By Ken Lukawy, Avalanche Education Programs (ken.lukawy@skipatrol.ca)
Over the years, Avalanche Canada’s Avalanche Skills Training courses have introduced people to several decision-making tools – primarily the Avaluator™ and the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES). Both of these tools have been updated for use in the 2025-2026 winter season.
ATES 2.0 updates the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale by adding two new classes of terrain and a waterfall ice climbing communication model. The ATES technical model has also been updated, but that is of little interest to recreationists. The two new terrain classes are Class 0 (non-avalanche terrain) and Class 4 (extreme terrain). The image below is the new ATES 2.0 communication model for backcountry travel, describing the five classes and the implications for backcountry travel.
The Waterfall Ice Climbing communication model is new, incorporating the five classes of terrain and specific information related to climbing waterfall ice.
For a more thorough description of ATES 2.0, please review the article The Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale V.2 published in the Canadian Avalanche Association’s *The Avalanche Journal*. It can be found here.
The Avaluator™ V3.0 still contains the two different, but very related, decision-making tools – the Trip Planner and the Slope Evaluation Card. The updates to these two tools are subtle and the best way to communicate the changes is to show the new cards.
The NEW Trip Planner card:
The NEW Slope Evaluation card – the Assessment:
The NEW Slope Evaluation card – Travel Decision:
Do you feel your avalanche knowledge and skills need refreshing? Avalanche Canada’s Online Avalanche Tutorial is the place to start – Avy Savvy.