CSGI Level 1 - Meadow Creek, BC
$ 3395
Apr 06, 2025 – Apr 16, 2025
Meadow Creek, BC
The 2025 Meadow Creek Level 1 course is full.
Applications for the 2026 Meadow Creek course will be accepted from September 1 – October 15th 2025. Please sign up for our mailing list to receive the most up-to-date course and application information.
Goal: To have candidates attain a basic understanding of mountain awareness and guiding principles. To become proficient with the technical and practical skills needed to work as apprentice ski guides within a mechanized backcountry operation.
Prerequisites
- Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 course
- Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance Level 1 course or equivalent
- Current 80 hour First Aid Certificate
- Resume showing previous industry or related experience
- Back country ski touring resume or trip log documenting experience
Important Information
Course Resources
Evaluation Criteria
- Basic proficiency demonstrated by finding 4 transceivers buried 60 cm deep in a 30m x 30m area within ten minutes. Transceivers can be turned off. Probe targets are to be used. The targets can measure up to 30cm x 30cm.
- Demonstrate ability to build anchors, perform a lower, rappel a fixed line and ascend it.
- Understand the fundamentals of a crevasse rescue system and be able to assist in an organized rescue. To be able to demonstrate a single rope system in the field within a timed period. The timed period will be at the discretion of the instructor/examiner depending on the site.
- Understanding the fundamentals of a self rescue and be able to take charge, organize and participate in a search.
- To dig snow profiles and make observations within the time constraints of a mechanized skiing operation.
- To adequately assess significant terrain features.
- To identify hazards and hazard potential.
- To route-find through terrain identifying safe and suitable routes.
- To identify the safest routes in any given piece of terrain
- To understand the fundamentals of guest management and be able to effectively communicate directions.
- To understand the application of specialized guiding techniques.
- Document daily observations and activities for reference and liability using a blank paged field book.
- Demonstrate back-country awareness and the fundamentals of safe decision making.
- Ability to work on a team, be open to new concepts, strategies, and demonstrate good leadership qualities.
Example of Level 1 Schedule
- Arrival, 5:00pm
- Introductions and Overview
- Course Outline, Manuals, Evaluation Criteria
- Field Books (observations & info)
- Transceiver Orientation and Practice
- Helicopter Orientation
- Morning Meeting
- Navigation Basics
- IntrTour
- Navigation
- Terrain & Hazards
- Review Day
- Discussion – Snowpack Observation
- Morning Meeting
- Navigation
- Tour
- Snowpack Observation
- Information Gathering
- Navigation
- Avalanche rescue – Demo
- Review Day
- Discussion – Decision Making 3×3
- Morning Meeting
- Rope Rescue
- Equipment and Knots
- Anchors
- Lowers
- Ascending
- Crevasse Rescue
- Avalanche rescue
- Review Day
- Discussion – Introduction tMechanized Skiing
- Morning Meeting
- Mechanized Ski Guiding
- Route Selection
- Guest Instruction
- Regrouping
- Avalanche Rescue
- Review Day
- Discussion – Mechanized Ski Guiding
- Morning Meeting
- Mechanized Ski Guiding / Tail Guiding
- Route Selection
- Group Management
- Hazard Evaluation
- Review Day
- Practice Session – Skill Development
- Mid-course Evaluation
- Morning Meeting
- Ski Tour
- Terrain Assessment
- Hazard Evaluation
- Avalanche Rescue
- Review Day
- Discussion – Avalanche Case Study
- Morning Meeting
- Mechanized Ski Guiding
- Tail Guiding
- Group Management
- Client Care
- Avalanche Rescue
- Discussion – Mountain Sense
- Morning Meeting
- Rescue Practice
- Lost Skiers
- Injured Skier Evacuation
- Bivi Sac
- Toboggan
- Improvised Sled
- Review Challenging Concepts
- Morning Meeting
- Transceiver Scenario
- Rope Rescue Scenario
- Avalanche Rescue
- Review Day
- Discussion – Rescue Gear
- Course Evaluation Questionnaires
- Candidate Evaluations