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.

 

Course Options

Winter Backcountry Skills Part 2: Intermediate Backcountry Travel

We offer a combo course of our AIARE Avalanche Level 2, Winter Camping, and Intermediate/Advanced Backcountry Skiing/Splitboarding Course.  It’s the most well-rounded and cost-effective way to build the skills you need to confidently venture into the backcountry at a more advanced level.  To view the available dates, please visit the webpage.

Taking Winter Backcountry Skills – Part 2 as a combined program is the most efficient and cost-effective way to advance your skills. Instead of piecing together separate courses over multiple seasons, you’ll move through a curated progression with consistent instruction and a supportive peer group. This integrated approach saves you time, streamlines logistics, and ensures that each skill builds seamlessly on the last.  This will give you more confidence, experience, and value for your investment.