Intermediate Backcountry Skiing & Riding
Intermediate Backcountry Skiing & Riding
Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding
Intermediate Group Lesson
Intermediate Backcountry Skiing/Riding & AIARE Prep is a one-day course that builds your physical and intellectual backcountry knowledge so you can get the most out of your avalanche education and backcountry tour. During your intermediate group lesson, you will develop more advanced skinning, transition, and downhill techniques and be introduced to essential trip planning and navigation tools, weather observations, and avalanche forecasts. Enjoy a longer tour with multiple aspects. You’ll leave this course feeling confident in your backcountry skiing/riding abilities and prepared to take a Group Tour or AIARE 1.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Navigation Trip Planning Basics - Practice basic route finding using paper maps and digital aids and how to read weather and avalanche forecasts; recognise avalanche terrain on a map and in the field by measuring slope angles
Departure Check - student led transceiver check before departing the trailhead
Uphill Travel - Learn how to break trail and set a good skintrack; introduction to kick turns
Transitions - improve efficiency when switching from tour mode to downhill
Downhill Travel - how to ski as a group, stack tracks, and communicate effectively including practice using radios
Course Details
PREREQUISITES . . .
This course is ideal for intermediate backcountry skiers and riders looking to improve their physical efficiency or those wanting to brush up on navigation tools, weather observations, and avalanche forecasting, after an AIARE course
Participants are expected to be proficient in skiing or riding on blue/black terrain and should have prior experience on off-trail ungroomed terrain within resort boundaries
Ideally, students joining this course should have approximately 5-15+ days of backcountry experience
Skiers and riders should be familiar with their gear, know basic skinning techniques, and comfortably backcountry ski or splitboard
EQUIPMENT NEEDED . . .
Alpine Touring Setup (Available for Rent), Splitboard (Available for Rent)
Avalanche Gear: Beacon, Shovel, Probe (Available for Rent)
A more detailed list of what you need will be sent with your reservation confirmation email
LOGISTICS . . .
Full-Day of Instruction
Days consist of both classroom and field practicum
You will meet your guide at The Trailhead gear store located in downtown Buena Vista, 402 East Main Street
Check out our Local Lodging Partners; your confirmation email will contain discount codes for the lodging partners indicated
Max CLIENT TO GUIDE RATIO . . .
4 Clients : 1 Instructor
