Intro Backcountry Touring Course

Sunday

8:00 am – Meet at Whistler base, review gear and rescue techniques

9:00 – Head up the Whistler/Blackcomb lift system and into the backcountry!

4:30 pm – Day wrap up

Avalanche Gear

Avalanche beacon
Probe
Shovel

Hardware

Backcountry skis or split-board (skis, skins, poles)
30-litre backpack or large enough to carry personal gear 

Clothing

Waterproof/breathable jacket and pants
Lightweight, breathable jacket and pants (for uphill skinning/climbing)
Insulated jacket (synthetic insulated jacket is strongly recommended)
Lightweight gloves for climbing/skinning
Warm gloves
Warm hats
Balaclava or other types of neck warmer

Miscellaneous

Sunglasses
Goggles
Sunscreen
Sun hat
Ski strap
Small personal ski repair kit
Personal first aid, medication
Camera

Lunch/Water

Please arrive in the morning with food and drink for the day.

Please take a moment to read and understand our policies before booking! Booking, payment, cancellation and weather policies, as well as FAQ, may be found here.

The Intro Backcountry Touring Course teaches touring technique, gear use, and general mountain travel in one day, with a light introduction to avalanche hazard. AST 1 is a dedicated 1.5-day or (2.5-day in the AST 1+) avalanche safety certification covering snow assessment, companion rescue, and terrain-based decision-making. Many guests take this course first, then AST 1.

No. It’s designed for skiers with zero backcountry experience. You do need intermediate-to-advanced resort skiing ability – comfortable on black diamond runs and in powder – plus the fitness for 3 or more hours of continuous uphill travel.

You’ll need a backcountry touring setup (skis or splitboard with skins) and avalanche rescue gear (transceiver, probe, shovel) – these aren’t provided. Altus supplies course instructional equipment. Backcountry ski rentals are available in Whistler if you don’t own a setup.

Groups are capped at 6 students per ACMG-certified guide, so you get meaningful individual coaching and feedback throughout the day rather than a lecture-style group lesson.

You’ll cover uphill (skinning) technique and track-setting, gear transitions, powder and off-piste descent technique, basic avalanche hazard and terrain evaluation, route finding, navigation, and companion rescue fundamentals.

You should be able to hike or skin uphill continuously for 3+ hours. There’s no specific fitness test – just solid intermediate-to-advanced skiing ability and reasonable trail fitness.

On Whistler Blackcomb, accessed via the lift system. The day starts with a gear and rescue briefing at the base at 8:00 AM, ascends by 9:00 AM, and wraps up by 4:30 PM.

$185/person + GST on weekdays, $205/person + GST on weekends. A Whistler Blackcomb lift ticket, lunch, backcountry ski rental, and avalanche rescue gear aren’t included in that price.

Yes! many guests choose to organize their own group and date. Just let us know what would work for you, any particuly goals and location you would like and we will organize a custom course.  Custom courses have a max ratio of 8:1. 

The cost for a custom course starts at $950

No. It builds touring skills and general hazard awareness but isn’t a substitute for AST 1 or AST 2 certification. Altus offers those separately for guests who want to travel independently in avalanche terrain.