Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding

There is a definite difference between resort skiing and backcountry skiing. To maximize the field time, we meet you on the evening of Day 1 at our office to discuss gear and start our course overview. This saves time on the following day so we can head straight to the mountains.

Sample Course Agenda & Curriculum

Day 1: 6:30 pm, meet at Yamnuska Office in Canmore.

• Course introduction and briefing
• Gear for backcountry skiing and splitboarding (lecture and discussion)
• Safety in the backcountry (lecture and discussion)
• Planning a backcountry ski trip (lecture and discussion)
• Review Saturday’s field trip (map, weather, avalanche conditions)
• Gear check

Day 2: 7:30 am, field day, meet at our office.

• Avalanche beacon practice and check
• Companion rescue practice
• Equipment familiarization
• Trail breaking and track setting
• Uphill turns
• Ski touring techniques
• Return to Canmore
• Plan ski tour for Sunday

Day 3: 7:30 am, ski tour, meet at our office.

• Participants will carry out the ski tour they planned the previous evening with the coaching and supervision from their instructors
• Finish tour by 4:00 pm
• Wrap up the course, return to Canmore

Join us for an additional day of backcountry skiing and splitboarding every day following our Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding course.  Sign up for our ‘Plus Day’ add-on option where you’ll get the opportunity to get out for another backcountry ski and put into practice all of the skills you’ve acquired.  (Must be 18 years of age or older unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.)

Meeting Time and Place

The course begins on Day 1 at 6:30 pm at the Yamnuska office. The Yamnuska office is located at 200, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore. See this map for location.

Guides and Group Size

Our instructors are certified professional ski guides who are licensed to teach and guide in the backcountry. There will be a maximum of 8 participants per guide and a maximum of 16 participants on the course. There will be a minimum of 4 participants in this program.

Transportation

Participants are responsible for their own transport to Canmore, Alberta which is a one-hour (100km) drive west of Calgary. Guests are responsible for their own transportation during the program.

Park Passes

Please note that program venues may be within National Parks and/or Kananaskis Country. For programs where transportation is not provided by Yamnuska/Canadian Rockies Hiking by Yamnuska, guests will be required to purchase their own pass.

National Park passes are available both online at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/admission and in-person at National park gates and some information centres.

Kananaskis Country conservation passes are available online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx

Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation in Canmore 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.

Food is not supplied. Each day bring plenty to drink and lunch plus energy snacks. We particularly suggest bringing a Thermos and hot drink.

Equipment and Clothing

You will need to bring your own clothing, alpine touring skis, alpine touring boots, poles, climbing skins, and daypack. If you have your own personal avalanche safety equipment, it is great to bring this along as well as some beacons have different features which we can explain during the avalanche practice sessions. However, we will provide you with avalanche safety equipment if you do not have your own.

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 you are unsure about anything please don’t hesitate to call and ask us!

Skis & Splitboards

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

Splitboard – Snowboards can be used on this program, however, a splitboard is required.

Equipment List

You need to bring:

• Skis with alpine touring bindings or 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/Board boots (Alpine touring boots)
• Ski Helmet (optional)
• Daypack (large enough for spare clothes, lunch & equipment – all content should fit inside a 40-50L pack)
• Sunglasses and ski goggles
• Thermos flask and water bottle.
• Sunblock and Lip Cream
• Pocket knife
• Headlamp with fresh batteries
• Small Blister and Personal First-Aid Kit
• Hand Sanitizer
• Small repair kit for bindings, skis or splitboard (this may include straps, nuts, bolts, small leatherman) (optional)

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.

Clothing List

We suggest bringing light clothing of varying thicknesses that can be ‘layered’ to achieve comfort and versatility. The most important consideration for clothing is the ability to regulate temperature as you change from periods of activity to periods of rest and from the ascent to the descent.

• Long underwear top and bottoms (lightweight synthetic or wool)
• Warm pants (nylon blend, 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
• Waterproof ski mountaineering gloves or mitts
• Sun hat
• Face Mask

Optional Equipment

Yamnuska supplies but feel free to bring:

• Avalanche transceiver – digital transceiver with a triple antennae
• Collapsible avalanche probe
• Avalanche shovel: Collapsible metal shovel designed for companion rescue
• Snow study kit

Rental Information

Skis, Boots, Skins and Poles can be rented from:

• Canmore: Gear Up – (403 678-1636)
• Calgary: M.E.C. – 830-10 Ave. S.W. Calgary (Tel: 403 363-0122)
• Lake Louise: Wilson Mountain Sports  – (1-866-929-3636)

*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 full payment on booking.

We ask that you familiarize yourself with our 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.

There are two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We offer our guests coverage for both and highly recommend you purchase it.

Emergency Medical Expenses Insurance:

It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Obtain extra coverage if necessary. There is no charge for rescue in the national and provincial parks, however, costs such as air or ground transportation, long-term care, and other services are not covered.

Cancellation/Trip 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.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend the Simpson Group. This agency offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical, and Personal Effect Loss for Canadian Travelers.

Please note that this coverage is for Canadian residents only. For guests who are not from Canada and who are interested in the ‘Visitors to Canada’ insurance package please contact the Simpson Group directly at JSimpson@simpson-group.com and reference your Yamnuska Mountain Adventure trip.