Originally published at: Intro to Backcountry Ski Touring – Alpine Club of Canada Vancouver Island Section
Leader: Josh Slatkoff
Contact: weskivi@gmail.com
Date and time:
* December 17, 2024: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm (Zoom presentation)
* January 4, 2025: 9:00 – 4:30 (outdoor classroom – Mt. Washington backcountry – meet at Raven Lodge)
* January 5, 2025: 9:00 – 4:30 (optional tour – Mount Elma/Brooks – meet at Raven Lodge)
Cost: $75
Description: Learn the basics of backcountry skiing in this workshop. Open to telemarkers, alpine tourers, and splitboarders. We will cover equipment, snow travel and unique features of winter in the backcountry. On December 17, we will give a Zoom presentation on backcountry ski basics. On January 4, we go outside to review the basic skills and do a short tour in the neighbourhood of Raven Lodge. On January 5, there is an optional tour to Mt Elma/Brooks to practice skills learned the previous day. Participants to arrange their own accommodation.
Learn about:
Equipment: – ski/snowboard gear – avalanche gear – clothing (layering systems). Travel in the backcountry: – route finding – setting an uptrack – terrain management – skiing in the trees. Avalanche awareness: – terrain awareness – companion rescue practice
Skills needed: Participants must have at least AST1 (or be enrolled in an AST1 course). You must be comfortable on single black diamond runs inbounds and some off-piste ski/riding skills.
Gear needed: AT or Telemark Skis or Splitboard with skins that fit [can be rented from Ski Tak Hut), Avalanche Gear (3-antenna beacon, shovel and probe, can be rented from ACCVI – gear@accvi.ca)
Max participants: 16 participants (must be members of the ACC, preference given to Vancouver Island section members)