Learn how to safely enjoy blissful backcountry skiing. This Backcountry Ski Course will give you a primer on everything you need to have a great day of touring, including the best gear to bring and how to use it, safety and risk considerations for weather, terrain, avalanches and more, and an introduction to FACETS and ALPTRUTH. We’ll spend one day in the classroom getting to know one another and covering backcountry foundations and your choice of one or two days in the backcountry practicing essential skills and enjoying prime powder!
Skills Covered During Backcountry Skiing Course:
- Gear selection and use
- Avalanche awareness, scenarios, and hazards
- NWAC and Weather Service use
- ALPTRUTH
- FACETS
- Planning for a successful touring day
- Avalanche beacon checks and use
- Companion rescue demonstration and practice
- Setting skin tracks
- Moving through avalanche terrain
- Safely skiing downhill in a group
- And more!
Duration
One classroom day and one OR two day-trip field days.Passport
Not RequiredMinimum Age
13 years oldActivity
Backcountry skiing skills, safety, and methodsAccommodation
None
- Classroom instruction
- Guide service for day trips
- Field instruction
- Permits
- Discounted rentals

- Transportation
- Lunches/snacks
- Gratuities for guides
- Meet the instructors and fellow students
- Gear - What’s needed for a day of touring
- Overview of potential avalanche scenarios and hazards
- Introduction to NWAC and other weather services
- Introduction to ALPTRUTH
- Introduction to FACETS
- Planning for a good ski day
- Outline of Field Day (Course Day 2)
- Introduction to gear use (skis, skins, tour mode, ski mode, etc.)
- Introduction to beacon checks
- Companion rescue demonstration and practice
- Skiing!
- Debrief and return to vehicles
- Ski touring!
- Learn how to set an appropriate skin track
- Intro to moving safely through avalanche terrain
- Learn methods for skiing downhill in a group
- Debrief and return to vehicles
Final location will depend on snow conditions and directions will be provided closer to the course date. We can either meet at a Park & Ride in the Seattle area or meet at the trailhead at a designated time.
A complete packing list will be provided at the classroom session.
You will be required to have the following, most of which we can rent to you for additional fees:
- Ski jacket & pants
- Wool or synthetic (no cotton) clothing layers
- Ski boots
- Skis