5 Day Ski Touring Camp

A five-day ski touring skills course for people who want to build independence in ski touring, off-piste skiing and practical avalanche awareness. Experience: this course is open to beginner and intermediate ski tourers who are confident skiing off-piste in variable snow. Participants should be able to ski moderate off-piste terrain in variable snow without falling too often. A typical participant skis all pisted terrain to some extent and enjoys skiing the side of the piste, but may not have much experience in deep powder. Fitness: participants should be comfortable with around 1,000 m of ascent per day. This level of fitness usually means 2 to 3 hours of aerobic exercise or sport per week, and enough endurance to stay active for several hours at a time, for example a 3 to 4 hour walk, a 50-65km cycle or a 2 to 3 hour mountain-bike ride, at a steady pace without excessive fatigue. You should also be able to sustain activity on consecutive days: a full day of off-piste skiing, or around two hours of uphill skinning with enough energy left to keep performing well, repeated over several days without a rest day. Learning is a focus throughout the week, but each day is practical and built around a ski touring journey. You'll learn and practise skills in real mountain situations, get plenty of good skiing, and sharpen your technique for the season ahead. By the end of the week you should have more confidence in planning a tour, making decisions in the mountains, managing avalanche risk, and looking after yourself and your group.

• ski touring equipment

• avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, shovel and probe)

• appropriate clothing

Day 1: Getting Started * Planning a tour using the weather forecast and avalanche bulletin * Introduction to avalanche awareness and avoidance * Essential ski touring and safety equipment * What to pack for a day in the mountains, and how to pack efficiently * Checking and preparing your equipment before setting off * Core skills and a refresher of the basics * Skinning technique * Making kick turns more efficient * Introduction to safe travel and group procedures Day 2: Avalanche Awareness & Rescue * Planning a day tour * Developing avalanche awareness and practical decision making * Understanding terrain and how it affects avalanche risk * Identifying appropriate safety equipment and knowing how to use it * Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe: setup, checks and practical use * Avalanche rescue procedures and companion rescue * Organising and carrying out a rescue in a structured way * Practising rescue skills in realistic situations * Putting the skills into practice during a ski touring journey Day 3: Navigation & Mountain Skills * Navigation techniques * Route finding and planning * Practical decision making in the mountains * Using an ice axe and crampons * Moving safely through more technical terrain * Developing confidence and independence Days 4 & 5: The Two-Day Journey * Planning the route and the day * Checking weather and avalanche information * Navigation * Avalanche awareness and terrain assessment * Decision making * Managing equipment and transitions * Packing and preparation for an overnight tour * Group safety and communication * Rescue procedures and what to do in an emergency * Developing independence throughout the journey