Program Objectives:
To develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to safely participate in overnight backcountry ski trips. The program will include 1 evening session (in Vancouver) and 2 weekends spent on overnight ski trips in the mountains. Typical destinations are off the Duffy Lake road or on the Coquihalla Hw. The seminar will be held on the evening of January 18th, and the ski trips will run on the weekends of January 22&23 and January 29&30. That will give you plenty of time to come and join more club trips over the winter!

Program topics:
Clothing and equipment, trip planning, food, winter camping, route and snowpack evaluation, avalanche safety, transceiver use and self-rescue, winter mountain travel and weather evaluation. This program does not cover glacier travel or first aid and it is not an avalanche course! All the instructors are volunteers, happy to share their knowledge and experience on backcountry skiing!

For whom:

• Strong intermediate downhill skiers with previous summer or winter backcountry camping experience,
  and/or:
• Experienced backcountry day skiers who want to gain experience on overnight winter trips.

Cost: $250

Prerequisites:
Open to all BCMC members (new and current) in good physical heath and fitness who are able to confidently ski ungroomed 'blue' (intermediate) runs with an overnight (20kg) pack.
Note that this is not a program on how to ski! The entire group will be relying on you to be at least a confident intermediate skier! If the organizer determines after the first weekend trip that your skiing ability is not adequate, you will be asked to withdraw from the program before the second weekend trip, and there will be no refund of your program fee.

If you have no previous backcountry day skiing experience, we ask that you have previous experience in summer camping!

Though no previous avalanche training is required for this course, an avalanche skill training (AST) is highly recommended for anyone who wants to spent time in the backcountry!

Equipment Required:
A complete list will be discussed during the evening session, but you will be ask to bring your own backcountry ski equipment (skis, bindings, boots that fits your bindings!, poles & skins), shovel, probe and avalanche transceiver (All of these can be renter from MEC, but make sure to book in advance!) and overnight camping gear.

Group gear such as tents and stoves will be organized at the pre-trip evening seminar.

For more information and to book one of the 12 available spots, please contact Dan Carey.