Explore the comprehensive learning outcomes that Avalanche Canada & Playwest’s Avalanche Skills Training -1 (AST-1) course brings to enthusiasts and adventurers seeking to navigate the stunning yet potentially perilous landscapes of the backcountry environment. This specialized training equips participants with essential entry level knowledge and abilities crucial for their safety & enjoyment in the backcountry winter environment. This program is foundational to anyone recreating in the backcountry during the winter. 

• Avalanche Hazard Recognition: Gain the knowledge to identify potential avalanche terrain, and recognize warning signs of unstable conditions. Understand the unique characteristics of terrain to help make informed decisions.
• Snowpack Layering & Avalanche Formation: Dive into snow science basics as you learn how snow layers develop, how weather and precipitation history impacts the snowpack. This knowledge is vital for learning how to make good decisions in avalanche terrain. 
• Route Planning and Decision-Making: Learn tactics that are critical to decision-making skills that focus on route selection, group dynamics, and communication within a backcountry team. 
• Companion Rescue Techniques: Comprehensive transceiver training that sets up for success. Everything from how they work to putting them into action. We also teach the latest efficient probing and shoveling techniques. We cover it all, IN DEPTH! 
• Learn the art of avalanche rescue: Including efficient probing and shoveling techniques. Practice using avalanche transceivers to locate and recover buried victims swiftly and effectively.
• Avalanche Safety Gear: Get hands-on experience with the latest avalanche safety equipment, from transceivers and shovels to probes and airbags. Understand how to properly use, maintain, and troubleshoot these tools, ensuring they function reliably in critical situations.
• Risk Management: Develop a keen understanding of risk mitigation strategies and how to apply them to real-world scenarios in the backcountry. Learn when to adjust plans or turn back. Discover how the “Human Factors” influence decisions relating to risk.

By participating in Playwest’s Avalanche Skills Training at  Panorama, you not only enhance your personal safety but also contribute to the broader community’s preparedness for winter adventures. Equip yourself with these invaluable skills and knowledge to make the most of your backcountry experiences while respecting the natural beauty and potential hazards of this remarkable region.