Push Your Skills. Ski Legendary Terrain. Learn Where It Matters Most.

Take your avalanche & mountain safety education to the next level with Yamnuska’s AST 2 course at Battle Abbey Backcountry Ldoge. This isn’t just a course—it’s a full-on backcountry immersion experience, combining expert instruction, powder turns, and a helicopter-accessed mountain paradise.

Spend 5 unforgettable days refining your terrain assessment, snowpack evaluation, and group decision-making skills—while skiing some of the best terrain in the Selkirk Mountains. With zero lift lines, endless glades, alpine bowls, and historic lodge vibes, this course will leave you prepared and stoked for the season ahead.

Why Take Your AST 2 at Battle Abbey?

• Premier Backcountry Location
  Battle Abbey is the stuff of legends—perched at 2,200m in the heart of the Selkirks with unrivaled access to some of the best skiing Canada has to offer. Learn where it matters most. 
• Helicopter-Accessed Adventure
  Leave the crowds behind. You'll fly in from Golden and spend 5 days immersed in snow science, terrain analysis, and powder skiing—no distractions, no cell service, just snow and learning.
• Unmatched Learning Environment
  With expert ACMG guides, our field days double as epic ski days. Learn by doing—right in the terrain that demands your best judgment.
• Comfort in the Backcountry
  Cozy lodge accommodation, hearty meals, a wood-fired sauna, and a crackling fire every evening. This is the backcountry, elevated.

Course Highlights

• 5-day Avalanche Canada AST 2 certification in a true mountain environment
• Legendary terrain for real-world learning in complex avalanche scenarios
• Small group instruction for personalized coaching
• Helicopter flights to/from Battle Abbey included
• All meals and lodge accommodation provided
• Terrain-led learning: assess it, make the call, ski it.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Introductory Field Session
Meeting Point: Alpine Helicopters Hangar, Golden, BC – 10 AM

We kick off the program at Alpine Helicopters in Golden, BC, with an equipment check, companion rescue training review and pre-flight safety briefing. From there, we fly into the spectacular Battle Abbey Lodge, nestled deep in the Selkirk Mountains.

After unloading our gear at the lodge, we will use the helicopter to bump us to the top of our first run to take advantage of the incredible terrain right outside the door! Staring the program with some turns will set the tone. At the bottom of our run we’ll dive into avalanche companion rescue skills, including instruction and practice in transceiver searches, probing, and shoveling techniques.

Each evening features short classroom sessions to build the theoretical foundation for the days ahead. Topics include:

• Avalanche formation and characteristics
• Terrain recognition and the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES)
• Snowpack changes and snow metamorphism
• Avalanche Danger Scale and how to interpret public bulletins
• Snow stability concepts and slab propagation tests
• Introduction to the Avaluator™ decision-making tool
• Backcountry planning and preparation

Days 2–4: Avalanche Training & Ski Touring in the Selkirks

With the world-class terrain of the Battle Abbey backcountry as our classroom, these full field days focus on practical application of avalanche safety principles, route selection, and terrain management. Each day’s ski tour is carefully chosen based on conditions, objectives, and group input.

You’ll take an active role in the planning and decision-making process as we build your ability to travel confidently in avalanche terrain.

Field day topics include:

• Using the Avalanche Danger Scale in the field
• Avalanche terrain identification and travel techniques
• Route finding and hazard mitigation strategies
• Practical use of the Avaluator™ 2
• Interpreting weather, snowpack, and avalanche observations
• Performing snow profiles, compression tests, and extended column tests
• Evaluating snow stability and avalanche hazard
• Group management and safety procedures
• Decision-making under uncertainty and human factors
• Advanced companion rescue: single and multiple burials, probing, and shoveling techniques

Evening sessions will review the day’s lessons and introduce advanced theory to support your development as a backcountry decision-maker.

