Washington's Mt. Baker wilderness offers plenty of varied and beautiful backcountry skiing. This area is frequently blessed with ample snow (the Mt. Baker Ski Area holds the world record for snowfall!), and continues to provide both pristine skiing as well as a perfect classroom setting.

We offer two introductory backcountry skiing programs - one for intermediate and advanced in-bounds skiers, and another for beginning skiers.

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Backcountry skiing for intermediate and advanced skiers
Backcountry skiing for beginner skiers

A skier in the North Cascades. Andy Bourne

"One run in the backcountry is worth ten in the front country." This is so commonly said that it has become a cliché . . . and, yet, it's true. Come and join us on our 2-day clinic designed to give you the basics for venturing beyond the constraints of the ski area and into the backcountry, where the real freedom of skiing begins.

2008-2009 Dates:

• December 6 - 7, 2008
• December 15 - 16, 2008
• December 27 - 28, 2008
• January 5 - 6, 2009
• January 10 - 11, 2009
• January 24 - 25, 2009
• February 9 - 10, 2009
• February 14 - 15, 2009
• February 28 - March 1, 2009
• March 9 - 10, 2009
• March 21 - 22, 2009

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - We begin at Heather Meadows Lodge at the Mount Baker ski area. We start with introducing avalanche beacons, shovels and probes by practicing their proper storage, function and use. We will also learn about basic backcountry equipment such as skins, bindings, etc. With this knowledge we begin our first tour moving slowly as to introduce many of the fundamental concepts such as terrain selection and evaluation, track setting, route finding, proper use of ski touring equipment and safety.

Day 2 -We will meet in the ski lodge and introduce navigational equipment covering the skills required for a tour plan. We then head to the backcountry where we will cover more terrain and have the opportunity for down hill track setting and safe efficient group movement. We will introduce navigational skills and continue to review and fine-tune all of the skills while receiving hands-on coaching and feedback.

A skier skins uphill in the Mt. Baker backcountry. Scott Schumann

This 5-day course is designed for those that have no to very little skiing experience and want to learn how to ski in order to go directly into the backcountry.

2008-2009 Dates:

• February 4 - 8, 2009
• March 14 - 18, 2009

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Beginning lessons at the Mt. Baker Ski area.

Day 2 - Beginning lessons at the Mt. Baker Ski area.

Day 3 - We begin at the Heather Meadows Lodge at the Mt. Baker ski area. We start with introducing avalanche beacons, shovels and probes by practicing their proper storage, function and use. We will also learn about basic backcountry equipment such as skins, bindings, etc. With this knowledge we begin our first tour moving slowly as to introduce many of the fundamental concepts such as terrain selection and evaluation, track setting, route finding, proper use of ski touring equipment and safety.

Day 4 - We will meet in the ski lodge and introduce navigational equipment covering the skills required for a tour plan. We then head to the backcountry where we will cover more terrain and have the opportunity for down hill track setting and safe efficient group movement. We will introduce navigational skills and continue to review and fine-tune all of the skills up to this point.

Day 5 - On this final day students have the opportunity to create their own tour plan and practice making decisions. This is the student’s chance to embody all of the skills that they learned while receiving hands on coaching and feedback.

In each of our courses, we seek to help you develop a good working knowledge of:

• Ski touring gear
• Transceivers and avalanche equipment
• Skiing technique
• Terrain analysis for uphill and downhill track laying
• Use of map and compass
• Tour planning
• We will also help refine personal backcountry skiing skills

All course leaders have extensive experience with ski instruction, rescue, and backcountry site analysis in the Cascades and other ranges. They are all AIARE Avalanche Level 1 and 2 certified, and many are avalanche instructors.

A splitboarder (a backcountry snowboarder) reaps the rewards of her uphill effort. Andy Bourne