Snow-covered alpine peaks for backcountry skiing in Canada

Master Backcountry Avalanche Safety with ACMG-Guided AST2+

Blended virtual learning plus four field days focused on advanced decision-making in complex avalanche terrain.

Courses & Training

Advanced avalanche education led by ACMG experts — Avalanche Skills Training 2+ (AST2+).

Winter Safety & Adventure with Great White North Guides

Looking to confidently tackle backcountry powder? Great White North Guides offers an advanced avalanche training course that prepares you for the complexity of winter terrain. Read on to discover what makes this program essential for winter adventurers.

Winter Safety & Adventure with Great White North Guides

winter sports

water activities

Calgary, Alberta

About Great White North Guides

Great White North Guides provides specialized backcountry avalanche education focused on advanced decision-making and practical skills. The company offers the Avalanche Skills Training 2 + (AST2+) course, a blended curriculum that pairs virtual learning with four field days. Course content emphasizes snowpack assessment, snow stability tests, route finding in complex avalanche terrain, and companion rescue techniques.

Instruction is delivered by ACMG experts who guide students through decision-making frameworks and hands-on exercises. The AST2+ structure combines classroom-style virtual modules with on-snow practice during field days, allowing students to apply stability tests and route-finding methods under real conditions. Companion rescue training includes timed transceiver searches, probe line practice, and organized rescue scenarios.

Great White North Guides designs each AST2+ offering for backcountry users seeking a methodical, skills-based progression from foundational avalanche awareness to advanced terrain management. The program is structured to support individual skill development and group-based decision-making, with a clear focus on safe travel practices and hazard evaluation.

Logistics for the AST2+ course center on coordinating virtual instruction schedules and planning field days in appropriate snow conditions and terrain. Equipment and specific meeting details are provided to registrants ahead of field sessions.

Great White North Guides positions the AST2+ course as a practical option for people who want advanced, ACMG-guided avalanche training that integrates virtual preparation with four field days of on-snow application. Registration information, prerequisites, and course schedules are available from Great White North Guides; prospective participants should review requirements and contact the company for current availability before enrollment begins.

Great White North Guides — Avalanche Skills Training 2+ (AST2+)

Great White North Guides offers the Avalanche Skills Training 2 + (AST2+) course, a blended program designed to advance backcountry avalanche competence. The AST2+ format pairs virtual learning with four field days, concentrating on practical on-snow application and advanced decision-making in complex avalanche terrain.

What the AST2+ course includes

Virtual learning modules that cover foundational theory and prepare participants for field work.
Four field days focused on applying assessment methods in real snow conditions.
Snow stability tests and practical application of stability evaluation tools.
Route finding techniques for navigating complex avalanche-prone terrain.
Companion rescue training, including transceiver searches, probe-line practice, and scenario-based rescues.
Instruction by ACMG experts, who lead students through decision-making frameworks and hands-on exercises.

Who the AST2+ course is for

The AST2+ course is intended for backcountry users seeking advanced avalanche education and practical skills. The combined virtual and field structure supports learners who want to transition theoretical knowledge into on-snow competency. Great White North Guides focuses instruction on the specific skills needed to manage terrain, evaluate hazard, and conduct effective companion rescues.

Key skills developed

Snowpack assessment: learn to perform and interpret stability tests.
Decision-making: structured frameworks for travel in complex terrain.
Route finding: planning safer lines and alternatives in avalanche country.
Companion rescue: timed searches, efficient probe techniques, and coordinated rescue protocols.

Why blended learning matters

Blended courses that combine virtual learning with field days allow participants to absorb theory in advance and maximize hands-on time on snow. Great White North Guides uses this model to ensure that field days concentrate on practice, application, and skill refinement under the guidance of ACMG experts.

Logistics and registration

Course logistics for AST2+ include scheduled virtual sessions followed by four field days timed to appropriate snow conditions. Equipment lists, meeting locations, and specific prerequisites are provided to registrants. Prospective participants should review course requirements and availability directly with Great White North Guides.

Search keywords and relevance

This page emphasizes searchable terms such as Avalanche Skills Training 2+, AST2+, backcountry avalanche course, ACMG experts, snow stability tests, companion rescue, route finding, four field days, and virtual learning. These keywords align with what prospective students search for when seeking advanced avalanche education.

For accurate scheduling, prerequisites, and registration details, contact Great White North Guides directly. The AST2+ course provides focused, ACMG-guided training that integrates virtual preparation with practical, on-snow application to help develop advanced backcountry avalanche skills.

Advance Backcountry Safety — Book AST2+

Reserve a spot in the Avalanche Skills Training 2+ course. Review prerequisites and current schedules to register.