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Hut Based AST 2 at the Kees and Claire Hut
Four days of Avalanche Skills Training 2 based out of the Kees and Claire Hut in the Whistler backcountry. Three nights in the mountains, four full field days and an ACMG guide you can name before you book.
- Location
- Kees and Claire Hut, Whistler, BC
- Duration
- 4.5 Days**
- Difficulty
- Intermediate / Expert
- Guest Ratio
- 6 to 1
Starting at $1,345 per person
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Hut based AST 2 in the Whistler backcountry
Our hut based AST 2 is Avalanche Canada’s advanced recreational avalanche course, run from the Kees and Claire Hut on the Spearhead Traverse above Whistler. It is 4.5 days: half a day of online learning at home, then four full field days and three nights at the hut. You finish with the Avalanche Canada AST 2 certificate.
Living at the hut changes how you learn. You watch the snowpack, weather and avalanche conditions change from one day to the next in the same terrain, and you get more hours on skis and fewer hours driving. That is one more field day than most AST 2 courses in the Sea to Sky, including other hut based options.
Taught by ACMG guides, and you know who before you book
Every hut based AST 2 is led by an ACMG certified ski guide. Each date below lists the guide running it. Up to 6 students per guide.
Price
$1,345 + GST per person, weekend or midweek. Hut fees are included. Food is not, so plan and pack your own meals for three nights.
**4 full field days, 3 nights at the Kees and Claire Hut and a half day of online learning
What does this course cover?
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Part of the Advanced skill set.
Participants of the AST 2 course shift from rule-based decision making to experiential decision making. We focus on tools that will leverage your past experiences with observational tools in the field to make safe decisions in avalanche terrain. The AST 2 course covers advanced snow assessment, decision-making process, group management and advanced travel techniques.
Avalanche Skills Training
- Use the Avaluator™ as a filtering tool to determine when additional planning and travel techniques are required to travel safely.
- Be familiar with Avalanche Danger Rating verification techniques for personal use on a local scale.
- Be familiar with the ATES technical model as a means to develop personal, local terrain ratings.
Travel and Rescue
- Use route finding to take advantage of nuances in terrain to manage personal risk.
- Use travel techniques in avalanche terrain appropriate to the avalanche conditions.
- Proficiently carry out a companion rescue. Understand the limits of their training
Prerequisites
Is this course for me?
This course is the next step after AST 1 for people who already tour and want more time in the field. You should have completed AST 1 (or have instructor approval based on your experience), have around 20 days of ski touring, and be comfortable climbing 1,000 to 1,500 m a day with an overnight pack.
- Advanced ski or riding ability (black diamond runs)
- Confident with ski touring or splitboard equipment
- Fitness to tour 1,000 to 1,500 m a day with an overnight pack
- AST 1 or equivalent
- About 20 days of ski touring
Add Ons
W/B Lift Ticket - $45
Crevasse Rescue + Glacier Travel Online Course - $45
Includes
- 4 days of instruction from an ACMG ski guide (CAA member)
- 3 nights at the Kees and Claire Hut (hut fees included)
- Course material (Decision Making Hand Book)
- 1/2 day online course you can refer back to for 2 months after your course
Does Not Include
- Food for three nights and four days
- Avalanche rescue equipment
- Whistler Blackcomb backcountry lift ticket for day 1
- Sleeping bag and personal hut gear
2026/2027 Season
Partners
FAQ
Am I ready for AST 2?
You should have AST 1 (or equivalent experience, at the instructor’s discretion), around 20 days of ski touring, advanced ski or riding ability, and the fitness to climb 1,000 to 1,500 m a day carrying a hut pack. If someone else still chooses the slopes when you tour, get more days in first.
How is this different from the standard AST 2?
Our standard AST 2 is three field days from town, with a different meeting point each morning. The hut based AST 2 is four field days and three nights at the Kees and Claire Hut, so you spend more time in avalanche terrain and see the snowpack change day by day. Both give you the same Avalanche Canada AST 2 certificate.
Where does the course run and what is the hut like?
Day 1 we take the Blackcomb lifts and tour out to the Kees and Claire Hut, with field sessions on the way. Days 2 and 3 are full field days in the terrain around the hut. Day 4 is a final field session and the ski out to Whistler. The weekend course runs Thursday to Sunday and the midweek course runs Monday to Thursday. The Kees and Claire Hut is a modern backcountry hut with a shared kitchen, so plan simple meals you can cook there.
How much does the hut based AST 2 cost?
$1,345 + GST per person for both the weekend and midweek dates. That includes 4 days of ACMG guiding and 3 nights of hut fees. Food, avalanche rescue gear and the day 1 lift ticket are not included.
What's the guide-to-student ratio?
Up to 6 students per ACMG guide.
Is there an online component?
Yes. A 4-hour online course comes before the field days. You can complete it any time beforehand and refer back to it for 2 months after your course.
Do I need a lift ticket?
Yes, on day 1. We use the Blackcomb lifts to start the tour to the hut. If you don’t have a season or Epic pass, add a backcountry lift ticket ($45) when you book.
What certificate do I get?
The Avalanche Canada AST 2 certificate. Altus is a registered Avalanche Canada AST provider.
Can I take AST 2 on a splitboard?
Yes. Splitboarders are welcome, as long as you are comfortable touring and riding advanced terrain on your splitboard.
Is there a minimum group size?
Yes. Scheduled courses need at least 3 participants to run.
What gear do I need?
Avalanche gear: transceiver, probe (220 to 320 cm) and collapsible metal shovel.
Touring gear: touring skis or splitboard with skins, boots, poles and a 40 to 50 L pack.
Hut gear: lightweight sleeping bag, hut booties or slippers, headlamp, earplugs and a light change of clothes.
Food: breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks for 3 nights and 4 days.
Clothing: waterproof shell, breathable layers, synthetic insulated jacket, spare gloves, hat and goggles.
Other: repair kit, first aid kit, sunscreen and water bottles.
