Intro to Ski Mountaineering

Course Agenda

Note: From Day 2 the course agenda and the amount of time spent on each subject will depend upon conditions in the program area, the weather, group and individual abilities and learning speeds.

Day 1: We meet at the Yamnuska Classroom in Canmore, Alberta at 7:00 am for introductions, a review of course goals and itinerary and an equipment check. Then we drive an hour and a half north to Bow Lake, our start point. After an avalanche safety session, we commence the climb to Bow Hut, which is located at 7700 ft. on a shoulder adjacent to the base of the Bow Glacier; this will take us between 3 and 5 hours. We cross frozen Bow Lake then ski up the canyon which leads to the amphitheatre below Mounts Olive and St. Nicholas. After a final steep section, we reach the welcome warmth of this spacious cabin. En route, we get a real taste of route finding in avalanche terrain. We ski 6 km and climb 2000 ft.

Day 2 – 5: Bow Hut is our base for the week. Its proximity to the glacier and to several peaks makes it easy for us to get out on to suitable instruction terrain every day. It’s a perfect area for ski mountaineering instruction. We may do a tour to one of the other huts in the region where we can spend a night or two. Peaks often climbed on the course include Mt. Olive (10,200 ft.), Mt. Gordon (10,000 ft.) and Mt. Rhonda (10,000 ft.). Our focus is on giving you the skills required for ski mountaineering and all associated components…and to climb some peaks!

Day 6: Final day. We ski back down to Bow Lake and return to Canmore in the late afternoon.

Curriculum

There is considerable flexibility built into the delivery of this course, no course is exactly the same. Snow and weather conditions will dictate the order of presentation to some degree. Key topics will be constantly revisited during the program.

What You’ll Learn:

• Avalanche awareness emphasizing hazard recognition, route finding and emergency procedures.
• Winter medical issues and emergency response.
• Trip planning.
• Equipment for ski mountaineering.
• Glacier travel and crevasse rescue.
• Snow Shelters.
• Mountain weather.
• Navigation and route planning.
• Decision-making processes.
• Ski techniques for powder and wind slabs.
• Track setting.
• Ski tours! There are lots of great day climbs and tours in addition to possible overnight trips between huts. You just happen to be learning these skills in a terrific ski mountaineering area. You will find yourself in the lead, solving route finding problems and using new skills to face the challenges of successful tours and the rewards of great ski descents!

Meeting Time and Place

The course begins at the Yamnuska classroom at 7:00 am on the first day. The Yamnuska classroom is located at 100, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore, Alberta. See this map for location.

Location

The course is based out of Bow Hut on the Wapta Icefields just north of Lake Louise (90km from Canmore). This area of vast Icefields and glaciated peaks is perfect for instruction with a really good hut system.

Guides and Group Size

Your instructors are certified by the internationally recognized Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and licensed by Parks Canada. There will be a maximum of 6 participants per instructor, a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 on the course.

Transportation

Participants are responsible for their own transport to Canmore which is a 1hour (100km) drive west of Calgary. We provide transportation from our office in Canmore to the trailhead at Bow Lake.

Banff Airporter is the best way to get between Calgary Airport and Canmore/Banff. When you book with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures you will receive a 15% discount on Banff Airporter Scheduled Services.

You should plan to arrive in Canmore the day before the course (see “accommodation” below”)

Accommodation and Meals

During the course, we stay in alpine huts operated by the Alpine Club of Canada. Sleeping areas are communal and facilities basic. We cook on propane stoves and melt snow to get water for drinking, cooking and washing.

All meals, snacks, and drinks are supplied from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 6. Mountain meals are made from nutritious, healthy ingredients and are cooked and dehydrated in our own kitchen by our chef. For guests with dietary restrictions, we are able to modify the program food pack to meet your individual needs.  As food pricing and preparation for these diets is more costly, there is a surcharge.  Our kitchen staff will assess your restrictions to inform you if the diet can be accommodated and what surcharge would apply. Vegetarian meals will not be surcharged.

