Introduction to Alpine Touring Ski Trips at Stevens Pass, WA

Just bought your first AT setup? Considering getting into Backcountry Skiing, but not real sure what the proper steps are? Our introduction to alpine ski touring course is designed to allow people to experience what is involved in a short backcountry ski tour. Although suitable for those with some ski touring experience, this course is designed for people who what to work on skills such as: getting in and out of alpine touring bindings (including both the Dynafit style and Fritsche systems), use of climbing skins, dressing for uphill and downhill travel, following in a skin track, setting a skin track, completing a full function beacon check at the trailhead, safe travel review for avalanche terrain, and equipment packing and selection for ski touring.

When coupled with one of our beacon clinics you can get a good introduction to what goes into ski touring. If you already own ski touring equipment, this course will give you a chance to take your gear outside of a ski area (we call this "off piste) so that you can start to get a feel for what will be required in terms of avalanche training, fitness, and practice before you can feel comfortable backcountry skiing on your own. If you do not already own equipment you can generally rent the skis, boots, and poles and we can loan you a beacon, shovel, and probe so that you can decide if you like touring enough to justify the expense of your own equipment. Leavenworth Mountain Sports, in partnership with the Northwest Mountain School, has a demo program where you can rent and demo alpine touring skis, boots, and bindings.

It should be noted that this is not an avalanche awareness course. We will be at times talking about snow conditions and general avalanche concerns, but will not have time to go into avalanche training in much detail. Participants are encouraged to also plan to eventually take an AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course as part of the educational process leading to being a competent alpine ski tour participant.

Itinerary

We meet in the parking lot of the Stevens Pass Overflow parking are at Yodelin promptly at 8:30 am and tour until about 1:30 pm. Please do not park on the North side of the highway in the Yodelin housing development or your car will be ticketed or towed. You will want to arrive by about 8:00 am to get a parking spot and have time to get dressed and organized for your tour. The actual tour will take place across highway 2 near Lichtenberg Mountain in excellent backcountry ski terrain.