Day 5: Field half day and Departure
Final Tour and Return to Golden, BC – Flight at 12:20 PM

With an early breakfast we will finish off our last half day at Battle Abbey looking for turns and consolidating the final AST 2 skills. We are looking to get the most out of the experience!

We wrap up the course with a final flight back to Golden. You’ll leave Battle Abbey with enhanced skills, greater confidence in avalanche terrain, and unforgettable memories from an immersive mountain experience.

Logistics

Instructors and group size

Yamnuska instructors & Weber Powder/Battle Abbey guides are ACMG and IFMGA guides are trained and certified by the Canadian Avalanche Association. They are practitioners with years and in some cases, decades of experience in the backcountry, practicing what they preach.  Yamnuska has been offering Avalanche courses since the late 1970s and have been instrumental in the curriculum development of the AST programs.

The Battle Abbey AST 2 has a maximum of 10 participants and a minimum of 5. We will be operating at low ratios, typically 1 to 3 or 4 so you should expect a tailored and in depth experience on this program.

Gear

Due to helicopter capacity guests are permitted 35lbs of personal luggage, plus a day pack with extra ski clothing and their ski equipment. Luggage should be packed in a small to medium-sized duffle bag (traditional suitcases are not appropriate). Please note that guests will be asked to wear their ski gear, including boots and helmets, as we will be aiming to drop bags off at the Lodge and use the helicopter to bump us to the top of our first ski run!

Equipment & Clothing

Yamnuska supplies classroom materials, avalanche equipment, and specialized snow study equipment only. Please bring a notebook and pen as well as your Avaluator ^TM from the AST 1 course. On the field days, Yamnuska/Battle Abbey will supply, an avalanche transceiver with batteries, an avalanche probe, and an avalanche shovel. We also supply group snow study kits and snow saws.

You will need to bring:

Skis & Splitboard

Alpine Touring skis are essentially downhill skis with a special touring binding that allows the heel to lift whilst going uphill or across the flats and then locks down to become like a regular downhill binding. We recommend this system to anyone with a background in downhill skiing.

Splitboards – If boarding you need to be an advanced boarder and you must use a ‘splitboard’. A snowboard and snowshoe combination is not acceptable. Please don’t bring a board if you’ve never boarded in the backcountry before. Poles are essential for boarders.

Equipment List

• Skis/Splitboards: We recommend a short (160 – 185cm) wide ski designed for powder. Snowboards must be splitboards. Please see the note under rental information if you are renting ski equipment.
• Ski poles (for splitboarders as well)
• Climbing skins
• Daypack (large enough for spare clothes, lunch & equipment, 35L minimum recommended)
• Avalanche transceiver – a triple antennae digital transceiver. (loaners available).
• Avalanche shovel (collapsible metal shovel designed for companion rescue, loaners available).
• Avalanche probe (loaners available).
• Avaluator ^TM
• Sunglasses and/or ski goggles
• Thermos flask and/or water bottle (1 – 2 Liters)
• Sunscreen
• Small Blister and Personal 1st-Aid Kit
• Personal Toiletries including hand sanitizer
• Headlight with extra batteries
• Helmet (recommended)
• Personal towels

Optional Equipment

• Camera
• Compass with clinometer
• Snow thermometer

Yamnuska/Battle Abbey supplies but feel free to bring if you have:

• Snow saw
• Snow Study Kit

Clothing List

On the field days, there can be prolonged periods of inactivity in very cold temperatures. We recommend bringing extra layers. Light clothing of varying thicknesses that can be ‘layered’ to achieve comfort and versatility. The most important consideration for clothing is the ability to regulate temperature as you change from periods of activity to periods of rest. Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.

