Avalanche Safety
This guide summarizes the ACC's current position on avalanche terrain, gear requirements, and trip leader qualifications for winter and snow travel. These are working guidelines grounded in established best practices — sections are expected to apply them through their own vetting and trip posting processes.
:::info These guidelines are actively evolving The Leadership Development and Safety Committees are developing a national framework. This page will be updated as guidance is finalized. Questions? Contact your ACC National regional contact. :::
1. When do avalanche considerations apply?
The relevant trigger is snow conditions, not calendar dates. Avalanches occur outside of traditional winter months. The question to ask when planning any snow travel trip is:
Is there sufficient snow for avalanche hazard to exist?
If yes — regardless of the month — avalanche considerations apply to your trip planning, gear requirements, and leader qualifications.
2. Terrain classification (ATES)
The ACC follows Avalanche Canada's definition: avalanche terrain is slopes typically steeper than 25–30° capable of producing avalanches. Terrain is classified using the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES):
| Class | Rating | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Simple | Low-angle or well-separated slopes; minimal exposure time in avalanche terrain | Valley trail with occasional open slopes |
| Class 2 | Challenging | Well-defined avalanche paths; open slopes or ridges with moderate exposure | Typical backcountry ski touring; moderate ridge traverses |
| Class 3 | Complex | Multiple overlapping avalanche paths; difficult terrain management | Technical alpine routes; glaciated terrain; couloirs |
Terrain classification — not just regional danger ratings — governs whether and how your group travels. Use Avalanche Canada tools alongside your own terrain assessment.
3. Avalanche gear requirements
If a trip involves travel in avalanche terrain, all participants must carry a transceiver, probe, and shovel.
:::warning Low danger does not mean no danger Regional ratings are broad averages. Terrain-specific decisions matter more than the bulletin rating. Carrying gear when snow and terrain warrant it is the simplest and most defensible approach. :::
When gear may not be required
If a trip is explicitly planned to avoid avalanche terrain entirely, and that plan is reasonable and defensible, a section may determine avalanche gear is not required. However:
- If unforeseen terrain forces exposure to avalanche terrain, the appropriate decision is to turn around (or mandate that gear is carried on the trip)
- If Avalanche Canada has issued a danger rating of Low or above, avalanche hazard exists regionally
- No Rating is the only situation where there is not yet enough snow at the elevation band to produce avalanches
- Outside bulletin season, terrain assessment still governs
Carrying gear alone is not enough. The group should demonstrate self-rescue proficiency and teamwork before entering avalanche terrain. Shared competency matters as much as equipment.
4. Trip leader qualifications
AST 2 or equivalent is the benchmark for leading in avalanche terrain. Equivalency can include:
- Advanced avalanche education beyond AST 1
- Demonstrated and documented backcountry leadership experience
- Professional certification (ACMG, FQME, IFMGA, etc.)
- Extensive practical experience in the terrain type being led
:::danger Equivalency is not self-declared Equivalency is determined through the section's vetting process. A trip leader cannot unilaterally declare their own equivalency — the section executive is responsible for that assessment. :::
5. Training matrix — ACC Ottawa model
While not a national standard, the ACC Ottawa framework (developed by Bill Barrett) is a sound reference model for pairing ATES terrain classification with proportional training expectations. Sections may adapt this for their own vetting processes.
| Terrain | Trip Leader | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Non-avalanche | AST 1 | Basic avalanche awareness recommended |
| Simple (ATES 1) | AST 2 recommended; AST 1 minimum | AST 1 recommended; at minimum one day of prior avalanche safety training |
| Challenging (ATES 2) | AST 2 | At least one participant AST 2; remainder AST 1 minimum |
| Complex (ATES 3) | AST 2 | At least 50% of participants AST 2; remainder AST 1 minimum |
6. The shared responsibility model
ACC trip leaders are amateur volunteer leaders, not professional guides (unless explicitly hired in a professional capacity). Decision-making does not rest with a single individual — it exists within a broader governance ecosystem that includes:
- Section vetting processes and executive oversight
- Trip descriptions and hazard disclosure
- Waiver acknowledgment and participant screening
- Best safety practices during the trip (pre-trip meeting, morning check-ins, incident reporting)
- The ACC's CGL policy (the trip must be a sanctioned ACC activity)
What courts and insurers evaluate is whether reasonable systems were in place and followed. Liability typically arises from gross negligence, acting outside sanctioned roles, or failing to follow established procedures.
Related articles
- Trip Planning Overview
- Minors on ACC Trips — specific avalanche terrain rules when minors are present
- Insurance & Liability