Mountain Skills Academy and Adventures

Did my AST 1 through MSAA. Great course and the instructors, Chloe and Nick, were excellent. The course teaches you proper respect for the dangers of backcountry and the skills to better assess risk and respond to emergencies.

I had a great experience on my glacier travel & crevasse rescue course with my guide Daniel! Would definitely do another course with MSAA

My friends and I recently took the AST 2 course lead by the exceptional guide Kurt.

We all had an amazing time, packed full of fun, beautiful views, great skiing and lots and lots of great knowledge.

We can’t thank MSAA and our guide Kurt enough. Kurt was outstanding, he was an overall wonderful guy and taught us so much. He shared great information with all of us and we are so excited to use these new skills and also to always continue to learn. We could tell he really loved his job and was so passionate about teaching us about the outdoors, nature, what it has to offer and most importantly how to stay safe.

By the end of it we were all mentally and physically tired (in a good way), but felt so rewarded and were so happy with the outcome of knowledge and insights gained, it will stay with us moving forward.

Also the communication with bookings and emails were also very easy to understand, they were quick to respond and super friendly and helpful.

Thank you MSAA and Kurt!

-Kina and crew

Great experience doing AST 1+ with Nic! Having the extra field day allowed us to do lots of hands-on practice without feeling rushed. We even had time for a few runs of fresh pow!
I learned tons and feel way more prepared for the backcountry. Thanks!

Completed a AST refresher course with Kurt and Dan. Both were super knowledgeable, patient, and friendly! Had a great morning!

Squamish Via Ferrata was a thrilling experience. Our guide, Tâche, was extremely knowledgeable, personable and we felt completely safe and at ease. The views were spectacular. Hard to believe we scaled a cliff face in complete safety. MSAA has the highest accreditation for this type of experience- a MUST try if you are in the area!

When I called Mountain Skills to learn about the difference between their two via ferrata courses at Whistler and Squamish, I was told that the Whistler course is more adventurous and much longer, lasting 4 hours versus only 2 hours at Squamish, which justified the significantly higher price. I asked about any differences between the morning and afternoon tours, and I was told that they are identical. Based on this information, I signed up for the 4-hour afternoon Whistler via ferrata.

When I showed up at the designated meeting place, I was told that so many people had signed up for this tour that we were being split into different groups. As a solo traveler, I was told that a large group would head out first, while I had to wait for a tour guide whose morning tour ran late and wasn’t ready yet. Once he finally showed up, he said that a member of our group was stuck in traffic and hadn’t yet arrived. So instead of starting at 1: 30 PM as scheduled, we didn’t actually begin until 2: 15.

Normally, I wouldn’t mind the delay, except that our guide then informed us that the ski lift that would bring us down after we finished stops running at 4: 15, and if we didn’t rush through what was advertised as a 4-hour course in under 2 hours, we would be stuck at the top and have to do a lengthy hike to get down. As a result, we were extremely rushed and pressed for time during the entire experience, and instead of having time to take breaks and enjoy the experience, we went virtually non-stop the entire time.

I don't blame our guide for this, as he did the best he could under the circumstances. And we did in fact get to the top just before 4: 15, but I was extremely exhausted, dehydrated, and disappointed that what I hoped would be a highlight of my visit to Whistler was nothing like what was advertised and promised.

This was hands down one of the most amazing things I've done in my life. Rob was our guide for the Via Ferrata over the Labor Day weekend and it was amazing. He is so knowledgeable about the area and has a wonderful passion about the outdoors and what he does. Thank you Rob for being my amazing guide.

Glen was a great guide. I did the Whistler via ferrata and it was a wonderful experience, the views were stunning. Glen made sure we were safe throughout and entertained us with trivia on Whistler and via ferrata. Highly recommend the tour!

Hands down for our Guide Jeremy! What a wonderful day for our first backcountry ski experience. Jeremy exceeded our expectations, taking the time to explain valuable information and tell different mountain relevant stories. He was also taking care of the group dynamic, making sure no one is behind, constantly asking our levels of energy. I would rate 6 stars if I could. Cheers!

I had a great time on the intro to backcountry course, it was definitely worth it and I got to explore parts of the mountain I wouldn’t have seen otherwise!

Eric Vezeau was our guide and instructor for AST2 and he was exceptional. I'd highly recommend to anyone that wants to improve their backcountry safety and have a great time.

Really nice course with Chloé. She made sure that we understand everything, while keeping a good pace throughout. On the hike she took good care of the group, looking out for every member. Her cow and chicken joke is worth the detour.

