HOME PAGE

NEWS - BLOGS

TRIP PRICES & DATES

Mount Everest -RETIRED!!!
Climb Kilimanjaro 

TREKKING

Everest Base Camp Treks
Everest Luxury Trek 
Annapurna Trek
Tibet Overland by Jeep
Drive to Everest Base 
Nanda Devi East       NEW

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Tibet Trans Himalayan
Tibet - Everest Base Camp-Bike

NEPAL GENERAL

Health-Travel-Visas
Aid Projects + Earth Bag Schools

MEDIA

Mt. Everest News
Dispatch Archive
Expedition Archives
Testimonials
PHOTO GALLERY

ADMINISTRATION

LINKS
GEAR DISCUSSION 

ABOUT US

GUIDES
TRAVEL INSURANCE
CONTACT

Available to "ALL" climbers  and adventure seekers  worldwide.

Coming Oct. 4

OUR SUPPORTERS

PRAXES

Sometimes calling "911" just isn't possible.

SUPPORTERS OF

 

FIRST STEPS HIMALAYA

 

 

CANADIAN AVALANCHE COURSES RECOGNIZED BY THE CANADIAN AVALANCHE ASSOCIATION

Join Tim Rippel- Playing in his back yard professionally guiding as an ACMG certified ski guide and teaching in the West Kootenays for the past 18 years. Familar with secret stashes, great lines and variable conditions.  

 

AST LEVEL 1 - 2010' 2011  AVALANCE COURSES     - AVAILABILITY &  LOGISTICS

 

INTRODUCTORY (Avalanche Skills Training) Level 1

Learn to recognize and avoid avalanche hazards. This course follows the Canadian Avalanche Association outline. Classroom lecture and videos provide information about avalanche terrain, weather, snow-pack formation and safety measures. On the field trip, we travel into alpine terrain to learn the practical aspects of safe travel techniques and route finding, we make field observations and snow pack tests to recognize hazard.  We will practice transceiver searches and perform a rescue practice.

COST: $185.00 

  • Includes: 20+ hours of comprehensive instruction.
  • Field Book
  • Curriculum, instructional materials and student handbooks.
  • Avaluator card and instruction
  • CAA Completion Certificate

DATES:  2 days plus 1 evening lecture. See curriculum outline below.

Dec. 22-23, 2010

Jan.   1-  2, 2011

Feb.   1-  2, 2011

 

 

 

 

AST LEVEL 2 - 2010' 2011  AVALANCE COURSES     - AVAILABLITY- LOGISTICS

 

ADVANCED (Avalanche Skills Training) Level 2

This course is a 40+ hour comprehensive, advanced skills avalanche course. See curriculum outline below.

COST: $350.00 

DATES: 

OBJECTIVES:

  • At the end of course students should be able to:

  • Describe and understand snow stability evaluation.

  • Find safe routes in avalanche terrain.

  • Know how to manage a group in avalanche terrain.

  • Make decisions appropriate to knowledge and experience in avalanche terrain.

  • Carry out efficient and effective small party self-rescue.

  • Describe and understand large-scale organized rescue.

Course includes:  40+- hours instruction, Handout Package, Manual, CAA completion certificate and 4 days of intense learning.

Dec. 18-  21, 2010

Jan.  4 -    7 , 2011

Feb.  4 -    7 , 2011

 

 

COURSE CURRICULUM OUTLINE

AST Level 1

AST Level 2

CLASSROOM- Evening before

 

  • Introduction (Objectives, Waivers)

  • Formation and Nature of Avalanches

  • Avalanche Terrain

  • Factors Affecting Snow Stability

  • Video, Slide presentation

 

FIELD SESSION- DAY 1

  • Introduction of Mountain Snow Pack

  • Winter Back country travel

  • Assessing Avalanche Danger

  • Safety Measures and Self Rescue/Transceivers

  • Conclusion/Evaluation by students

 

