Program Objectives and Target Audience

This course is designed for backcountry day skiers who want to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to safely participate in overnight backcountry ski trips. The program will include one evening session in Vancouver and two weekends spent on overnight ski trips in the mountains. Typical destinations are off the Duffey Lake Road or the Coquihalla Highway.

Dates

The evening seminar will be held on January 31, and the ski trips will run on the weekends of February 4-5 and February 11-12. That will give participants plenty of time to join club trips over the rest of the winter.

Program topics

Trip planning, clothing and equipment, winter camping, route finding, track setting, and avalanche safety. This program does not cover glacier travel and is not an avalanche course. All the instructors are volunteers.

For whom

Backcountry day skiers who want to gain experience on overnight winter trips.

Prerequisites

Open to all BCMC members who are able to confidently ski ungroomed 'blue' (intermediate) runs with an overnight (20kg) pack. The entire group will be relying on you to be at least a confident intermediate skier. If the instructors determine after the first weekend that your skiing ability is not adequate, you will be asked to withdraw from the program before the second weekend, and there will be no refund of your program fee. If you or the instructors have doubts about your skiing ability, you will be encouraged to take one of the free Introduction to Backcountry Skiing day trips before signing up for this course.

Avalanche Skills Training (AST-1) or equivalent experience is required.

Previous summer or winter backcountry camping experience is required.

Equipment Required

A complete list will be discussed during the evening session, but you will need to bring your own backcountry ski equipment (skis, boots, poles, and skins), shovel, probe and avalanche transceiver (All of these can be rented 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.

Cost: $250

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