Why take AST

[RevyBeast]

This question may seem controversial but I'm actually trying to convince myself to take the AST courses.
I'm asking people who have taken AST 1 or 2. I have 8 years of "casual" backcountry experience in the mountains year round. Ive spent a couple dozen hours at least researching avalanche safety through google and youtube university. What am I missing that these courses will provide? I would not want to discourage anyone from taking a safety course. Asking as someone who has spent time researching the topic fairly thoroughly and been around people who have avalanche training. I'm not rich and paying $300 to watch a power point presentation and dig a snow pit seems steep for me.
Like I said please convince me I'm wrong so I'll sign up for it.

 

[Bnorth]

How many hours have you spent practicing proper companion rescue techniques?

 

[250mark1]

for me it was an eye opener to think back to past of places and things done that i should not have that i believed were safe at the time
from slope angles to terrain traps, calculating run out paths and distance to stop in safe areas
i am not much for classroom learning but found the class session interesting and engaging but the real part that brings it all together
is the second day on the mountain digging the snow pits and more importantly the mock rescue set ups that we did

 

[D.C]

You definitely got into the wrong sport if you are into pinching pennies, especially on something like the AST course. You can't put a price on this kind of education. In hindsight that $300 bucks is most likely the best money you will spend

 

[scotts]

Would you get your appendix removed by someone who watched some vids and researched some stuff on the net? The training and awareness you will get from a professional is priceless, do yourself and the people you ride with a solid and Invest the $300 ish!

 

[Jsymes]

Couple hundred bucks an open mind and a weekend vs. Possibly you or someone else's life. Seems like no brainer to me.

 

[kanedog]

Imagine, if you will, telling the wife and parents of your best riding buddy that he died because you were too cheap to spend $300 on an avy course and you didn't know how to conduct a multi burial search.
Maybe you can give the option to your friends to give you the money to take the course so you can save their life someday.

 

[niner]

Took the course last year with Curtis from Frozen pirates in Valemont. Been riding in the mountains since 1990. I was severely humbled by what I learned. The scenarios we were put in was as close to real life as I could imagine. We were left breathless after a few scenarios just thinking if this was real life I gotta save my buddy. We have a couple in our group that feel similar to you and I wish they would take it. I would spend another $300 in a heart beat if they ask me to do it with them. Hope you take it you won’t regret it.

 

[tex78]

I can't believe you would even ask why......


No amount of friggin YouTube watching will prepare ya

And looking, beacon searching the list goes on


I hope your riding Buddy's are also on here and see this post, cause avy training is for looking ahead for risks, what and where to go and do if YOUR BUDDYS GET IN A AVALANCHE

 

[tko sled ed]

AST 1 was great and very informative but I think it gives some guys a false sense of security it’s a great minimum every one should get but I see a lot of guy say oh Iam ast 1trained
That’s great but to really understand the snow pack and truly be safe you need to do some training every time your out or you just become complacent
We are booked in for our ast 2 and if there is a 3 or 4 we will go there as well in time
Take the course

 

[SHREK1]

I have procrastinated for years taking this training, thought that I was smart enough and had enough skills that what are they going to teach me, the day I showed up for the coarse I had that the feeling of really what am I going to learn. If I didn't get my kids into the sport I would of probably never done it. Well I was 100% wrong, the whole coarse gave you information that was useful, to really get into layering, equipment qualities first hand, shovelling techniques, rescue situations and a whole bunch more. I took it last year, was amazed how much more aware of my surroundings, who I dropped from my riding group, how I became a better leader because that is typically my role and my kids are falling into that as well. For the cost if nothing else take the coarse, meet some like minded people and treat it as an adventure and see what comes out of it.

Thats my 2 cents, hope it helps

 

[Skidoomiles]

The best $300.00 you can spend. I took one last year after being in the mountains since the 90's. I was embarrassed when I realized how useless I would have been in a real event. We spend a tonne of cash on our gear and don't even know how to use it. If you don't want to spend the money don't bother dragging the safety gear along with you. You will be amazed at what you end up learning in this course.

 

[RevyBeast]

all great posts. some definitely have me thinking...

 

[Lucas35]

I am setting up a level 1 course in Revy at the glacier house January 4,5,6.. why 3 days? The 4-6 will be evening classes so we can ride during the day and the 6 will be field day. 280$ each If I can get more than 6.

