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| Length - 2 days |
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| Cost - $450 ($650 if 1:1) |
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| Max Ratio - 4:1 |
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| Capacity - 8 |
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Location
Sierra Nevada, CA |
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| Previous alpine (downhill) skiing experience |
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Backcountry Skiing - Sierra |
Introduction
An AAI group skiing into the Rock Creek drainage with Bear Creek Spire behind. Dylan Taylor
The Sierra Nevada Range is a virtual alpine playground in every season. As with most mountain ranges, the locals eagerly anticipate the end of the busy summer season and the start of the quieter winter season. The Sierra gets a healthy dumping of snow, but that isn't what makes it unique. The chance to complete long alpine traverses, ascents, and descents under blue skies is what brings backcountry skiers back to the high mountains of the Sierra year after year.
The storms in the Sierra tend to come and go quickly, leaving miles and miles of light powder and clear skies in their wake. The terrain in the Sierra, dramatic rides and steep couloirs, couldn't be more suited for ski mountaineering and backcountry skiing at all levels.
AAI's Winter Comprehensive Progression
This backcountry skiing program may be combined with our winter mountaineering program and our waterfall ice climbing programs, also held in the Sierra Nevada, CA. When taken together, or pieced together over a season or two, these programs combine to make up our "winter comprehensive curriculum." Here are the links to the other other two program in this progression:
- Winter Mountaineering (Sierra, CA)
- Waterfall Ice Climbing (Sierra, CA)
This backcountry skiing program may be taught at three levels, Intro, Intermediate, and Advanced. The first skiers to enroll in a given date determine the level that the program. Outside of our scheduled dates, course and climbs may be schedule by private arrangement as well.
Looking for the "drop in," Eastern Sierra. Dylan Taylor
Course Goals and Curriculum
At the intro level, this course is aimed at developing the hard skills and techniques associated with uphill and downhill travel on alpine touring and telemark gear. Additionally, traveling in the mountains, especially in winter, requires knowledge of route finding, decision making, terrain and snow assessment, and avalanche rescue skills.
Specifically, in each of our courses, we seek to help you develop a good working knowledge of:
- Ski touring gear, selection and application
- Transceivers and avalanche equipment, selection and application
- Skiing technique
- Terrain analysis for uphill and downhill track laying
- Navigation including, GPS, map, and compass
- Tour planning
- We will also help refine personal backcountry skiing skills based on the needs and desire of the participants.
Other Backcountry Skiing Programs
We also hold backcountry skiing programs at all levels in the Cascades of Washington State and in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
- Intro to Backcountry Skiing (Cascades, WA)
- Ski Mountaineering Instruction, Ascents & Descents
- Intro to Backcountry Skiing (Ouray, CO)
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Follow Up Programs
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| 3-Day Glacier Skills and Crevasse Rescue Course |
| 3 days |
Beginner |
Mt. Baker, North Cascades (WA) |
May - September |
| If you lack glacier skills or if you are "rusty" with them, or if you plan to climb a glaciated peak and your team needs a refresher, completing this three-day program is the quick and dirty answer. |
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| Alpinism 1 - Intro |
| 6 Days |
Beginner |
North Cascades, WA |
May - September |
| Spend one day on rock and five on the glaciers of Mt. Baker to acquire a full range of mountaineering techniques that will make you a skilled climber capable of making ascents of alpine routes of intermediate difficulty. Climb Mt. Baker. |
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| Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington |
| 1 Day and Up |
Beginner to Advanced |
Washington |
December - May |
| Join an expert ski guide on an ascent of one of Washington's volcanoes, or take a ski tour in the North Cascades. These private courses are open to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, depending on the tour. |
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| Ski Mountaineering |
| 6 day ski mountaineering clinic |
Intermediate |
North Cascades, WA |
March - June |
| Develop the good judgment and technical skills required for skiing on complex glaciers, while doing some of the best skiing available in the lower 48 states. |
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| Ski the Alps - Haute Route |
| 8 days |
Intermediate |
Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland |
April - May |
| Our high route through the heart of the Alps is among the most scenic alpine tours in the world. We combine safety and avalanche training with glacier skiing techniques on this incredible ski traverse. |
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American Alpine Institute (AAI) |
1515 12th Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
info@aai.cc |
© 2011 American Alpine Institute, Ltd. All Rights Reserved
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