Intro to backcountry skiing

Have you mastered resort skiing and are ready to venture beyond the boundary ropes? Or maybe you’re a confident hiker and snow camper with some ski experience, looking to learn the specifics of travelling outside the resort on skis? Then this trip is for you!

We’ll be heading up to Mt Stirling camping at Bluff Spur Hut (most likely) for a jam-packed weekend focused on essential backcountry skills. The current date is tentative depending on early season snow conditions.

We’ll aim to cover the following areas, with flexibility to dive into other topics as well:

Trip Planning

Using MSC reports & weather forecasting tools

Backcountry Companion

Using the Club Skis

Skinning technique

Transitions (uphill/downhill)

Ski mode & risers

Snow Camping

Choosing a camp spot

Snow platform and tent setup

Basic Avalanche Theory

Identifying avalanche terrain (slope angles, terrain traps)

Risk assessment using the Avaluator

Avalanche Kit

How beacons, probes, and shovels work

Group beacon check

Mock search & rescue

Requirements

You must already know how to ski. It doesn’t need to be advanced, but you should be able to confidently control your speed and direction. Please let us know your ability level using this guide.