Section Backcountry Touring Leader Course (Ski & Splitboarding)

Learn backcountry avalanche safety essentials from an expert

Section Backcountry Touring Leader Course (Ski & Splitboarding)

Learn backcountry avalanche safety essentials from an expert

Avalanche safety training snow crystals

Take Advantage of a Subsidized Leadership Development Course Opportunity

Earn your Avalanche Canada AST 1 Certification

Spend your Course Learning from and with Like-Minded Leaders

Become equipped to organize trips in more challenging terrain

Trip Description

Mountain leadership development is part of The Alpine Club of Canada’s mandate. Hundreds of volunteers give their time at both the Section and National levels to ensure other ACC members have a safe and enjoyable time in the mountains. To support the leadership development needs of these tireless and invaluable volunteers, The North Face and The Alpine Club of Canada offer a Mountain Leadership Course for activity organizers from all ACC sections. We offer 2-3 regionalized courses a year in collaboration with local sections that cover all the activities the club provides. If you have a course you would like to see have your section contact the leadership committee with your ideas!

The principal objective of these courses is to empower ACC volunteers by enhancing their leadership skill sets. Through alpine environments and technical travel, these leadership courses emphasize the ‘human-factor’ in leaders’ decision-making and the creation of inclusive, enjoyable experiences, applicable to ACC activities across Canada. To increase accessibility these courses are subsidized by the ACC’s leadership development fund.

For the first time, the ACC is expanding the locations in which we offer our leadership development courses. While broadening our geographic reach to make these programs more accessible, the core eligibility and application criteria remain the same. This expansion is part of our commitment to removing barriers and opening doors, ensuring that more ACC section members can have access to opportunities to grow, lead and thrive in Canadas outdoor community and landscape.

This course is designed for current or aspiring local section leaders who want to strengthen their leadership skills and bring that knowledge back to support trip programming within their sections. The training focuses on developing practical, field-based leadership in backcountry settings. Participants should be confident in using a backcountry touring set up (ski or splitboard) and capable of traveling in varied terrain up and downhill. Members from any local sections across Canada can apply. Application deadline is on Friday, December 12th at midnight (EST).

Based on consultation with sections local to the course the curriculum is designed to focus on themes such as group and risk management, navigation, emergency response, avalanche conditions assessment, companion rescue and more. Course learning objective and curriculum can be found here.

Accommodation is included in this course at The Interval Coop Hostel. Participants are required to bring their own food (including preferred methods of caffeination!) The hostel is equipped with a communal kitchen including stoves and fridges. We encourage participants to coordinate with others for carpooling and cooking to make the experience more enjoyable and efficient.

Itinerary

This jam-packed course has a blend of virtual evening delivery and in person field days to make the most of our time together. You should be prepared to attend 3 evening virtual sessions the week before our field days (this will include pre-trip meeting and all AST 1 classroom hours), 4 in-person field days and 1 virtual post trip reflection meeting the week following the course.

All listed virtual sessions are mandatory:
  • Monday, January 26th 6:00pm-9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time) – Pre trip meeting and AST classroom
  • Wednesday, January 28th 6:00pm-9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time) – AST classroom
  • Thursday, January 29th 6:00pm-9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time) – AST classroom
  • Tuesday, February 10th 6:00pm-7:30pm (Eastern Standard Time) – Post course reflection


Field days:
  • Monday, February 2nd – Thursday, February 5th
Pre trip meeting/AST Classroom Sessions
Meet your guide and peers in a virtual session to go over questions, logistics, packing and more. (1 hour)

Spend the rest of your evening sessions soaking up as much AST classroom knowledge as you can from your instructor before setting off on your skis! (8 hours).

All sessions (listed below) are mandatory to complete the course:
  • Monday, January 26th 6:00pm-9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
  • Wednesday, January 28th 6:00pm-9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
  • Thursday, January 29th 6:00pm-9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Day 1: AST field day
Spend your first day rounding off those AST skills. Review instructional information from the virtual classroom sessions and put them into practice in the field. Congrats, you are now AST 1 certified!
Day 2-4
Guides will continue to work through course curriculum with participants throughout the field days in varying terrain returning to provided accommodation for evening debriefs.
Post Trip Reflection
A mandatory post trip reflection meeting will take place following the course on Tuesday, February 10th 6:00pm-7:30pm (Eastern Standard Time).

Location

Learn about avalanche safety in the backcountry around the Laurentian Mountain Region in Quebec.

Based approximately an hour north of Montreal, Quebec the Laurentian Mountain Region is Quebec’s hub for outdoor recreation.

Guides & Staff

Pancho
Francisco Medina - SCH
Francisco – AKA Pancho – is originally from Santiago, Chile where he began his outdoor pursuits at an...
Pancho
Francisco Medina - SCH
Francisco – AKA Pancho – is originally from Santiago, Chile where...
Learn More

We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips

Course provided in partnership with Avalanche Canada.

The North Face supports our Leadership Program and we thank them for their assistance.

Applications Open

Details

* Camps are subject to minimum enrollment in order to run.

Course provided in partnership with Avalanche Canada.

The North Face supports our Leadership Program and we thank them for their assistance.

Adventure Hazards

Terrain

Terrain is uncontrolled, unmarked and not inspected, risks include but are not limited to: Cornices, Crevasses, Cliffs, Trees, tree wells, forest dead fall, and tree stumps, Creeks, rocks and boulders. Holes and depressions below the snow surface. Variable and difficult snow conditions. Variable and difficult walking terrain. Snowcat roads and road banks, fences and other man-made structures. Snow immersion. Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects. Extreme variation in trails or terrain. Encounters with domestic or wild animals. Loss of balance or control, slips, trips, and falls. Becoming lost or separated from the group.

General Hazards

Risks include but are not limited to: ​Slips, trips and falls indoor or outdoor. Equipment failure. Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact. Negligent first aid. Negligence of other persons, including other guests. Negligence of the guide including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, on participating in ACC activities. Changing weather conditions including but not limited to high winds, lightning, forest fires, effects of high altitude including pulmonary edema and cerebral edema, incomplete warnings or instructions, negligence of other people, including trip coordinator and other guests. Negligence includes failure on the part of ACC Guides (if applicable) to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from or warn you of the risks, dangers and hazards of wilderness activities.

Avalanche

Risks include but are not limited to:Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering. Caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (skiing/snowboarding). Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.

Communication and Rescue

Risks include but are not limited to:Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be available. Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field. If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow.

Boots and Binding Systems

Risks include but are not limited to: Even when set up correctly, a ski binding might not release during every fall or may release unexpectedly. The ski boot/binding system is no guarantee that the skier will not be injuredNon-DIN-certified bindings, such as pin/tech bindings, present a higher risk of pre-release and/or injury as they are not designed to the same safety standards as a DIN-certified alpine binding.

Unlike alpine ski boot/binding systems, snowboard and some telemark boot/binding systems are not designed or intended to release and will not release under normal circumstancesUsing such a system increases the risk of injury and/or death when caught in an avalanche.  

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