Archive:2010 2011 Avalanche Courses
This page is for general information about the 2010-2011 Avalanche Courses with Canada West Mountain School. There is no wiki signup for these trips - in order to go you must pay in the clubroom. Cash or credit card works.
Contents
General Information
- In case of discrepancy, the information on the envelopes in the clubroom is "correct". Please let Veenstra know if you find any discrepancies.
- Course is for VOC members only (but you can join just to take the course)
- All prices listed here include all taxes.
- All costs must be paid before the cutoff date
- First paid = first on the list – NO IOUs or other “reservations”
- When the course is full it's full, obviously
- Courses run in groups of 8. If there are not enough students to fill a course by cutoff date you will be refunded.
- If you can't go anymore it is not the VOC or CWMS's problem (but you can transfer to another VOC member). There are no refunds unless the course must be canceled.
- You need to be able to go uphill! This means you need touring gear (Tele, A T, Splitboard, Snowboard+snowshoes, etc.) with skins. CWMS does not rent touring gear!
- Avalanche Gear includes: Shovel, Probe + Beacon. This can be rented as a package from CWMS for $28.
- Cost does not include a Whistler Backcountry pass, which is required for some courses – if you don't have a season pass you can purchase a backcountry pass for $47.
- Just to be explicit - these extra costs (Avi Gear / Pass) must also be paid in advance.
- Cost can be paid cash or Visa/MasterCard (not american express or others) – to pay by credit card give us a sheet with:
- your name
- cardholder name
- credit card number
- expiry date
How to get on a course
Decide what course you want to be on, then come into the clubroom during gear hours / slideshows / etc. and pay (or get your friend to do so). There are separate envelopes in the exec drawer for each course, and each course has it's own cutoff date. Once you pay (either cash or a slip of paper with your credit card information) you can take a spot.
The courses need groups of precisely 8 to run (except AST2 which goes with anywhere from 5-8), and then they are full. If there are not enough students to fill a course by the cutoff then the incomplete groups will be canceled and those students will be refunded. Once the courses are full they are, well, full. This means that signing up as early as possible is the best strategy for getting on these courses. It has been observed that those who wait until just before the cutoff date do not make it on courses, because they are already full by that time... conversely the first person on the list has always made it on the course.
What are the costs/savings? What do we learn?
The VOC doesn't make any money on these courses, and it is cheaper than taking them through the public CWMS courses because the VOC provides logistic support and space for the lecture component (for free, whereas CWMS would have to pay somebody to do this).
Also, the evening sessions will be held on campus which is probably more convenient than the CWMS office if you're a student.
See the embedded links for what you'll learn on the courses.
AST1 for Skiers/Boarders
All the VOC Skier/Boarder courses are equivalent to the AST1 Plus, which costs $308 (including HST) for a public course, if you need to rent the avalanche kit from CWMS. This cost does not include a Whistler Backcountry pass, which you'd need to purchase in addition regardless of who you take the course with. Through the VOC the costs are:
- $190 for the course
- $28 if you need to rent avi gear from CWMS
- $47 if you need to purchase a Whistler Backcountry pass (mandatory, unless you're on a Seymour/Seymour course or have a season's pass)
AST1 for Snowshoers
The VOC AST1 Snowshoe is equivalent to the AST1 Snowshoe, which costs $240.80 (including HST) for a public course, if you need to rent the avalanche kit from CWMS. Through the VOC the costs are:
- $185 for the course
- $28 if you need to rent avi gear from CWMS
- There is no Whistler Pass required, since it's at Seymour/Backcountry
AST2 for Skiers/Boarders
This is the AST2 course, which costs 655.20 (including HST) assuming you have your own avalanche equipment (this does not include Whistler Backcountry Passes). Through the VOC the costs are:
- $550 for the course
- You are expected to have your own avi kit - it is not available for rent
- $94 for 2 Whistler Backcountry Passes
- You may be required to fork over another $47 for a third slackcountry pass, if "real" backcountry conditions are unsuitable for travel on the last day.
- You are expected to bring a snow science kit consisting of a Loupe, Crystal Screen, and Thermometer. We need at least 1 per 2 students, so some may need to purchase one.
- If we fill the course then it becomes cheaper - If we get 7 people then everybody gets $50 off (or refunded), and at 8 people a further $20.
Course Blocks
Block 1 - AST1 - Seymour/Whistler
- Evening Session – Tuesday Nov. 30th, 7pm in BUCH B308
- Weekend Sessions – December 4+5th
- Must pay before cutoff date – Friday November 12th
As of Thursday Oct. 28th These dates can host up to 3 groups of 8 students
The due date for this course is passed - it filled with 2 groups of 8 students
Block 2 - AST1 - Seymour/Whistler
- Evening Session – Tuesday January 11th, 7pm in BUCH B308
- Weekend Sessions – January 15-16th
- Must pay before cutoff date – Tuesday December 14th
These dates can host up to 2 groups of 8 students
This course is full
Rides
Andrew (Cambie and 21st - 3 passengers)
- Murray D (w 12th at Dunbar)
- Greg D (Oak and 59th)
- Christian H (UBC)
Kathrin, carless (5th and Cypress)
Megan P, carless :( (UBC)
Tyler H, carless (8th and Blanca)
Alex W, carless (7th and MacDonald)
Katherine & Gord, carless (6th and Collingwood)
Elizabeth H, carless (6th and Vine)
Block 2.5 - AST1 - Seymour/Whistler
- Evening Session - Monday January 17th, 7pm in BUCH B308
- Weekend Sessions - January 22nd-23rd
- Must pay before cutoff date - TBD
We got an extra course! These dates can host 1 group of 8 students
This course is now full
Block 3 - AST1 Snowshoe - Seymour/Seymour
Note - one of the snowshoe groups was switched to skier/boarder at Whistler/Seymour due to lack of interest from snowshoers
- Evening Session – There is no evening session for the snowshoe course
- Evening Session – Tuesday January 25th for the skiers/boarders
- Weekend Session – January 29-30th
- Must pay before cutoff date – Tuesday January 11th
As of Monday Jan. 10th the snowshoe course is full
As of Thursday Jan. 7th one of these groups was switched to a Whistler/Seymour skier/boarder course which is now full
Block 4 - AST1 - Seymour/Seymour or Seymour/Whistler
- Evening Session – Tuesday February 8th, 7pm in BUCH B308
- Weekend Session – February 12-13th
- Must pay before cutoff date – Thursday January 27th
These dates can host up to 2 groups of 8 students (one group each location) (we may be able to get one more block with sufficient notice)
As of Monday Feb 1st Whistler/Seymour is full, and the Seymour/Seymour course is cancelled
Block 5 - AST2
- Weekend Sessions – January 22-23rd and January 29-30th
- Must pay before cutoff date – Tuesday December 14th
These dates can host up to 1 group of 5-8 students
This course is full.
