In Japan, winter enthusiasts can enjoy picturesque landscapes and world-class skiing. However, the beauty of snow-covered mountains also brings the inherent risk of avalanches. Understanding and prioritizing avalanche safety becomes paramount as winter sports enthusiasts flock to the Japanese Alps and other snow-laden regions. Avalanche safety is essential for everyone, from beginners to experts. Even when skiing within resort boundaries, knowing the basics could save lives. Avalanche Skills Training (AST) is a program tailored to educate individuals on identifying avalanche terrain, comprehending snowpack stability, and executing avalanche rescue techniques. The program primarily caters to skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who frequent backcountry regions prone to avalanches. Its aim is to equip participants with essential knowledge and skills necessary for safe travel and enjoyment in avalanche-prone environments.

Japan Avalanche Network – Realtime Image

What is Avalanche Skills Training?

Avalanche Skills Training (AST) teaches people how to spot dangerous avalanche areas, understand snow stability, and do rescue missions. It’s mainly for skiers, snowboarders, and others who go into the backcountry where avalanches can happen.

In AST courses, you’ll learn about how avalanches form, study snow conditions, check the land for safety, find the best routes, travel safely, make smart decisions in dangerous areas, and do rescue missions using special tools like avalanche transceivers, probes, and shovels. Additionally, these courses mix classroom lessons with practical training in real avalanche areas.

What is Avalanche Skills Training 1 & 2 (AST-1 AST-2)?

AST, short for Avalanche Skills Training, is created by Avalanche Canada. Even though it’s developed in Canada, it’s popular worldwide.

AST 1, an entry-level avalanche education course, gives participants the basic skills to travel safely in avalanche areas. It covers avalanche basics, snowpack analysis, terrain evaluation, safe travel methods, and basic rescue techniques.

Moreover, the course combines classroom sessions and field exercises in real avalanche terrain. In class, you’ll learn about avalanche mechanics, weather’s impact on snow stability, reading avalanche forecasts, and the gear needed for avalanche travel. In the field, you’ll practice using transceivers, probes, and shovels for rescues and applying terrain assessment skills.

Furthermore, AST 1 is recommended for newcomers to winter backcountry travel, such as skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and snowmobilers. Completing it gives a solid base for further avalanche education and helps in making safer decisions in avalanche-prone areas.

On the other hand, AST 2 is an advanced course, building on AST 1. It’s for those who’ve completed AST 1 or have similar experience and want a deeper understanding of avalanche terrain and snowpack stability.

Avalanche Skills Training 1 & 2 Resources in Japan

In Japan, there are a number of companies that offer the training.  There are two avalanche training courses, AST-1 and AST-2.  While AST-1 is an excellent introduction, the AST-2 is for people who already are AST-1 certified and for experienced backcountry skiers and riders looking to broaden the knowledge.  Avalanche Canada maintains a list of companies that off AST training here.

These are the companies we found in Japan that offer AST-1 training (some offer AST-2) and, in some cases, in multiple languages.