Great 2 days, fantastic guides, learnt a lot and better prepared now. Definitely recommend

I’ve done ATS1 in Whistle with Cloe and a wonderful group of women, it’s been and amazing weekend full of teachings!
We’ve done 1 day in class and the next one outdoor splitboarding, and both they have been so helpful for my future winter days in the mountains.
Recommended!:)

Really enjoyed this years backcountry ski pass. Lots of dates and when I needed to cancel it was easy.

I attended the patient packaging workshop, presented by Jonathan. It was well worth the time.it is one thing to practice techniques in the comfort of my living room, but this gave me an opportunity to learn better ways of doing things, or at least practice what I already knew, in a more realistic setting.

Very well run and interesting course, wouldve been nice to spend both days on the mountain:)

An amazing team of guides with so much knowledge and stoke. I highly recommend doing one of their tours or 5 if possible with a powder punch card. Will happily purchase another one next season

I took my AST 1 this past weekend with MSAA and had Rob as an instructor. Rob was incredible, his knowldge of snowpack, terrain, and weather is so inspiring, I'm very thankful to have had the opporutnity to learn from someone so knowledgable. I cant wait to sign up for my AST 2 and keep learning and growing.

I needed to build some confidence and have an AST refresher for ski touring and had the best day with our guide Lindsay. She communicated everything so well, was easy to remember and went at a great pace. I would really recommend the Intro to Backcountry day!

AST 1 & 2 with MSAA. Eric D was a phenomenal instructor and guide; professional, educational, and fun.

Took my AST-1 with them, will likely return for other stuff.

My instructors were friendly, willing to answer basically any question, even if it somewhat broke scope from the topic at hand. Took care of the group when outside, and covered the things you'd expect in the course effectively. Seem like a bunch of good people, and pricing was in-line with competitors.

Great AST1 course, 1 day in class and 1 outdoors. Instructors on both days were very professional. All questions we had were answered thoroughly. I would recommend to anyone who want to learn how to identify risky terrain and wants to navigate in the backcountry.

I took the Avalanche Safety Training 1 last weekend and it was great! I learned a lot in this course. Corey was very knowledgeable and helpful. On our field day he made sure everyone knew the procedures. I had an amazing time.
The course material was great for an intro course and the group sizes were perfect. I feel like I can start going out into the backcountry. I would recommend taking AST courses with MSAA and I hope to do the AST 2 course with them in the future.

Took the "Intro to Backcountry" with Kirill and had an amazing day with MSSA in the Whistler backcountry. We had a diverse group of experience in our group and I think everyone gained a lot from our guide. I felt very safe and learned a lot more than I expected from a 1-day clinic. I will be doing my AST course with MSSA soon and expect to compound the information from this experience further.

Such an eye opening experience! Our guide Kirill was awesome, super patient during explanations and made sure everyone understood before moving on. Safety was always his priority, pointing out terrain features to look out for throughout the day and making us practice simulations until we all got it. Huge huge thanks to MSAA and Kirill for a stellar experience!

Overall was a great experience! Wore the wrong shoes the first day so we’re turned away (would have liked to have more of a guideline on this with pre departure information) and had to buy 2 extra gondola tickets making this a pretty expensive activity at the end of it all but was an absolute blast once we got on the mountain!

Definitely a different experience in winter but our guide, Eric, was great. Was taking pictures of us the whole way, encouraging, and all around great attitude!

We will definitely be trying more activities through MSA soon!

Had an amazing AST 1course with Elodie. Definitely boosted my confidence towards heading out into the backcountry terrain.

Took a course last weekend in Whistler, BC. Our instructor, Rob, was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Thanks Rob!

Had an good day in the classroom with Rob learning about different conditions you need to be aware of in the backcountry which segmented into an awesome day out in the field with Aaron where we did companion rescue training, used our avalanche safety equipment and assessed the snow pack. Overall the course was engaging and informative. Our guides were professional and knowledgeable and experienced on all subjects in the backcountry.

Did my AST with MSAA and had a great time! Rob and Corey were great in the classroom and super fun. Rob was my instructor in the field and he made sure everyone understood things and got lots of chances to practice skills.

We did the AST2 course and were happy we went with MSAA. Professional and easy to communicate with.

Had a great time taking my AST1 with MSAA!
Our main instructor, Chloe, was very knowledgeable and led the course with confidence with the help of Kirill and Guillaume. Would highly recommend!

Took the crevasse rescue course; fun and educational. Everything we learnt was easily applicable and have used what I learnt on glacier crossings. Plus our guide was a legend

A friend and I did the AST 1 Avalanche course with MSAA and overall it was a great, informative experience. The material was well laid out and quite comprehensive and the instructors showed a keen interest in what they were teaching. My only suggestion is that the instructors get the IT details dialled before the course so that there aren't any audio-visual hiccups that detract from the learning.
The second day in the field, we were lucky enough to have Kirill as our instructor, and his analytical approach to snow science and passion for what he was teaching really shone through. Although he was a new instructor, his speaking skills and genuine desire to make sure we understood what he was teaching made us lucky to have him as our instructor.

