Full payment on booking.
- Refunds
- Cancel in writing. More than 57 days out: full refund less a $100 (+tax) admin fee and a 4% service fee. 56–42 days out: no refund on programs under $800, 60% back on programs $800 and up. Under 42 days: no refund. Trip-cancellation insurance is available through the Simpson Group.
- Age
- AST 1 / AST 2 Canmore: 18+ unless with a parent or guardian; AST 2 Rogers Pass: 19+
- Private
- Private AST courses in Canmore and Calgary
- Contact
- info@yamnuska.com
Policy from: yamnuska.com, yamnuska.com
Cloud Nine Guides
- Based
- Canmore, AB
- Courses
- 2
- Refunds
- AST 1 and AST 2 are non-refundable. You can transfer your seat to someone else, or rebook within 1 calendar year if seats are available. Each transfer or rebooking costs $25. Cloud Nine recommends trip-cancellation insurance.
- Private
- Private AST 1 offered. Pages conflict: $300/person and $395/person.
Policy from: cloudnineguides.com, cloudnineguides.com
Kootenay Backcountry Guides
- Based
- Nelson, BC
- Courses
- 2
- Refunds
- AST courses are not refunded; KBG points to trip-cancellation insurance instead. Switching dates counts as a cancellation: you lose the original payment and pay again. If KBG cancels, you can reschedule in the same season, take full credit, or get a refund less a 25% admin fee. The policy page may be old.
- Private
- AST 2 private $4,887 + tax for up to 8
- Contact
- 1-833-524-8433
Policy from: kootenaybackcountryguides.com, kootenaybackcountryguides.com
Whitewater Ski Resort
- Based
- Nelson, BC
- Courses
- 1
Cancellation terms not published where we looked. Get them in writing before you pay.
Visit Whitewater ↗Policy from: whitewatermountainresort.com
Get an email when bookings open
Courses fill by December. Get an email when providers post new dates near you.
Before and after the trip
Most programs start in Whistler, Revelstoke, Banff and the Kootenays. Lodging is extra on nearly all of them.
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How this page makes money: links to Booking.com, Viator and 57hours may earn PeakSeeker a commission if you book. Links to the providers themselves don’t, and nobody pays to be listed or to change what we say. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Sources
- avalanche.ca/training
- avalanche.ca/sled
- mountainskillsacademy.com/avalanche-skills-training-level-1/ast-1-whistler/
- mountainskillsacademy.com/avalanche-skills-training-level-2/ast-2-whistler/
- mountainskillsacademy.rezdy.com/41636/whistler-and-squamish-ast-1-plus-day-only
- altusmountainguides.com/participant-information-ast-1-whistler
- altusmountainguides.com/faq
- altusmountainguides.com/courses/custom-ast-course-whistler
- extremelycanadian.com/avalanche-skills-training-1
- extremelycanadian.com/avalanche-skills-training-2
- mountainaddicts.ca/faqs/
- mountainaddicts.ca/waiver/
- revelstokemountainresort.com/mountain-sports-school/training-certification/ast/
- revelstokemountainresort.com/refund-policies/
- hangfiretraining.com/sledders-policies/
- yamnuska.com/booking-details/
- yamnuska.com/avalanche-courses/custom-private-avalanche-courses/
- cloudnineguides.com/AST1
- cloudnineguides.com/private-ast-1-network
- kootenaybackcountryguides.com/about/policies
- kootenaybackcountryguides.com/about/faq
- whitewatermountainresort.com/blog/an-education-in-powder/
- Each course’s own page, linked from its “See dates” button.