Taking the Next Step: What You’ll Learn in an AST 2 Course on Vancouver Island
If you’ve spent time in the backcountry after your AST 1 and you’re feeling ready to step into a bigger role in planning, route-finding, or group decision-making, then AST 2 is your next move.
Where AST 1 teaches the basics of avalanche safety and how to travel in simple terrain, AST 2 is all about leading, assessing, and making informed decisions in more complex winter environments.
On Vancouver Island, that means learning to read a dynamic maritime snowpack, manage quickly changing conditions, and navigate real terrain features and weather patterns that shape the Island’s mountain ranges.
At Vancouver Island Backcountry Education (VIBE), our AST 2 Avalanche Course is built specifically for the Island environment, the snowpack we live on, and the type of terrain locals love to explore.
Who AST-2 Courses Are For
AST 2 is designed for:
AST 1 graduates who have spent time touring or splitboarding in the backcountry
Riders ready to make decisions, not just follow the group
Skiers/splitboarders who want to explore more complex terrain confidently
Anyone planning bigger days, remote objectives, or hut trips
If you’re beginning to ask questions like:
“How do we choose the safest line here?”
“How do I interpret this layer in the snowpack?”
“What’s our backup plan if conditions change?”
…then you’re ready for AST 2.
Course Overview: 4 Days of Real Decision-Making
Our AST 2 expands on your AST 1 foundation and gets you practicing real, hands-on backcountry leadership skills.
Day 1 — Evening or Pre-Course Classroom Session
We review:
The Avalanche Canada Decision-Making Framework
Terrain selection tools and slope analysis
Weather pattern interpretation and local forecasting resources
How to create a solid trip plan (and backup plan)
This session gets everyone aligned so the field days can focus on applied learning.
Days 2–4 — Field Days in Real Terrain
Typically based out of Strathcona Park, Mt. Cain, or the surrounding backcountry, these days are immersive and hands-on.
You’ll practice:
Terrain recognition in simple, challenging, and complex zones
Snowpack tests (compression tests, shovel shear, ECTs)
Interpreting instability clues in real time
Travel techniques for minimizing exposure
Building and modifying trip plans based on observations
Group communication, spacing, and leadership
Advanced companion rescue in realistic scenarios
This is where the learning becomes practical, personal, and transformative.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
Plan and lead a backcountry tour
Choose safer terrain for your group
Recognize signs of instability before committing
Make decisions you trust — even when conditions are variable
Why Vancouver Island Is the Perfect AST 2 Classroom
The maritime snowpack on the Island is one of the most dynamic in Canada. Storms roll in quickly, layers settle fast, and weather shifts can create both forgiving and challenging avalanche conditions sometimes in the same day.
This means:
You get to observe snowpack evolution in real time
Decision-making scenarios feel real, not just theoretical
You leave with skills you can use anywhere the Selkirks, the Rockies, the Coast Range, or right here at home
Island learning builds fast, adaptable mountain intuition.
What You’ll Need
You should be comfortable:
Skiing or riding in variable snow
Traveling on skins or snowshoes for multiple hours per day
Carrying and operating avalanche rescue equipment
Required gear includes:
Avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel
Touring setup (skis or splitboard)
Backpack, layers, repair kit, water, and food
A positive attitude and willingness to learn as a group
Rental gear and gear guidance available upon request.
The VIBE Approach
We keep our courses:
Small — so you get real hands-on practice
Supportive — learning leadership can be intimidating, we make space for everyone to grow
Local — we teach Island terrain, Island weather, and Island snowpack
led by Avalanche Canada-certified instructors
You won’t just learn what to do — you’ll learn why.
Where We Run AST 2
Our primary locations include:
Mt. Cain backcountry
Strathcona Park alpine bowls
Each area provides a different style of challenge, perspective, and terrain decision-making environment.
Explore upcoming courses here:
AST 2 Avalanche Skills Training Course
Final Thoughts
AST 2 is more than a course, it’s a shift in how you read mountains, plan trips, and move as a group.
It’s where confidence begins.
It’s where leadership takes shape.
It’s where your backcountry experience becomes your own.
If you’re ready to take the lead, we’d love to have you join us out there.
Book Your AST 2 Course Today:
AST 2 Avalanche Skills Training
