Beginning Ski Mountaineering Course May 6-8 2011!

MBA has joined forces with the Montana Mountaineering Association to bring the first ever Ski Mountaineering Course to the Bell Lake Yurt! The 3 day, 2 night course will cost 500., and includes instruction, accommodations in the yurt, all meals including lunch and snacks on the hill, and all necessary climbing equipment.

Details:

Montana Mountaineering Association with Montana Backcountry Adventures
Bell Lake Yurt, Tobacco Root Mtns. May 6-8th 2011
General Objective:

•Introduce and provide participants with the skill-set needed to become competent and
self-reliant ski mountaineers by integrating technical mountaineering systems into skiing
in the spring condition setting.

Specific Objectives:
•Overview of backcountry touring gear
•Overview of avalanche transceivers and search techniques
•Avalanche hazard and terrain recognition
•Skinning technique and track setting
•Kick turning
•Route finding and selection
•Body temperature regulation
•Safe travel techniques: safe spot to safe spot, staggered start, buddy system, all at once
•Weather forecasting
•Steep skiing techniques
•Self arrest
•Booting with and without crampons
•Ascent techniques(whippet and short tool use)
•Overview of required gear for using a rope for ski descents
•Natural and Snow anchors
•Belay and rappel techniques
•Wet slide avalanche hazard recognition
Required Gear:
• Backcountry touring equipment: Randonee, Telemark, Split-Board or Snowboard
with approach skis
• Skins
• Poles
• Boots
• Avalanche transceiver
• Avalanche probe
• Shovel
• Pack
• Compass
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Headlamp
• Sunglasses
• Goggles
• Sun screen and lip balm
• Toiletries
• One liter water container
• Appropriate under, mid, and outer clothing layers for winter travel

Day by Day Objectives and Procedures:
Day One
Objectives
•Skin into Bell Lake yurt (2-3 hours)
•Introduce skiing in the technical mountain environment
Procedures
•Provide an introduction to skills and gear needed to conduct a safe and efficient ski
mountaineering objective.
•Introduce terrain navigation, reading terrain, zones of safety on ascent /descent.
•Discuss adjusting ski boots for different modes of travel: ascent and descent
•Discuss choosing an appropriate pack and how to pack it
•Discuss choosing the best layering system for body temperature regulation
•Demonstrate skinning technique and use of heel lifters
•Demonstrate efficient kick turning technique
•Discuss route finding, avalanche terrain recognition, and safe travel
Day Two
Objectives
•Build on previous skills learned
•Introduction to alpine climbing and technical skiing practices
Procedures
•Discuss the process of how a wet slide occurs and the contributing factors •Demonstrate
booting techniques and discuss how different boots react to this technique
•Discuss benefits and draw backs to using crampons
•Employ the use of crampons if it is a benefit
•Demonstrate systems for carrying skis an have students develop a system that they can
manage quickly
•Demonstrate and practice self-arrest with a ski pole and whip-it (ice axe if snowboarders
are participating)
•Employ steep skiing techniques and instruction where necessary
•Ski a bunch
•Intro to rope work, protection, and anchors.
Day Three
Objectives
• Review and more practice of techniques
• Introduce rope work and skiing exposed terrain
• Put to use learned skills in technical environment
Procedures
•Discuss various types of climbing hardware and choose what is appropriate for skiing
•Fit harnesses and teach (or review) knots and hitches
•Snow anchors for ski mountaineering
•Lowering, belay and rappelling techniques
•Utilizing snow and natural anchors, utilize a rope to safely access ski runs by either
lowering or rappelling
•Review any part of the program
•Ski Ski Ski
•Program debrief
•Ski out to trail head
•Norris!

Call us at 406 995 3880 or email blyurt@skimba.com to sign up!