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New Zealand Snow Safety Institute

Back Country Skills Course for Skiers and Snowboarders

TempleBasin.com

5-day Back Country Skills for Skiers and Snowboarders

 

Course Objectives:
This course is designed for skiers and snowboarders who wish to develop experience and technical expertise in the back county.

Some aspects of the course will be optional, but it will be possible for you to learn essential survival skills, spend a night in a snow cave, learn what to do when travelling on ridges and glaciers, avalanche awareness and many other skills for skiers and boarders wanting to go back country. We aim to provide you with a five-day course that will allow you to safely explore the mountains off the beaten trail.


Course content:

  • Equipment selection and its proper use
  • Ice axe and crampon use
  • Avalanche awareness, weather, route selection
  • Ropes, knots and belays
  • Bomb proof anchors in various snow conditions
  • Abseiling
  • Basic safety skills
  • Winter survival and snow shelters
  • Navigation
  • Touring the back country
  • Glacier travel

Equipment you are required to bring:

  • Suitable big backpack
  • Waterproof and windproof trousers and jacket
  • Plastic or solid leather tramping boots (spare footwear, trainers etc for lodge.
  • Gaiters
  • Layers of thermal clothing (polypropylene, Polar fleece, down or wool)
  • Hat, gloves – more than one pair
  • Goggles/glasses and sun cream & lip salve
  • Sleeping bag
  • Map and compass
  • Gas stove between 2 people, plate, cup and cutlery for overnight expiation in snow cave
  • Snow shoes or touring bindings
  • Ice axe & crampons
  • Personal first aid kit
  • Torch, spare bulbs and batteries
  • Notebook and pencil
  • Drink bottle, personal toiletries, towel, and clothes, for use at lodge.
  • Transceiver, snow shovel & probe
  • Helmet
  • Personal climbing gear – harness, rope, 4 screwgate karabiners, 4 snap link karabiners, 1 stake, 2 long slings, 1 very long sling, 1 short prussic, 1 long prussic, 1 belay device and any climbing gear that you may already have.

Desirable items to bring:

  • Ice hammer
  • Camera and film
  • Bivi bag
  • Alpine Tent

Participants should be over 18 years of age, fit and competent skiers or snowboarders capable of walking up hills in the snow. If you have some pre-existing condition about which the instructor should be aware in an emergency, it is your responsibility to communicate this. Information such as this will be kept completely confidential.