Backcountry Touring Skills 2


		Guided Trips to the Sierra Nevada & Worldwide!

The beginning of a 5,000 foot run somewhere in the Eastern Sierra, accessed in one day.

Backcountry Touring Skills 2

Access more of the goods! This 2-day course is designed for the skier with the knowledge and experience to go to the backcountry already, but is ready to take the next step toward increasing safety, efficiency, and enjoyment of all aspects of ski touring. This course ties in well after an AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course and builds upon those skills in natural progression. We focus on terrain analysis and selection, tour planning, avalanche hazard management, movement skills, and tour leadership skills. By the end of this course you should feel confident to lead complex tours beyond the normal roadside attractions in good style and with maximum safety and enjoyment.

Trip Itinerary | Prerequisites | Additional Information

TRIP ITINERARY: Backcountry Touring Skills 2
Pre-Trip	Your SMG ski guide will contact members of the group prior to the course to introduce themselves and discuss meeting logistics. You will be responsible for planning an appropriate tour with guidelines to be announced.
DAY 1	Meet your guide early in the morning for a tour. This tour and instruction will focus on complex routefinding, tracksetting, uphill ski techniques, backcountry descent techniques, avalanche hazard management, decision making, terrain selection, use of group travel techniques, tour leadership, and self-debriefing.
DAY 2	The second day will be a more challenging one with more complex decision making and application of new techniques. We address the use of ski crampons, various transitions, uphill climbing techniques for steeper terrain, and increasing overall safety and efficiency in the mountains.

Prerequisites:

AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course, or equivalent
Advanced-expert downhill skiing skills
Ability to control speed and execute fall-line turns in control and comfort in difficult snow conditions (deep powder, heavy and/or moist snow, breakable crust, firm or icy, etc.)
Ability to execute hop turns on 40 degree+, firm slopes, coming to a complete and immediate stop at the finish of each turn
Ability to sideslip forward and backward, with edge control, on steep (45 degrees), firm slopes
Multiple ski tours in the backcountry using ski touring equipment (boots, bindings, skins, transceiver, shovel, probe, etc.)
Ability to make uphill facing kick-turns in an uphill track on a slope
Very good fitness

Additional Information

Scheduled Trip Cost: $295 per person

Trip Cost Inclusions: