SAFETY PROGRAM

Meetings
All guides and drivers for Island Lake Catskiing take part in daily morning and afternoon meetings. As a team of guides, the weather and snow stability is evaluated and a 'Run List" is created for the day. The final decision to ski a run is based on the team's decision, and nothing is skied that the group is not comfortable with.

During the morning meeting we review reports from all of the other Cat-ski and Heliski operators in the province regarding their conditions and snow stability, enabling us to take a 'big picture' look at our conditions and evaluations, and compare them to our neighbors in the industry.

Explosives
As part of our safety program at Island Lake Catskiing, we incorporate the use of explosives as part of our avalanche safety program. Through the use of explosives we are able to reduce the risk of large scale avalanches, by artificially triggering snow instabilities on a regular basis. This improves both our safety and skiing quality as it allows us to safely ski terrain that may not be appropriate to access without the use of explosives.

Snow Safety At Island Lake Catskiing we assign a team of two 'Snow Safety' guides each and every day of the season. As trained and certified guides, they are focused on providing the safest and most enjoyable ski product we can offer. They provide the guides of the groups the results of daily snow stability tests and observations along with where to find the best snow quality throughout the day. They also work directly with our Road Cat to build roads into new terrain and participate in active avalanche control work with explosives. This maximizes the amount of skiing terrain that we have to offer our guests, every day!

Guest Training and Back Country Safety Talk
Each Catskiing guest takes part in a safety briefing on the first morning of their visit. This includes the use of avalanche transceivers, skiing safely as a group and general backcountry safety topics. All guests, guides and drivers wear Baryvox transceivers while skiing.

Guest and Guide Packs/ Radios
Each Island Lake guide carries a pack with avalanche safety and rescue equipment, and a first aid kit. In every group two guests carry a 'guest pack' each with a probe, shovel and small first aid kit. All Island Lake guides and drivers, as well as the lodge and office staff have radios with them all day.

Weather
We formally monitor and record the local weather twice daily, and incorporate this information into our morning and afternoon guides' meeting and decision making. Check out our "Current Weather"page for the latest updates. We continuously monitor changes to the weather, snow conditions and avalanche hazard throughout each ski day and adjust our safety program accordingly.


www.avalanche.ca (Canadian Avalanche Association)

GUIDES

1. Lead Guides at Island Lake Catskiing
As the Leader of the Mountain Safety Program, the Lead Guide helps facilitate guest safety and the ski program. They work directly with each guide, the drivers and the road builders to maximize the safety and enjoyment of each ski day.

2. Guides
All of Island Lake guides leading guest groups have been trained and certified by the ACMG as a Mountain Guide, Full Ski Guide or an Assistant Ski Guide. Each certification level has been trained and certified by the ACMG to lead guest groups; however an Assistant Guide requires supervision by a Full Guide. The Lead Guide fulfils this role each day. Assistant Guides are in the process of completing an apprenticeship to become a Full Ski Guide, and/or a Mountain Guide.
www.acmg.ca (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides)

3. Trainee Tail Guides
Each of our guest groups also has a Trainee Tail Guide. This person is fulfilling an apprenticeship to become an Assistant Ski Guide. They have a minimum of an advanced 80 hour First Aid Certification and have successfully completed the Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 course. In addition they require a personal resume indicating personal ski touring and general mountaineering experience. Last but not least, they must have great people skills!

Every Day at Island Lake Catskiing, each group has a Driver, a Guide and a Tail Guide. Also, there are two Snow Safety Guides and a Road Building Cat that works on behalf of the guest groups.

TRAINING

In addition to the training and certification outside of Island Lake Resort Group (i.e. CAA. and ACMG), and our regular staff orientation all of our guides participate in our annual Guide's Training Session prior to each season. Among other things new techniques and industry standards are focused on during these sessions. Each season our guides also participate in at least one additional training week outside of work at the lodge. Many guides bring experience/training from heliski companies and the mountains of Europe.

Our Lead Guides and many of our other guides remain very current in aspects of the guiding industry, apart from their work at Island Lake Catskiing, Powder Cowboy Catskiing and Mica Helisking. This includes teaching avalanche and rescue courses, private guiding, consulting, work with other companies, seminars and continuing education courses.

Island Lake Cat Drivers also take part in a pre-season training session, including basic avalanche awareness and first aid.

* We are members of HeliCat Canada, Canada's Heli-Ski and Snowcat Operators Association. As part of our membership, we are required to have our operation's safety systems and policies reviewed on a regular basis.
* All of our guides that lead guest groups are trained and certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
* We are professional members of the Canadian Avalanche Association.
* Our guides take part in regular and detailed refresher courses and continuing professional development.

Assumption of Risk and Waiver
At Island Lake Catskiing we take the safety of our guests and staff very seriously and we continuously strive to minimize the risks inherent to backcountry Snowcat skiing. However, there are many risks that we cannot eliminate. Prior to your trip you will be asked to accept these risks in writing by signing the Island Lake Catskiing Waiver. A properly and fully completed waiver is required from each guest prior to your trip.