Curriculum

This course builds on essential backcountry touring skills, including gear use, navigation, advanced track setting, and tour planning. Instructors also help refine skiing technique and bring extensive experience from the Cascades and beyond, with AIARE certifications and professional avalanche training.

Students Will Learn:

  • Refinement of their touring skills
  • Skiing and boarding technique
  • Terrain analysis for the uphill and downhill track laying
  • Use of a map and compass
  • Tour planning for more complex terrain

 

Details

Prerequisites

  • Ability to manage transitions on backcountry skis or a splitboard without coaching.
  • Ability to ski double black diamond runs inbounds.
  • Familiarity with avalanche rescue techniques.
  • Ability to skin uphill for in excess of one hour at a time without a break, and for several hours a day with breaks.

​Avalanche Gear

The AAI Equipment Shop rents avalanche gear, including beacons, probes, and shovels.  We also have backcountry skis and boots, splitboards for rent.  We also carry packs and ski poles for rent.  See AAI rental pricing sheet.