• Long Underwear (top and bottom). They should be synthetic such as Capilene or Merino Wool.
• Warm pants (softshell, insulated, or fleece)
• Warm shirt (not cotton)
• Sweater or fleece jacket
• Insulated jacket or vest. This is essential for staying warm while taking breaks or when the weather gets really cold.
• Waterproof jacket with hood and pants (Gore-Tex) A hardshell setup is essential when the weather turns really wet.
• Socks (wool outer, synthetic blend liner). A good pair of socks goes a long way in preventing blisters. (3 pairs)
• Wool or fleece hat that covers the ears
• Buff
• Warm gloves and light glove liner
• Casual clothing for inside the lodge. Keep this to a minimum. Towels and linen are provided by Battle Abbey Lodge.
• Bathing suit for the sauna

Rental Information

Skis, Boots, Boards, Skins & Poles can be rented from:

• Weber Powder at Battle Abbey Backcountry Lodge

*Please note that your ‘DIN’ or ‘Release Value’ settings on your ski bindings are critical to your safety while skiing. Our expectation is that everyone arrives on programs with their ski binding’s release value correctly set. We have noted that some ski rental shops will not set release values on touring bindings. We advise you to rent from a shop that will set release values on your ski touring bindings unless you are proficient and comfortable setting your own DIN/release value. Failure to have Release Values correctly set could result in a serious injury.

Please call our office if you have any questions

Booking Info

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We charge $3999 CAD per person plus taxes. We require a $1500 deposit (including taxes) at the time of booking. The final payment is due September 30^th.

Risk is an inherent part of all mountain activities. We strive to manage and reduce it however, it is impossible to totally eliminate. Learn more about our safety and risk management approach here. Please note that you will be required to sign both Yamnuska and Battle Abbey’s waiver before commencing the program. Please view Yamnuska’s sample waiver copy and Battle Abbey’s waiver Battle Abbey Waiver.

Insurance

Emergency Medical Evacuation
Weber Powder offers a $100 per person helicopter evacuation insurance from Battle Abbey back to the Golden BC Airport. If guests need additional evacuation insurance back to their home province or country, please ensure you are properly covered prior to travel. 

For Canadians
A common myth is that healthcare across provinces is fully covered. There are many things which do not carry interprovincial agreements. Ambulance services, medical evacuation, and some services which one province charges more than another you’d be responsible to pay the difference. Please verify your coverage prior to travel,.

For Internationals
A common myth is that healthcare in Canada is free. Although it is less expensive than US healthcare, charges for non-residents can still be very high. Proper medical health insurance is essential if you were to get injured. Most coverages exclude rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, backcountry skiing and the like.

PRICE:

$3999 CDN per person includes a return helicopter flight from Golden, BC to Battle Abbey, double occupancy accommodation at Battle Abbey, food from Lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 5, instruction, materials and use of avalanche safety and snow study equipment. GST, PST and BC Room Tax are extra.

Not included: Transport to and from Golden, BC, food or accommodation before and after the course, alcoholic beverages (can be purchased at the Lodge), and gratuities. Additional costs incurred should we be unable to fly into/out of Battle Abbey on the scheduled days are not included.

Please note you will be required to sign the Yamnuska Release of Liability, and Waiver of Claims as well as Battle Abbey's Release of Liability, and Waiver of Claims prior to commencing the program. Please review the sample waivers prior to booking and call us with any questions.

Is it for you?

Guests should be advanced downhill skiers or splitboarders and should have had backcountry skiing/riding experience before the course. ‘Advanced’ means that you are comfortable making parallel turns on most ungroomed black diamond terrain at a ski hill and that you have the ski skills to deal safely with all but the most extreme terrain. This should not be your first backcountry skiing trip and you will need to be efficient in using your ski touring or splitboarding equipment. 

You also need to be in good aerobic shape, as you must ‘skin’ up everything you ski down. On the field days, you should expect full days of touring up to 12km return and 1000-1500m of elevation gain. This will be with a daypack containing your lunch, water, avalanche gear, and spare clothing.

This program is limited to participants 19 years and older unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and in which case approval must be given prior to booking.

Previous avalanche training is not required, however, to receive your AST 2 certificate you must have taken an AST 1 with Yamnuska or another approved Avalanche Canada AST provider in the past.