Backcountry skiing and alpine safety training at Hotham

Hey weekend warrior, 

Love the snow but outgrowing crowded groomers? Want to ski in the backcountry like a legend? 

I have a trip for you!

We will be taking a weekender back country skiing and snow camping trip to Mount Hotham 7-9th August guided by NZMGA guide Luke Frisken who has done some epic back country skiing-- see this video of him ski mountaineering the Tasman Glacier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YFSlqGu3_Q 

This trip will be a chance for attendees to improve their backcountry skiing, navigation, and alpine backcountry safety skills. Because Luke is guiding just our group (1:6) we can decide the curriculum based on the experience of the group. This could include things like:

 - Technical skinning techniques

 - Efficient uphill movement

 - Terrain and weather assessment and interpretation

 - Steep terrain kick turns

 - Learning/practicing use of a beacon, probe and shovel 

 - self arrest (with ski poles)

 - moving safely on steep, icy and crusted slopes

 - Simulated crevasse rescue

This trip is a great chance for you to take control of your alpine skills development with friends and a very experienced mountain guide.

Cost:

Because we are hiring a guide, this trip will cost $380 per person (for 2 days of guided backcountry skiing with skills training).  

This is a 25% discount off the usual pricing for this kind of trip (normally it costs around $550 to hire a guide for a 2 day course). 

Skill level: 

To attend this trip you must:

1. Be able to confidently ski a blue run using parallel turns;

2. have camping and hiking experience and be generally self sufficient i.e. able to set up a tent (that can withstand winter conditions), bring enough food, gas, and water for yourself; and

3. have a generally good level of physical fitness; this trip involves skiing uphill with an overnight pack on.

You do not need to have an AST 1 to come on this trip

Logistics:

We will drive up Friday evening, ski and learn Saturday and Sunday, driving home Sunday evening. 

We will camp at Mt Hotham (site TBC).

I'll send out a packing list so everyone feels comfortable with what to bring.

At the Tuesday meeting we will arrange carpooling and you can hire gear; sleeping bags, boots, skis, skins ect.