Please let us know the details by filling out a Food Questionnaire when you sign up for the program.

Accommodation in Canmore before and after the program is not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in both Canmore and Banff. We recommend that you book your own pre and post-trip accommodations well in advance as all levels of accommodations in the Bow Valley fill quickly.

Equipment and Clothing

You will need to bring your own clothing, skis, poles, climbing skins, avalanche equipment, backpack and sleeping bag. We have many of these items available to rent and if not can pre-arrange them for you. We supply group safety items (ropes, harnesses, crevasse rescue gear etc).

You will be able to leave excess gear in Canmore whilst on the course.

The equipment and clothing you bring will have a big impact on the quality of your experience. Please be sure to bring all the items listed.  If unsure about anything please don’t hesitate to call and ask us!

Skis

Alpine Touring skis are essentially downhill skis with a special touring binding which allows the heel to lift when going uphill or across the flats and then locks down to become a regular downhill safety binding. We recommend this system to anyone with a background in downhill skiing.

Snowboards can be used on this program however, due to the number of flat areas you are better off on skis. If ‘boarding’ you need to be an advanced backcountry boarder and you need to be on a splitboard.

Skis, boots, poles, and boards can be rented in Calgary and Canmore prior to the trip.

Equipment List

You need to bring:

• Skis / Splitboard We recommend a short (160 – 185cm) wide ski designed for powder. Please see the note under rental information if you are renting ski equipment.
• Climbing skins ‘Stick-on type’
• Ski Poles
• Ski Boots
• Avalanche Transceiver – digital transceiver with a triple antenna*
• Collapsible Avalanche Probe*
• Avalanche Shovel (lightweight collapsible metal shovel designed for companion rescue)*
• Backpack (at least 75L, large enough for a sleeping bag, spare clothes, and your share of group food & equipment)*
• Daypack* (30-40 litres), (optional)
• Compass, we recommend Silva ‘Ranger’ model.
• Sunglasses and ski goggles
• Water bottle (at least 1-litre capacity) and a Thermos for Hot Drinks is optional
• Sunblock and lip cream.
• Pocket knife
• Sleeping Bag must be warm as some huts are unheated. We recommend at least a ‘3-season’ bag. Expect hut temperatures to below freezing overnight. Make sure you bring a stuff sac that will reduce your bag to its minimum size (i.e. one with compression straps) so you don’t use up all the room in your pack.*
• Headlamp with fresh batteries
• Small Blister and Personal First-Aid Kit (‘moleskin’, plasters and Tylenol are enough)
• Camera
• Personal toiletries including hand sanitizer (keep to a bare minimum)
• Ear Plugs for dorm sleeping (optional)
• Insulated Booties or Hut Slippers
• Small repair kit for bindings, skis or splitboard (this may include straps, nuts, bolts, and small leatherman)

*Rentals Available for these Items

Additional gear info:

• Skis/splitboard:  There are two viable backcountry systems, Alpine Touring and Splitboard.
• Alpine Touring:  Essentially downhill skis with a special touring binding which allows the heel to lift when going uphill and then locks down to become an alpine binding for the downhill.
• Splitboard: If you are a rider and proficient on a snowboard, the backcountry touring version is called a splitboard. This is a snowboard that can be split to make two ski-type platforms for touring on the uphill ascent. The bindings have two positions and can be switched depending on whether you are climbing or descending. Split boards also use climbing skins for the ascent. For the downhill, the board is reassembled or joined to be in snowboard (ride) mode. If you are new to this system, you will need to practice the transitions of switching the board from touring to riding and back again. Your enjoyment will be vastly greater if you are efficient and practiced with this transition. For splitboarders, regular snowboard boots will work. A splitboard specific boot will give you more comfort when in touring mode and offer extra support to make sidehilling and traversing terrain easier to manage.
• Boots:  Backcountry boots are different from regular alpine ski boots. In the backcountry, boots need to have an uphill mode that allows a free range of motion in the upper part of the boot. You should not use your regular ski boots for touring and walking uphill.
• Climbing skins:  The glue on the base of the skin should be in good condition and the skins need to be properly fitted. Try the skins on your skis/splitboard to make sure they are the right length and width before you arrive.
• Ski poles:  Backcountry poles need powder baskets on the tips.
• Avalanche Transceiver:  A three antennae transceiver is required.
• Probe:  A minimum of 240 cm in length.
• Shovel:  A metal blade shovel is required.