Had a great time doing my AST 1 with MSAA. Our instructor Eric made our field day equal part fun and instructional. Bonus points for making new friends along the way too

Awesome course with the different guides. The class session was very instructive and we also learnt a lot during the day on field. Our guide Kirill made it fun, interesting and very instructive! I recommend it 100%

Would not have wanted to go in the backcountry without taking this course. Very detailed and hands on with professional guides. Highly recommend!

Perfect combination of theory & practise. Highly recommend to everyone, who doesn't want to stay only on slope & who's about to explore backcountry.
I've learned many new things about weather forecast, potential of snow behaviour, avalanche kit usage, reading terrain and so much more in only 2 days! Incredible.
We had also very professional and patient instructors.
Already considering AST2.

I did a Crevasse Rescue Refresher Course with Éliel, April, Cory, and Guillaume. They provided solid teaching and a safe environment to dust off the skills I had forgotten since last season!

Conducted AST1 with MSAA on 18-19 Dec 2021. Instructors Rob, Kirill and Andrew were very professional, knowledgeable and outgoing. The class environment was relaxed yet very professional. The material covered focussed on the local terrain and snowpack <- very useful! Special shoutout to Kirill for leading our field day.super smart, outgoing and great teaching skills! Highly recommend MSAA for AST courses.

Just completed the Intro to Backcountry. I had done the AST1 a few years ago and wanted a high-level refresher. This course really hit the spot and had an excellent balance of “classroom” & getting out there to practice companion skills and skiing. Our course leaders, Megan and Andrew were awesome and really fed off each other in practical advice and their knowledge of mountains. Strongly recommended for those who are thinking of getting into backcountry - or, like me, wanting a refresher!

Great mountain navigation course with professional instructors. Eliel is the guy who had many years experience of expedition and mountaineering, he also is genius of teaching those skills and knowledge, really enjoy and recommend it.

Just freshly attended the Intro to Rock Climbing and Intro to Trad Climbing this last weekend in Squamish; with Corey. This was one of the most informative; hands on; course I have ever attended. I work in the critical care medical field; and have attended a lot of high informative/high risk courses - and the way this course was taught by our guide Corey; was both easy to follow; efficient; and memorable.

I left the weekend with a lot of knowledge regarding skill and safety; would recommend this course for complete beginners; indoor rock climbers looking to come outdoors; or even those looking for a refresher on techniques; equipment; and skill.

Definitely ask for Corey! His knowledge and experience base made for great conversations and learning!

Did the Mountain Navigation course with Eliel. Highly recommend this for any backcountry skiers

Nic était super cool. On à passé une demi journée hiking en forest adapté la trek selon mes capacités. Équipé pour toute éventualitées comme les ours. Je recommande.

I had a great experience doing a Via Ferrata at the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish today. The guide, Diego, was very professional and paid attention to my interest in learning some rock climbing strategies. I'm looking forward to doing a future trip with them soon!

Very responsive to anyone's concerns. Our guide, Rob, was patient, informative and was an amazing photographer. He was encouraging and gave us beta if we struggled in our route. It was unfortunate that we weren't able to enjoy the mountain views due to spontaneous rain and fog, but highly recommend for any adventurous people! Easier than top rope rock climbing:)

A couple years ago we did the AST1 avalanche course in Whistler and were very satisfied. This year we followed up with the Whistler Via Ferrata and had a great time. Oli did a great job explaining the glacier geology and other facts of Whistler Mountain. Would do it again!

We did the Private Half Day Single Pitch climbing in Squamish. In our group we had a range of abilities from no experience at all to climbing every day and we all had a fantastic time. Our guide Mike Vert was awesome - knows his stuff, really friendly, and made sure that everybody was safe and having a fun time.

Went on the Whistler Sky Walk - Peak to Peak Package on July 31 and it was great. We kind of got lost and therefore were late, Nick our guide called to confirm we were still coming and waited patiently for us. Nick was, undoubtedly still is, awesome, personable, friendly, uber knowledgable, and skilled. The Sky Walk itself was cool, not too challenging for older folk like me. Nick went slow when we needed to and kept encouraging us all along. Highly recommended.

Wooooww! Quelle magnifique expérience! Guide bilingue, passionné et très professionnel. En plus d'une vue époustouflante, nous avons appris plein de choses sur la faune, la flore, les éléments naturels et les activités à Squamish. Merci Éric pour ce merveilleux parcours!

