Backcountry BasicsSM

Students Per Instructor: 1, 2 or 3
Course Length: 2 Days (approx. 8 hours per day)
Seasons Offered: Winter
Alpine Mastery Method: Ski Mastery - Level I
Prerequisites: Ability to ski “more difficult” trails at nordic ski center

Course Summary: This course is an introduction to nordic skiing in the backcountry.

Reservations

Course Description:
If you are able to ski the “more difficult” trails at most nordic ski centers you’ll enjoy this two-day introduction to the world of backcountry skiing.

We start out by discussing the various types of equipment and clothing suitable for the backcountry and then we’re off for a tour. We’ll work on your stride, aiming for efficiency, not speed, and your climbing technique, again looking for maximum return for minimum effort. Without resorting to advanced turns we will show you a few tricks to help you control your speed and direction on the downhill sections.

The second day’s tour will be longer and we’ll place particular emphasis on maintaining control while skiing downhill on the narrow winding trails common to the East’s forested mountains. You can expect to learn the “power wedge” for speed control and the telemark position for fore and aft stability.

Suggested Reading: Free-Heel Skiing: Telemark and Parallel Techniques For All Conditions, Mountaineers Outdoor Expert Series, 2001.

Scheduled Dates:
2012 (Saturday & Sunday)
February 11-12
March 3-4

Reservations