Quick Details
Backcountry Skiing and Splitboarding
This course is designed for intermediate skiers or snowboarders who are looking to develop the skills necessary to travel safely in the backcountry. Students will learn how to use backcountry touring and avalanche safety equipment, the basics of avalanche rescue, and navigation through mountain terrain. The goal of the course is build confidence in traveling on skis or splitboards, while having fun in a beautiful mountain setting!
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This is a one-day course, lasting about 8 hours.
Most days start early and could meet as early 8:00am at the trailhead. These locations vary based on snow levels, but could be as far away as 2.5 hours.
After meeting up, instructors will spend time discussing gear and pre-trip considerations before heading into the backcountry. Throughout the day, students will travel and discuss topics on the go, while also stopping to cover topics and practice skills.
Courses usually get back to the trailhead around 4:00 or 4:30pm.
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18+ for adult courses, 16+ with a parent or guardian.
Custom courses can be set up for younger groups.
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- Intermediate skiing or snowboarding ability (ability to ski or ride ungroomed snow on blue square runs)
- Physical ability to hike for 4-5 hours, ascending about 2000′, with a 30lb pack
- For snowboards; a splitboard with the ability to go into “tour mode”
- Recommended free Avalanche Awareness class from the Northwest Avalanche Center
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- How to select, use, and care for the necessary equipment for a day of backcountry touring
- How to create a suitable tour plan using local avalanche forecasts
- Use of topographic maps and electronic tools for winter navigation
- Decision making and hazard identification in avalanche terrain
- Basic avalanche rescue
- Practice uphill and downhill travel techniques
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- Eight hours of professional instruction
- Emergency response equipment
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- Transportation to and from the course location
- Food for the day
- Ski or snowboard equipment
- Personal layers of clothing
- Personal avalanche safety gear: beacon, probe, and shovel
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Students must provide their own personal travel gear and clothing. Please come with some sort of familiarity with how your personal system works. if you’r renting, please get a brief tutorial from the rental staff, and please practice transitioning at home before the course.
- Skis, boots, and bindings (Metal edge skis, plastic boots, and Randonee/alpine touring bindings). Telemark boots and bindings will work. Cross-country skis will not work for this course.
- Or, a Splitboard with adjustable bindings, with a system that transitions into “tour” mode efficiently (Soft boots are okay, and hard boots are preferred.)
- Personal avalanche safety gear: beacon, probe, and shovel
- Helmet
- Personal layers
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Driving times vary based on the course location, which be communicated via email before the course. Please add a time buffer to any predicted driving time to account for traffic and poor driving conditions in bad weather.
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After this course, students will be ready to dive into our avalanche education courses, like our AIARE Level 1