Heavy wind loading over a shallow rocky faceted snow pack caused this size 3 slab avalanche, Columbia Ice fields.		Course materials are provided by the Canadian Avalanche Association. These courses will provide you with the knowledge you need to reduce risk in avalanche terrain. All courses are designed to be fun and informative and instructed by enthusiastic avalanche safety professionals. They will share there many years of experience with you.

Avalanche Safety Training 1
For those who are new to avalanche awareness skills or backcountry winter travel.

This 2 day course includes:
- CAA Manual/book
- Avulator decision making tool
- Course certificate
- 6 hours classroom instruction
- 6 hrs of skills training in the field
- We provide avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.
- You will need suitable clothing, lunch, transportation, ski touring gear or snow shoes.
Course Content
- Formation, nature and mechanics of avalanches
- Avalanche terrain
- Mountain snow pack and its characteristics
- Recognizing avalanche danger
- Group management
- Emergency Response
- Risk Management and decision making

Location. Class room day held at the Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge in Canmore Alberta.
Field day held at Bow Summit, Banff Park or Tent Ridge Kananaskis Country.

Dates (2009-10): Held on weekends throughout the winter.
                          Dec 12-13, 19-20. Jan 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24.
                          Feb 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28. March 6-7, 13-14.
Cost: $175.00 per person, plus tax. Max 8 participants.

Ron snowboarding fresh powder, Rogers Pass		Avalanche Safety Training 2 This advanced course is for winter backcountry users who have completed the ‘Introduction to Avalanche Safety’ course or feel they have a good grasp with the AST 1 skills. Experience using your AST 1 avalanche skills and intermediate skiing or boarding skills are a must for this course. This is a 4 day course. First day is eight hours classroom time followed by three days of local backcountry touring and instruction in the field. The goals are to become more independent with information gathering, recognising danger and managing risk in avalanche terrain. A variety of terrain and snow packs will be explored. This 32 hrs course includes: - CAA Manual/book. - Avulator decision making tool. - Course certificate. - We provide avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe. - You will need to provide transportation, lunch,          accommodation, suitable clothing and touring equipment. Maximum 6 students.
Class room day content: 8hrs -Emergency response, trip preparation. -Weather/snow pack observation and evaluation skills. -Recognizing avalanche danger. -Avalanche terrain assessment. -Risk management and decision making. Three field days content:24hrs -Evaluation of avalanche terrain. -Route selection and track setting -Slope/stability tests and snow pack observations. -Group management skills -Advanced emergency response Dates(2009-10):Dec 19-22, Jan 9-12, 16-19, 23-26. Feb 6-9, 13-16, 20-23. March 6-9, 13-16. Location: Class room day Canmore, Alberta. Field days are at Emerald Lake, Crow Foot Mountain Banff park and Commonwealth Creek Kananaskis. This course can also be held at Rogers Pass, Lake Louise or Sunshine ski Hill. Cost. $510.00 per person, plus tax. Based on 4. Specific dates can be accommodated for group bookings. A 35% deposit will secure a booking. Maximum 6 participants.   Steve navigating the Vowl Glacier, The Bugaboos

AST Course instructors: Friendly, informative, experienced and certified.

Mark Stewart lives in Canmore Alberta and is the director of Cirrus Alpine Guides.
- CAA level 2 avalanche forecaster and professional member.
- ACMG/IFMGA Mountain and Ski guide.
-16 years experience teaching avalanche safety skills.
- specializing in ski touring, mechanized skiing, ice and alpine climbing.

Paddy Jerome lives in Canmore Alberta and is a senior guide.
- CAA level 2 avalanche forecaster and professional member.
- ACMG/IFMGA Mountain and Ski guide.
- 8 years experience teaching avalanche safety skills.
- specializing in ski touring, mechanized skiing, ice and alpine climbing.

Andrew Langsford lives in Golden BC and is a senior guide.
- CAA level 2 avalanche forecaster/technician and professional member.
- ACMG/IFMGA Mountain and Ski guide.
- 8 years experience teaching avalanche safety skills.
- specializing in ski touring, mechanized skiing, ice and alpine climbing

Private Avalanche Awareness Courses can be scheduled for small or large groups at your convenience.

To book, call Mark Stewart at Cirrus Alpine Guides, Tel: 403-678-8567
or e-mail cirrus@shaw.ca