Field trip: Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding
Intro to BC Ski/Split Session A – Course Venue TBA
There are identical 2 sessions of this School for the 2025 season - this is Session A.
Contacts
- Wed, Jan 15, 2025 — Sun, Jan 26, 2025
- CMC State
- Backcountry Skiing/Splitboarding
- Adults
- Moderate
- Mileage: 6.0
- Elevation Gain: 1,500 ft
- 19 (24 capacity)
- 23 (24 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
TBA - Options include Berthoud Pass, Butler Gulch and RMNP. Students will be assigned a location based on proximity and travel mode.
Session A
o Lectures Wednesday January 15 and 22, 6-8pm
o Field Day Sunday January 26
The Intro Backcountry Ski and Splitboarding School is designed to provide Intro-level and basic backcountry skiing/splitboarding skills for the Colorado backcountry, including trip planning, gear selection, and navigation/location selection. The school is open to:
- new backcountry skiers coming from the resort who may or may not have some aspirations to continue into ski mountaineering, but are definitely interested in some meadow skipping, and
- current backcountry skiers who want to develop skills and learn in a more professional setting and meet new ski partners.
Session A Course Outline:
Wednesday, January 22, 6:00-8:00 pm: Lecture 1: Equipment and Trip Preparation
- Gear to bring
- Equipment being used: skis, skins, poles, beacon, shovel, probe, etc.
- How to use it
- How to dress
- What to bring vs. what to leave at home
- How to pack
- Nutrition/fuel for the day
- Decision Making
- Transitions
- Things to expect on a trip
- On snow evaluation of conditions - constant monitoring on this trip and throughout the season
Wednesday, January 25, 6:00 - 8:00 pm: Lecture 2: Planning and Fitness
- Planning a reasonable trip based on:
- Team
- Objectives (tour distance, downhill route, laps, etc.)
- AVALANCHE FORECAST & Weather
- Fitness & Skiing ability
- Access
- Backup plan!
- Break into groups to plan Field Day 2 with a trip leader: location, education expansion, route, condition report
Saturday, January 26, 7:00am: Field Day (location TBD)
- Trip led by CMC instructors, but with heavy input from group
- Focus on decision making, route finding skills, snow assessment by students
- Practice pacing, skin track maintenance, uphill route selection/downhill selection
- Group communication
- Transition practice
- Location will be selected during Lecture 2 in the group breakout. Location will be based on snowpack, avalanche forecast and weather.
Required Equipment
EQUIPMENT
The CMC does not provide any equipment to students for the course, and the list of equipment is extensive. Beyond all necessary clothing, layers, outerwear, and pack, students need the following equipment:
SKI AND SNOWBOARD EQUIPMENT
- Skis with pin, frame, or hybrid bindings and compatible ski boots
- Splitboards with appropriate bindings
- Climbing skins fitted to skis/snowboards
- Ski poles (for both skiers and snowboarders)
AVALANCHE SAFETY EQUIPMENT
- Beacon
- Shovel
- Probe
Discounts and rentals are available through our donors and sponsors. Instructors may also help direct students on rentals at other local shops. Please expect around $100 additional expense for renting the gear you need. While skiing and snowboarding are expensive sports, we do our best to make sure this class is accessible as possible.