Intro to Ski Touring & Splitboarding-Part II of Backcountry Education

  • 2024_25 Lecture Dates: The Thursday before the field days
  • 2024_25 Field Dates December 28-29; January 11-12, 25-26; February 8-9, 22-23; March 8-9
  • Women’s 2025 Field Dates January 11-12, 25-26; February 8-9
  • Duration: 3 Days
  • Level: Beginner
  • Client Ratio: 5:1
  • Cost:
    • $495
    • With AIARE Level 1 + – $795
    • 1 Day – $295
  • Included:1 evening lecture and field instruction and fresh tracks!
  • Not Included:Transportation to field location, transceivers, shovels, probes or touring equipment. A detailed equipment list will be sent to all participants.

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Intro to Ski Touring & Split Boarding Course will teach you to avoid another day stuck in long lift lines, paying for expensive tickets and no fresh tracks. We understand why you want and need these new skills because, years ago we too felt the pull of the mountains and powder stashes beyond the boundaries of resorts. Begin learning the basics of skinning technique, care and use of skins, kick turns, terrain management uphill & downhill, and how to find beautiful, uncrowded terrain away from the resorts!

The second most important top to learn about::Tour Planning, ‘Fortune favors the prepared’ covering the why we need to plan. The ‘how’ covers map reading, route plotting and calculating time over distance, plotting compass bearings and learning about apps that can do this for us.This course is designed for all types of backcountry travelers, snowshoers, backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and mountaineers. BCA Guides operates under special use permit from the Mt Baker/Snoqualmie & Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests.

Field Day 1
@Snoqualmie Pass, arrive 7:30 am and get ready for the day. Meet at 8:00am, perform a gear check, do introductions, and then start our tour we planned on Wed. We work on skin technique, kick turns and route finding thru avalanche terrain.

Field Day 2
We continue our education with a full day tour focusing on Terrain Management, Track Setting, and more advanced transceiver techniques. We bring all the skills together and move into Tour Planning, Map And Compass Navigation.

Touring Gear

Upper Body

Lower Body

Backpack

Miscellaneous Equipment

  • Goggles and Sunglasses 100% UV protection
  • Personal first aid kit Basics: moleskin/blister kit, Band-Aids, first-aid tape, ibuprofen, personal medications, etc.
  • Lip balm At least SPF 20,
  • Sunscreen At least SPF 40
  • Headlamp compact LED
  • 2 water bottles 1 liter wide-mouth Nalgene and 1 bottle holster, or
  • Multi-tool.
  • Bandana
  • Hand wipes
  • 1 small stainless steel thermos (Optional)
  • Lunch & snack food (no more than 2 pounds)
  • Beacon Snoqualmie Pass Guidebook and Map

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WILL MY GUIDE (OR GUIDES) BE?

We are a small company who enjoy working together in the mountains as well as highly skilled professionals who hold current Wilderness First Responder certification and are proficient in technical rescue and evacuation skills. Our guides are dedicated to the world of alpinism, many having first ascents and hold professional certifications with the AMGA in the rock, alpine, and ski disciplines. The AMGA is part of the IFMGA, which is the international body of certified mountain guides.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP MY GUIDES?

Tipping is considered standard practice in the guiding industry. Tipping amounts vary, often 10% of the course cost is a good rule-of-thumb,  so $20-30 per day per person/per guide is an average that works well for the guides without a serious blow to your wallet. If you feel that the program was exceptional or substandard the tip can reflect that.

CAN I RENT EQUIPMENT FROM BCAG?

No, we recommend renting from Cripple Creek where they have a full selection of rentals.

HOW HEAVY WILL MY PACK BE?

You will carry 10-15 pounds, which will include everything on the equipment list.

WHEN DO I NEED TO PAY THE BALANCE OF MY TRIP?
Payable when you make your reservation by check, or credit card.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY TRIP?
If you should decide to cancel your trip, BCAG must be notified in writing. Your trip will be cancelled from the date we receive written notice. You will be assessed a cancellation fee according to the following schedule:
90 to 22 days from trip departure – 50% of trip cost
30 days or less – 100% of trip cost

WHAT HAPPENS IF I WANT TO CHANGE THE DATES OF MY TRIP?
Schedule changes are subject to a $50 fee per person up to 2 weeks out and $100 less then 14 days from the start of the trip and may not be possible. If conditions or circumstances preclude running a scheduled program we reserve the right to make the decision as to whether the program will be canceled, rescheduled, or an alternative provided.

WHAT HAPPENS IF BC ADVENTURE GUIDES HAS TO CANCEL MY TRIP?
In the rare circumstance where we need to cancel a program you can reschedule without a fee or receive a refund on your deposit. If circumstances arise that force us to cancel a program that is already in progress we reserve the right to decide whether a refund or credit, at a prorated rate, will be issued. We are not responsible for cancellation fees or costs arising from your changed or cancelled flights, lodging, or other arrangements. We strongly recommend obtaining trip cancellation insurance from your travel agent.

BCAG highly encourages the purchasing of trip cancellation and travel insurance on domestic trips and requires it on international trips. Europeans and Canadians use it because travel insurance provides coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delays, medical expenses and emergency assistance. To avoid any financial hardship that an unexpected cancellation or interruption could cause,

Trip Cancellation/Interruption costs about 5% of your trip cost and it’s worth the peace of mind! If you find that you are not already covered for any of the above circumstances you have options!

BCAG has an account with Global Rescue, the world’s leading membership organization providing integrated medical, security, travel risk and crisis response services to our travelers worldwide. They can provide you with medical and evacuation coverage.

https://partner.globalrescue.com/bcadventureguides/index.html

WHEN SHOULD I PLAN TO LEAVE A RETURN HOME?
We often get this question because most people need to know how much total time they need to take off work. Our Avi and Ski Tours begin by 8 AM at the trailhead and return to the car by 3. Our return to Seattle on the last day typically allows you to get back between 5-7 with the descent and drive back.