FIELD SESSION-DAY 2

 

  • Terrain Recognition

  • Route Finding

  • Safe Travel

  • Group Management

  • Stability Evaluation

  • Hazard Recognition

  • Small Party Self Rescue

 

Hours 20+

Classroom Session - Day 1

 

  • Introduction, (Objectives, Waivers)

  • Formation and Nature

  • Avalanche Terrain

  • Factors Affecting Snow Stability

  • Mountain Snowpack-Advanced

  • Winter Backcountry Travel

  • Assessing Avalanche Danger and Decision Making

  • Safety Measures and Self Rescue /Transceivers

  • Mountain Weather

  • Field Observations

  • Snow Science

  • Organized Search and Rescue

  • Accident critiques (evenings)

  • Video

  • Conclusion and course evaluation by students

 

Field Session        Day 2-4       

                                     

  •  

  • Terrain Recognition
  • Route Finding

  • Safe Travel

  • Group Management

  • Stability Management

  • Stability Evaluation

  • Hazard Recognition

Hours 40+

 

 

 

 

 

AST STUDENT EQUIPMENT LIST

GENERAL

GENERAL

Recommended equipment list for all students on all courses:    

  • Clothing for activity and standing in cold/snowy weather (no cotton).
  • Long underwear
  • Insulating layers
  • Outer layer (wind/waterproof)
  • Warm gloves, mitts, headband, and hat
  • Goggles and sunglasses
  • Small personal first-aid kit (sunscreen, lip-balm, moleskin, Band-Aids, medications, etc.)
  • Avalanche probe
  • Collapsible shovel
  • Avalanche beacon (457 khx or dual ONLY, 457 single frequency RECOMMENDED).
  • Pack (large enough for all equipment on day tours).
  • AST 2 students should bring a snow study kit (lens, screen, ruler, thermometer, compass, rutsch block cord).  

SKIING

  • Recommended equipment for students in courses where traveling on skis:

  • Boots (appropriate for conditions and activity).

  • Skis (with touring bindings and skins if appropriate). Poles  

SNOWBOARDING

  • Recommended equipment for students in courses where traveling on snowboards:

  • Split Board with touring bindings and skins

  • Boots

  • Collapsible poles  

             OR

  • Snowboard  (with means of attachment to pack).

  • Boots

  • Collapsible poles

  • Snowshoes  

SNOW SHOES

  • Snowshoes

  • Boots- they should be comfortable and warm.

  • Ski Poles

Lunch and a water bottle 

Peak Freak Expeditions have some articles available for rent, if we do not have what you need, we can refer you to one of our local equipment providers. 

Equipment Rentals Available in Nelson:

  • Beacon             $10.00

  • Shovel              $  5.00

  • Probes             $  5.00

  • Skins                $  5.00

  • Poles                $  5.00

  • Alpine Trekkers $  7.00

  • Snowshoes       $10.00

*Required equipment must be obtained prior to course start.

INSTRUCTOR

Tim Rippel-  Professional Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association, Himalayan Mountain Guide, CAC Level II Avalanche Technician, Certified ACMG Ski Guide, Risk Management, Mountain Rescue and Mountain Skills Instruction professional, Owner/Operator of Peak Freak Expeditions Inc. BIO

ACCOMMODATION

Whitewater Chalet:  (optional) Nelson B.C. $50.00CA per night for AST2 course participants. Minimum 3–nights apply. AST 1 students-2 night minimum.

RESERVE NOW

Check availabilitySpace is limited to only 8 spots. To avoid disappointment book early!

PRINT FORMS

 

web statistics

HIMALAYAN HIGH ALTITUDE SPECIALISTS since 1983

 

 

Email:   peakfreaks@me.com  -  Nelson, B.C. Canada

HOME PAGE  -    SITE MAP  - CONTACT

Website designed by: Becky Rippel 

© 1991 - 2023 Peak Freak Expedition Inc. - All Rights Reserved.