We are 4 so far. It’s with Trigger point they are super good.

 

[etecheaven]

pro tip

do your classroom sessions in Edmonton or close to home so you don't burn a day in the hills. Highly recommend trigger point in Revy for the field course. I plan to do AST2 with them next year.

Best money spent so far in this sport. You are a hazard to yourself and others without it.

 

[Bnorth]

pro tip

do your classroom sessions in Edmonton or close to home so you don't burn a day in the hills. Highly recommend trigger point in Revy for the field course. I plan to do AST2 with them next year.

Best money spent so far in this sport. You are a hazard to yourself and others without it.

Pro tip do your classroom and field session in the same weekend or at the very least same week. Any time in between and you start to lose the connection between the theory and the practical.

 

[moyiesledhead]

Imagine, if you will, telling the wife and parents of your best riding buddy that he died because you were too cheap to spend $300 on an avy course and you didn't know how to conduct a multi burial search.
Maybe you can give the option to your friends to give you the money to take the course so you can save their life someday.

I wouldn't tell her that. Someone else dying in an avalanche is not my fault, trained or untrained. The person most responsible for your safety is you. If he's caught in an avalanche, he made a mistake. Reflects more on his level of training than mine.

Take the training though. You're not gonna learn it from Youtube.

 

[takethebounce]

You don't know what you don't know. Many aspects of the AST 1 training can or has been learned by many people through experience. Some positive, some not. No amount of training is going to stop anything if you don't make good decisions. For what many have said is a small cost, the AST may fill in some gaps, enhance your existing knowledge and give you practical experience which you may not have ever put to the test.

In this day and age when this training is relatively easy to take part in and given the amount of investment people make in a season, its a minor cost. The best thing to do is practice what you learn after the fact, beacon checks, searches, terrain discussions with your group. Easiest thing I live by is, if we are having the discussion about a particular zone/slope then its best to leave it for another day as we don't need to discuss it any further if we got to that point.

 

[MOMMA]

You don't know what you don't know. Many aspects of the AST 1 training can or has been learned by many people through experience. Some positive, some not. No amount of training is going to stop anything if you don't make good decisions. For what many have said is a small cost, the AST may fill in some gaps, enhance your existing knowledge and give you practical experience which you may not have ever put to the test.

In this day and age when this training is relatively easy to take part in and given the amount of investment people make in a season, its a minor cost. The best thing to do is practice what you learn after the fact, beacon checks, searches, terrain discussions with your group. Easiest thing I live by is, if we are having the discussion about a particular zone/slope then its best to leave it for another day as we don't need to discuss it any further if we got to that point.

I agree with so much that has already been said. Sometimes I don't think it's a penny pinching thing, but that people simply don't realize how much they will learn and more importantly, how much they don't know. I work hard to work for our local club, fundraising to mitigate the cost of AST 1. I had it down to about 120 per person last year. That being said, it was a scramble to find people to fill the spots. Affordability may be part of the equation for some, but I think lack of interest is due to people unaware of all that they don't know, that could save their friend, family, spouses life if they were to be involved in an avalanche. I strongly urge you to get your AST 1 at least, and practice often, especially with your riding crew. Your life is in their hands, and their lives in yours.

 

[Zacs Avy Crew]

[FONT=&quot]This is a husband and wife that have been sledding for 20 plus years each without a formal AST1 Class. It's a beautiful and sad comment was sent to us after a recent class by one of the students. I think it speaks for itself.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Postedby Dawn

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]HiLori. Thanks for the amazing course. I admit I was actually dreading it butwanted to support my husband in his passion. I absolutely sat in judgement ofanyone selling the sport after our tragedy two years ago. A very close friendwas lost to an avalanche and it has been hard to move through.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I want to say that your knowledge and passion were undeniableand your assessment of real risk admirable. At no point in twelve hours of ASTClass and Rescue Workshop did I fade out or tire of the information even if Iwasn’t always a “positive receiver”. That in itself should tell you yourpresentation is great.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The discussions about overnighting and other non-avalanchebackcountry emergencies reinforced our own ideas about what it takes to beprepared and responsible mountain riders and we definitely are making changesto the gear we are carrying.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thanks again for the day. I would like to let you know that I amfeeling much better about the sport and we are both looking forward to ourfield sessions in December.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Regards, Carmen K, Bentley AST Class[/FONT]