Intro to Backcountry Splitboarding

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 Classroom in Canmore.

• Course introduction and briefing
• Splitboard setup and equipment checks  
• Avalanche safety gear overview  
• Clothing and layering systems  
• Weather and avalanche forecast discussion  
• Trip logistics and participant questions 

This session helps participants become familiar with their equipment and reduces delays during the field days. 

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

Splitboarding Foundations. Focus areas include: 

• Splitboard equipment setup and use  
• Skinning fundamentals and uphill travel  
• Efficient transitions  
• Kick turn progression  
• Introductory avalanche terrain awareness  
• Companion rescue basics  
• Riding technique in powder and variable snow  

This day emphasizes movement skills, efficiency, and confidence-building in simple backcountry terrain. 

Day 3: 7:30 am, backcountry tour, meet at our classroom.

Backcountry Touring Skills. This day focuses on applying skills in a real touring environment. 

Topics include: 

• Route selection and terrain management  
• Advanced skinning efficiency  
• Group communication and pacing  
• Decision-making in avalanche terrain  
• Transition refinement  
• Riding more complex snow and terrain  

Participants complete a guided backcountry tour while continuing to build independence and confidence. 

This program is not a replacement for an Avalanche Skills Training (AST 1) course but serves as an excellent introduction to backcountry travel and splitboarding safety. 

Join us for an additional day of backcountry splitboarding following the course.  Sign up for our ‘Plus Day’ add-on option where you’ll get the opportunity to get out for another backcountry tour 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 classroom. The Yamnuska classroom is located at 100, 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

To help keep prices affordable, participants are responsible for their own transportation, as well as providing transportation for their guide during the program. If renting a vehicle, we recommend requesting one equipped for winter driving conditions, including winter tires.

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, splitboard, touring boots, poles, climbing skins, and daypack. If you have your own personal avalanche safety equipment, it is great to bring this along 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!

Equipment List

You need to bring:

• Splitboard
• Climbing skins ‘Stick-on type’
• Ski Poles
• Touring boots 
• Helmet (optional)
• Daypack (large enough for spare clothes, lunch & equipment – all content should fit inside a 40-50L pack)
• Sunglasses and ski goggles
• Thermos and water bottle.
• Sunblock and Lip Cream
• Multi tool
• Headlamp with fresh batteries
• Small Blister and Personal First-Aid Kit
• Hand Sanitizer
• Small repair kit for bindings, splitboard (this may include straps, nuts, bolts, small leatherman) (optional)

Additional gear info:

• Splitboard: If you are a snowboarder, the backcountry touring equivalent is a splitboard—a snowboard that separates into two ski-like halves for uphill travel and reassembles for the descent. Like touring skis, splitboards use climbing skins for ascending, and the bindings switch between touring and riding modes. If you’re new to splitboarding, spend some time practicing transitions between touring and riding modes before your course. Efficient transitions will make your day smoother and more enjoyable. Most splitboarders use regular snowboard boots, though splitboard-specific boots can provide greater comfort while touring and improved support when traversing or sidehilling.
• 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

• Alpha SV Jacket (Men’s & Women’s)
• Rush Jacket (Men’s & Women’s)
• Rush Bib Pant (Men’s & Women’s)
• Atom Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Atom SL Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Cerium Down Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Nuclei Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)

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

Splitboard packages can be rented from:

• Canmore: Gear Up – (403 678-1636)

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.

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.