Event Details

Webinars (2) via Zoom

Field day in-person, locations TBD. Common spots include Allenspark, RMNP, Butler Gulch.

There are identical 3 sessions of this School for the 2021/2022 season:

• Session A (Jan 19-29)
• Session B (Feb 2-12)
• Session C (Feb 16-26)

Optional: Virtual Gear Talk/Info sessions on November 16, 2021 and December 7, 2021. We will be talking logistics of the course, selection of gear for the sport, and answering overall questions about the upcoming season! Join us for a fun, virtual event!​

Prerequisite: The only prerequisite is the ability to confidently ski black runs at a resort. You can expect highly variable snow conditions and unanticipated features in the backcountry, that is why it is required to be able to ride confidently and in control in expert terrain. We also highly encourage anyone who goes through the course to take an AIARE Level 1 immediately following the course.

For questions about the course, prerequitites, riding ability, etc., contact Kahle Toothill, ktoothill@gmail.com and Derek Sakamoto, dmsakamoto@gmail.com.

For general questions about registration and payment contact office@cmc.org.

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 19, 6:00pm:  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 26, 6:00pm: 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 29, 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. 

**After registering, all students are required to fill out this pre-course survey. This helps instructors gauge which field day groups you will be in. Factors such as mode of travel (ski, split), skill level and carpooling preferences will be considered.**

We will be complying with CMC's COVID-19 protocol, as found on our website (https://www.cmc.org/COVID-19andCMCProgramming.aspx). The following guidelines will be followed during our courses:

1. Social distancing measures will be followed throughout the duration of the course, meaning a distance of 6 feet or greater will be kept at all times. This is easy to do outside with skis on.
2. A mask will be required and worn at all times by students and instructors during the course when 6ft cannot be maintained.
3. Our field day group sizes will be approximately 8 students and 3 instructors.
4. Every participant is required to sign our updated liability waiver: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5ad11e69247c3/web/.