Most amazing day climbing the Via Ferrata from the bottom of the Saddle to the Peak of Whistler! Our guide Rob was so amazing at keeping us safe and telling us everything there is to know about the Coast mountains, the flora and fauna of Whistler mountain and answering any other question we could think of! The guy is a mountain encyclopedia! It's definitely worth the (very fun) climb for those mountain views and the sense of achievement once you're done. A must do in Whistler for anyone who likes an adrenaline rush and to take in the incredible views from the top of the world.

This tour was absolutely brilliant. Hats off to Ollie, our tour guide, who was superb. Not only did he know a LOT about the surrounding glaciers, the history and geology of the site, but he was very attentive and helpful and made sure everyone was having an amazing time. Highly recommend this tour - especially if you're an adventurous person or if you're just looking for something new to do. You HAVE to try this tour as you will have no regrets.

Highly recommending that you should check out MSAA's via ferrata. It is very challenging but don't worry, they have highly skilled guide that will guide you and encourage you up the mountain. On the way, they will tell you a lot about Mount Whistler and some fun facts. So of course, a 5 stars.

My daughter loves it so much. It’s good experience for me too. Guide is so professional his name Diego. I recommend this mountain adventure!

We tried Squamish Via Ferrata and enjoyed it a lot! It was our first experience with Mountain Skills and for sure it was just the beginning!
Via Ferrata is perfect for someone like me with zero levels of experience in rock climbing who wants to have some adventure or an intro to rock climbing!
We had a perfect guide, Diago. He was super nice, relax, and very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about the area, BC, Climate, etc! He always has an eye on you to make sure you follow the rules and would be safe to the end while enjoying all the spectacular sceneries! And if you made a mistake be sure that you would be caught red-handed!:)
THANK YOU DIAGO! You made our experience even better. He also showed us some rock climbing tricks!
We defiantly recommend this activity to all of our friends and for sure we will plan another adventure with Mountain Skills Academy!

From my first call in to the guest services, I had prompt and courteous service. Ollie returned our call and explained the difference between our two choices for a morning out. We booked the next day for the rock taster. All communication was clear. Our guide, Ivan, was early to the meeting spot and was friendly, informative and patient with us for our first time ever on a rock. Grateful for an amazing experience and so affordable as a family outing

Rob was amazing, informative and a chill guy to have as a tour guide on the glacier ascent. The climb was quite the experience which we were buffeted by wind, rain, and hail and we got to do glissading. The glacier ascent/glissading is a must try when you're in Whistler and is worth every penny!

There is so much to learn in the 2 day crevasse rescue course, but both instructors did a great job in making sure we came out competent. Kurt and Eric were both extremely knowledgeable and patient, going above and beyond by showing us different techniques based on various scenarios and how they apply to other mounatin disciplines. Highly recommend this course to those who want to feel more confident in the mountains.

Took the crevasse rescue with Kurt as the instructor, he was awesome still took the time in a group setting to work 1 on 1 if you weren’t understanding something, and was willing to stay later to help anyone strengthen their skills and get more confident with rescue tactics.

I've taken 2 courses with MSAA, Crevasse rescue and intro to outdoor climbing. Eliel was an excellent instructor; very knowlegeable and experienced, good at explaining the skills, and the course was a lot of fun.

Just took my AST 1 this weekend in Squamish with Cloe. She is definitely a superstar as mentioned by other reviewers! I had never been backcountry skiing so I was expecting the learning curve to be high. Skins, weird flexy boots, finicky pin bindings Cloe was able to help right off the bat as my skis seemed to have a mind of their own. The group was really helpful as well. Gorgeous day, lots of practice, good pace, learned how to kick back turn. One of the best last minutes decisions I've made!

Big thumbs up for Mountain Skills Academy!

I recently took an introductory course to backcountry skiing. It was the second time I decided to take a course with MSA, and I truly enjoyed the quality of the day, it was a nice balance of fun, valuable learning of practical knowledge and skills.

Our guide was Marcus and he did a solid great job, really committed to give our group as much value as he could putting a big emphasis on safety and useful practical knowledge.

Thank you MSA for giving us the proper tools to make the right decisions to have some great safety oriented fun in the backcountry!

Fantastic Experience. I participated in the Introduction to Split-boarding. Highly recommended! April is an excellent guide, patient and extremely knowledgeable.

We had a great Companion Rescue Skills course with Nolan this week where we got lots of practical experience reviewing how to respond to single and multiple avalanche burials. Originally we were signed up for a group class but they were one person short to have it go ahead; instead of cancelling the class entirely, MSA was really flexible and offered a discounted private lesson to us instead, which we are really appreciative of. If you need to brush up on your rescue skills and want a engaging professional experience, definitely check out MSA’s Companion Rescue Skills course!