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Seattle MAC - NIKO Course Field Day

Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club

Seattle MAC - NIKO Course Field Day - Alpental Ski Area

Field day for the NIKO Course. Exact Location is "Beacon Meadows". It's where the groomed cat track crosses the river near the base of Alpental Ski Area. You must be registered for all 5 classroom sessions in order to join in this activity. There is no credit for partial completion. See leader's notes for details.

Contacts

Placeholder Contact Profile
Zach Jaffe
Primary Leader
Qualified Youth Leader
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 6.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 2,300 ft

Our group will meet at the Source Lake trailhead, near the base of Alpental Ski area. The upper lot closest to the TH is usually reserved for season pass holders on weekends. Plan to park at a lower lot and walk to trail head from your parking spot. This location is subject to change if conditions drastically change. 

The exact location of where we will be  conducting class is called Beacon Meadows. This is a quick jaunt to where the cat track crosses the river. ~20 minute walk from trail head. We are not going to the Beacon Park, which is out of order. 

Trip Sheet

Weather

Carpool

The NIKO Course is a teen-centric winter backcountry preparedness course that will teach students to approach backcountry recreation in the winter with a risk-management, critical thinking based mindset. Students will learn how to communicate and work as a team, how to evaluate the danger of avalanche terrain, and how to make good decisions in the backcountry. This is not a substitute for an AIARE L1 course and students interested in backcountry skiing outside of MAC should additionally consider complementing an AIARE L1 course, and/or AIARE Avalanche Rescue course.  

See the NIKO Foundation FB page for more info about the course and foundation: https://www.facebook.com/NIKOFoundation 

  • PREREQUISITES: At least 2 years of in-bounds skiing experience and ability to ski black diamond runs (not necessarily in good style) in any conditions. You must be able to get down the hill and "survival ski".  

  • You must participate in all classes as well as the field day in order to complete this course. Successful completion of this course is a prerequisite for joining backcountry skiing trips in MAC.

  • Students should bring note-taking materials and be sure they are on time.

Badges

students will earn:

Route/Place

Alpental Ski Area


  • Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass No. 207
    Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass Gateway No. 207S
    USGS Snoqualmie Pass
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

See trip sheet for details. 

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