Ski and Snowboard Mountaineering

         Ski & Snowboard Mountaineering Course (SSM) 2015/2016

This course is designed for those skiers and boarders who are proficient on Alpine, Telemark, Randonee or Snowboard equipment, who are in good physical condition, and who want to improve their knowledge, skill and safety when entering the realm of the winter alpine. Completion of this course prepares you to safely ski and snowboard in most backcountry destinations and when coupled with our Glacier Travel Course gets you ready to, as an example, climb and snowboard off Mt. Baker.

         The course consists of seven evening lectures on Mercer Island  and three field days.  Backcountry Equipment, Emergency Bivy and Equipment Repair ,Winter Mountain Weather,  Intermediate Winter Navigation Winter Health and Safety, , Emergency Evacuation and Winter Camping. There is a one day Basic Maneuvers FT to get used to that new equipment  and a weekend Overnight FT On Rainier which includes building snow shelters and emphasis on safe route finding and touring. (schedule below)         

.        To Participate in this course you must :

1. Have taken a Basic Navigation course or study for and complete an equivalency test prior to the Nav lecture on Jan.5

2. Have taken or  be enrolled in an AIARE Level One avalanche course.  Students who enroll in the Foothills offering will receive a fifty dollar discount for bundling the two courses together,  Students must have this certification prior to the Overnight FT  

      To graduate from this course you must :

1. Attend all lectures

2. Complete  a Glacier Travel ,Crevasse Rescue Course or have had that training through basic climbing

3. Complete a Wilderness First Aid Course

4. Complete three M-level tours, one of which is an overnight (not the overnight ft)   

              Required Equipment :

              Required equipment includes metal edged skis and climbing skins or snowboard with workable uphill climbing system (skins, approach skis or snowshoes), shovel, avalanche probe and 457 kHz avalanche transceiver.

                  Fees/Contact: 

 The course fee for members is $150 if combined with Foothills AIARE l-1, $200 if not  ...  $250 for non-members.  Enrollment is limited to 30 students. For more information visit : www.FoothillsWinter.org or call Jerry White (206) 769-5319 or e-mail him at ssm@foothillswinter.org  

                  SSM  schedule  2015/2016

• Dec 1 - Intro/Backcountry Equipment    7 to 9pm  MICC
• Dec 8 - Emergency Bivy and Repairs     7 to 9pm  MICC
• Dec 15 - Winter Weather / Digital Trip Planning 7 to 9pm  MICC
• Jan 5 - Intermediate  Winter Navigation Lecture 7 to 9pm  MICC 
• Jan 16- Basic Maneuvers FT   8:00am to 4:00 pm 
• Jan 26 –Snow Camping lecture    7 to 9pm  MICC                               
• Feb 2  - Winter Health and Safety 7 to 9pm  MICC                         
• Feb 9 -  Emergency Evacuation 7 to 9pm  MICC                               
• Mar 19 , 20- Overnight  FT Snow Camping / Touring  8am Sat to 4PmSunMt.Rainier