Intro to Backcountry Skiing Course (1 day)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The goal of this one day course is to build proficiency in the art of ski touring techniques, including equipment selection and gear management, uphill and downhill movement skills, basic terrain selection, navigation, and decision making.

Using Hurricane Ridge as our classroom, we’ll set off on a day tour and practice a variety of skills along the way. Our goal will be to make multiple transitions between uphill and downhill mode, and travel through as much different terrain as possible. High on our list of priorities will be finding good skiing – the reward for our efforts!

SKILLS COVERED:

• Equipment selection
• Gear management
• Uphill movement skills: Track setting, rounded, AVA, and kick turns
• Downhill movement skills
• Transitions
• Terrain management
• Decision making

If you’re interested in a more in-depth course that takes place over two days, check out our Ski Touring Skills Course.

We meet at the Olympic National Park Visitor’s Center in Port Angeles for introductions and car pooling arrangements. Once up at Hurricane Ridge, the skills progression begins with topics including packing for a tour, basic companion rescue, and the trailhead 3-fuction check.

The zone we choose for this tour will depend on snow and weather conditions. As we set off we’ll focus our attention on uphill movement skills, perfecting the motion of skinning, setting a track, and making various turns including the much revered kick turn.

As we arrive at the top of a pitch we’ll transition to downhill mode, discussing various methods of terrain management and group management as we go.

After a few laps and full day of touring, we’ll return to our vehicles and head back down the road. This is an addicting sport – generally within 10 minutes of taking our boots off we’re already planning our next tour!

Need rental gear? Items with the RENT link are available through us. Information on where to rent other equipment (such as AT or tele gear) is available on our Rental Gear page.

SKI EQUIPMENT
☐ Skis with touring bindings – AT, tele, or splitboard: Your setup needs to be suitable for uphill touring and downhill skiing/riding.
☐ Boots: AT, tele or snowboard boots.
☐ Poles: Adjustable poles with powder baskets (ex: Black Diamond Traverse).
☐ Climbing skins: Fit to skis (ex: Black Diamond Mohair Mix).

AVALANCHE SAFETY GEAR
☐ Transceiver: Modern, single frequency [457 khz] transceiver, preferably less than five years old. A digital 3-antennae model is highly recommended (ex: BCA Tracker 2, Mammut Pulse Barryvox, Peips DSP). RENT
☐ Shovel: Lightweight avalanche shovel. A metal blade and extendable handle are recommended (ex: G3 Avitech, BCA Companion EXT). RENT
☐ Probe: Dedicated probe, ski pole probes are not sufficient. RENT
☐ Day pack: 30 to 40 liters, should have some sort of ski attachment system (A-frame, vertical, diagonal, etc).

UPPER BODY
There are many possible layering combinations for your upper body. Use the following recommendations as guidelines:
☐ Baselayer top: Light to medium weight synthetic fabric (ex: First Ascent Midweight 1/4-Zip Baselayer).
☐ Lightweight insulating layer: Light fleece or synthetic layer (ex: First Ascent Sandstone Hoodie or Hangfire Hoodie).
☐ Softshell or shell jacket with hood: For wind, snow, rain, cold, etc (ex: First Ascent Frontpoint 2.0 Jacket).
☐ Puffy (insulated) jacket: Synthetic or down with a hood (ex: First Ascent Ignitor Jacket).

LOWER BODY
☐ Baselayer bottoms: Medium weight (ex: First Ascent Midweight Baselayer Pants).
☐ Ski touring pants: Softshell pants work best in all but the wettest conditions. If you own a pair of hardshell pants, it’s not a bad idea to bring them along as a backup you can leave in the car (ex: First Ascent Grand Tour Pants)
☐ Socks: Wool or synthetic, they should work well with your ski boots. Keep in mind that warmth comes from good circulation, not heavy socks. Your ski boot liners provide plenty of insulation.

HEAD
☐ Sunglasses (ex: Julbo Dolgan)
☐ Goggles (ex: Julbo Around Excel or Down)
☐ Warm hat
☐ Sun hat: Baseball cap, visor, etc – Weather dependent.
☐ Face protection: Buff® recommended.

HANDS
☐ Light glove (ex: First Ascent Wind Pro Gloves 2.0)
☐ Ski glove (ex: First Ascent Guide Gloves 2.0)

MISCELLANEOUS
☐ Sunscreen
☐ Lip balm
☐ Water bottles(s) or hydration system
☐ Thermos (optional)
☐ Lunch food
☐ Camera
☐ Watch (optional)
☐ Notebook & pencil (optional)

OPTIONAL ITEMS
The following gear is not required for this course, however if you have any of the following items please bring them.
☐ Airbag pack RENT
☐ Avalung
☐ Snow saw
☐ Snow study kit
☐ Ski strap
☐ Repair kit: We suggest carrying a small repair kit with items specific to your ski or splitboard equipment. Extra binding parts (including mounting screws), an extra tip loop for your skins, an extra pole basket, etc. Other great MacGyver items are bailing wire, zip ties, and duct tape.
☐ Wax: For skis and to prevent snow from glomming onto your skins.

• No previous experience is required for this course.
• Intermediate skiing or riding ability is required.

FITNESS

• Good physical fitness is required for this course.

OTHER

• Participants should be prepared to spend full days in winter weather conditions.

• Guiding & instruction
• Group equipment
• Permit and insurance costs

NOT INCLUDED

• Food, lodging & transportation

WHERE TO MEET

Olympic National Park Visitor’s Center, in Port Angeles, WA.

TRAVEL

Flights

Option A: Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. From here the drive to Port Angeles takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Option B: Fly into Port Angeles. Kenmore Air flies daily from Sea-Tac and is an Alaska Airlines partner (domestic flights can be booked with Port Angeles as the destination).

Car Rental

Many options exist in Sea-Tac. There’s also a Budget Rent-A-Car in Port Angeles.

Shuttle Services

• Olympic Bus Lines offers twice daily shuttles from Sea-Tac to Port Angeles.
• Rocket Transportation offers door to door service between Sea-Tac and Port Angeles by reservation.

ACCOMODATIONS

Many options exist in Port Angeles including hotels, bed & breakfasts, and hostels.

• Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce
• ToadLily House International Hostel

RESOURCES

Check out our Weather & Avalanche Resources page.

Books

• Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper.
• Backcountry Skiing: Skills for Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering by Martin Volkin, Scott Schell, and Margaret Wheeler.