Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Course

Everett Backcountry Ski Course - “Exploring the Cascades” The course offers a great introduction to safely meeting the challenges of travelling the in the Cascadian backcountry on snow.

This course is designed for AT/Randonee skiers, splitboarders, and telemarkers with an intermediate skill level or better. A prerequisite for the course is having completed an AIARE or AAA Level 1 course within the last 3 years. You need to show your completion certificate at the first ski course lecture. The course teaches winter camping, emergency shelters, winter navigation and tour planning. We will teach you skills to set you on the way to becoming a competent backcountry winter traveler with the decision making knowledge and preparation to safely venture beyond the boundaries of the ski area and into the world of untracked lines.

The field trips are tours where we will "put it all together".  Students will plan where we go (tour planning) and they will make observations and decisions  on how to travel uphill and downhill (route finding/group decision making). Each student has to be a vocal member of the decision making process. Every student will practice their avalanche and touring skills in the backcountry while also receiving coaching and feedback. The tour locations will depend on the avalanche hazard and group desires.

This class will consist of 3 lectures and 3 ski tours, including one overnight ski tour with snow cave camping.

The classroom lectures will be in a meeting room at Snohomish Co PUD in Everett at 2320 California St, Everett, WA 98201. Please bring pen and paper for taking notes. Equipment will be discussed at the first lecture.  Shovels, probes, avalanche transceivers and either backcountry skis or splitboards are required for field trips.