Avalanche Skills Training

Companion Rescue Skills

This is the second season for the one-day Companion Rescue Skills course. This course is open to any backcountry recreationist - there are no prerequisites.

The Companion Rescue Skills course can be used as the first stepping stone to avalanche training and can also be used as a refresher for those who have previous training in either AST 1 or AST 2 or other avalanche training. The vital skills covered in this course are a "must have" for all backcountry recreationists, whether you ski, board, sled, hike or climb.

After taking the one-day Companion Rescue Skills course, we encourage all participants to consider further training by taking the AST 1 course.

Objectives
At the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Consider and incorporate preventative measures.
• Prioritize actions if caught in an avalanche.
• Understand the function of airbags.
• Understand transceiver functions and practice transceiver skills.
• Apply search and rescue techniques.
• Practice searching without a transceiver.
• Consider multiple burial situations.
• Organize a group rescue.
• Identify post-incident considerations.

Minimum Field Time Requirement:
A minimum of seven hours in the field is required.

Please click here for a list of available courses in your region.