Optional Equipment

Yamnuska supplies but feel free to bring anyway:

• Sit Harness with Adjustable Leg Loops
• Crevasse rescue gear

Clothing List

We suggest layers of light, easily carried clothing that allows for fast and easy adjustment to best suit fast-changing temperature conditions.  Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.  Feel free to call us if you have any questions about what to bring.

• Long underwear top and bottoms (light weight synthetic or wool)
• Warm pants (pref. insulated or fleece)
• Warm shirt (synthetic or wool)
• Medium weight fleece sweater.
• Fleece Jacket
• Light insulated jacket or vest
• Waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or nylon)
• Waterproof pants (Gore-Tex or nylon, with side zippers)
• Socks – ski socks (wool or synthetic), several sets
• Wool or fleece hat that covers your ears.
• Waterproof ski mountaineering gloves or mitts.
• Neck tube
• Sunhat

Rental Information

Skis, Boots, Skins & poles can be rented from:

• Canmore: Gear Up – (403 678-1636)
• Lake Louise: Wilson Mountain Sports  – (1-866-929-3636)

Yamnuska has avalanche equipment, sleeping bags, and backpacks for rent.  Rental Gear

*Please note that your ‘DIN’ or ‘Release Value’ settings on your ski bindings are critical to your safety while skiing.  Our expectation is that everyone arrives on programs with their ski binding’s release value correctly set. We have noted that some ski rental shops will not set release values on touring bindings. We advise you to rent from a shop that will set release values on your ski touring bindings unless you are proficient and comfortable setting your own DIN/release value. Failure to have Release Values correctly set could result in a serious injury.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require a 35% deposit at the time of booking.  The final payment is due eight weeks before the start of the program.

Detailed booking instructions and conditions.

Risk is an inherent part of all mountain activities. We strive to manage and reduce it however, it is impossible to totally eliminate. Learn more about our safety and risk management approach here.  Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Please view our sample waiver copy.

The Simpson Group offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical, and Personal Effect Loss for both Canadian and International Travelers. Other providers offer similar services and we encourage you to select an appropriate level of coverage. We highly recommend purchasing this insurance to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. The two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider are Medical and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

Insurance Risk 
One of the ways to mitigate risk is by purchasing appropriate insurance. Simpson Group Insurance Services who are travel & health risk specialists, work with technical and high-risk insurance solutions both in medical and non-medical spheres.  We highly recommend that you review your insurance needs to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Simpson Group have a team standing by to answer any of your questions.

Emergency Medical Evacuation
While there is typically no charge for search & rescue in the National and Provincial Parks for active pass holders, costs such as air & ground ambulance after the rescue are not covered by your park pass. The chance of a large bill associated with this risk is a real possibility.

For Canadians
A common myth is that healthcare across provinces is fully covered. There are many things which do not carry interprovincial agreements. Ambulance services, medical evacuation, and some services which one province charges more than another you’d be responsible to pay the difference.

For Internationals
A common myth is that healthcare in Canada is free. Although it is less expensive than US healthcare, charges for non-residents can still be very high. Proper medical health insurance is essential if you were to get injured. Most coverages exclude rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, backcountry skiing and the like. Simpson Group can make sure all those risks are well covered.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
We recognize that our guests’ schedules may change for many reasons, business, family, flight delays, injuries, and other unplanned events.  For these eventualities, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment. We can assure you that circumstances do arise that prevent guests from participating in trips or courses and trip cancellation & interruption insurance is a relatively easy way to manage your level of risk of unforeseen events.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend Simpson Group Insurance Services.  For more information and to purchase a plan, visit Simpson Group’s website.