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Intermediate Backcountry Ski & Splitboard Tour – New Hampshire

$295

Location - New Hampshire

Dates
January 19, 2022 - January 22, 2022 February 3, 2022 - February 6, 2022

Overview

You’ve started touring in the backcountry, taken your Avalanche Level 1, Rescue Course , or been on a Beginner Backcountry Ski Tour with us before and you’re ready to expand your knowledge and experience.  Come ask questions, gain more experience, study the snowpack – all with a professional guide! This intermediate backcountry ski tour is designed to refresh your skills, and practice effective techniques with experienced backcountry ski mentors. Plus learn new updates in avalanche safety curriculum, technology, and case studies. Leave this course feeling refreshed, prepared for the backcountry ski season, and gain confidence in your backcountry skiing decision making all while connecting with a group of women who are as keen on backcountry skiing as you are!

The course starts with a review of major avalanche components for assessing stability, snowpack, weather, and terrain choices. We’ll do a quick gear check, and plan our tour based on the forecast.

We’ll be out touring and skiing in the backcountry all day! We’ll make avalanche hazard observations, travel on terrain suitable to the conditions and the group, review field stability tests and companion rescue techniques, and work on good communication strategies in the field. Bring your updated knowledge back to your ski partners, and be an awesome asset to your backcountry ski group this winter!

Duration: 1 Online Evening Session, 1 Full Tour Day
Activity Level:  Moderate
Required Skill Level: You must have taken a Beginner Backcountry Tour or AIARE Level 1 before, and be comfortable descending ungroomed black terrain at the resort. Your skiing doesn’t have to be fast or look pretty, but we do need everyone to be comfortable skiing and riding in control and avoiding obstacles on the descent. You must also be able to hike several miles and comfortable spending time outside in inclement winter weather.

Course Dates:

Jan 19th Evening Online Session and Jan 22nd Field Day

Feb 3rd Evening Online Session and Feb 6th Field Day

beginner backcountry ski new hampshire
Cait Bourgault
Women's New Mexico Ski
women's backcountry touring class
Cait Bourgault
Vail All Women's AIARE 1

About the Intermediate Backcountry Ski & Splitboard Tour

Schedule

Online Classroom Session

5:00pm - 7:00pm

We’ll meet for an online learning session with your instructor.  Review the avalanche bulletin, discuss tour plan options, what to pack, and where to meet. Ask questions that you have been wondering since your Beginner Tour or Level 1 and elevate your backcountry learning curve!

All Day Field Day

8:00am - 3:00pm

Intermediate Backcountry Ski Tour

At the trailhead, learn more tips about how to use you ski bindings and skins efficiently. Ski together at a casual, comfortable pace. Ask your instructors about their route-finding techniques, discuss avalanche terrain, and discuss the snowpack. Practice finding the best snow, angles, and aspects and enjoy some well-deserved downhill.

What to Expect

  • Practice using backcountry gear effectively
  • Refresh avalanche hazard awareness & decision making
  • Comfortable and fun learning atmosphere
  • Attentive, experienced, & professionally-certified instructors
  • Engaging online classroom and field session
  • Appropriate and applicable avalanche safety knowledge
  • Edifying practical experience to build confidence
  • Joyful self-empowerment regarding safe backcountry travel & decision-making
  • A great course to ask more questions since your Level 1 or Beginner Tour
  • We’ll be skiing downhill on ungroomed snow. Must be comfortable avoiding unmarked obstacles and skiing in control on uneven snow.  Your skiing doesn’t need to look good, but we do want you to have downhill skiing skills and survival ski skills (side slipping, wedging, traversing, etc.)

Gear Needed

  • Backcountry skis or splitboard
  • Ski poles
  • Ski or snowboard boots
  • Climbing skins
  • Avalanche beacon, avalanche probe, avalanche shovel in good working order
  • Backpack/daypack
  • Outerwear and warm layers (hand warmers can be nice)
  • Appropriate food & drink for the day

Please bring your own AT or splitboard set up. If needed Backcountry Babes offers a beacon, shovel, probe and Osprey backpack package for rent on a first-come, first-serve basis which you can reserve at checkout. For your convenience, your instructors will bring it to the field day for you.

– AT ski rental kits and Beacon/Shovel/Probe kits are available to rent from Northeast Mountaineering. Pick up and drop off your rental gear at their shop at 1054 Pinkham Notch Road, Glen, NH. Contact Corey at [email protected] to make arrangements and be sure to mention that you’re in a Backcountry Babes course.

– AT skis, splitboards, and Beacon/Shovel/Probe kits are all available to rent from Ski The Whites. Pickup and drop off your rental gear at their shop at 211 Main Street, Jackson, NH. Contact Andrew at 603-383-3142 to make arrangements and be sure to mention that you’re in a Backcountry Babes course.

Field Time

Classroom Time

Getting There

DRIVE: All potential touring locations are in and around the Mount Washington Valley but are subject to change based on weather and conditions.  Your instructor(s) will update you with location information during your evening online session.

Backcountry Babes is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. Backcountry Babes operates under special use permit from the USDA Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest Ranger District.

Instructors

Intermediate Backcountry Ski & Splitboard Tour – New Hampshire

Abby King

Intermediate Backcountry Ski & Splitboard Tour – New Hampshire

Kate Moynihan

Testimonials

“Abby was an amazing instructor. She was incredibly supportive, encouraging, experienced, and kind. She has a wealth of knowledge and clearly loves backcountry skiing.”

StudentBeginner Backcountry Ski Tour, NH

“I’ve always wanted to backcountry ski but had trouble committing because of lack of confidence and hesitance to invest in the equipment if I didn’t know how to use it/if I would like it. This course not only enabled me to experience a taste of backcountry skiing and necessary safety precautions, it also gave me the confidence I needed to finally dive into the sport!”

Laura N., Dedham, MABeginner Backcountry Ski Tour, NH

“The course was beneficial in that it provided me with preliminary information on how to use my tools (beacon, prove, shovel) as well as providing me with resources for backcountry safety! The course was also super empowering being with all women. Abby was great at cultivating a fun, engaging, and inclusive environment.”

Marla F.Watertown, MA

“The beginner backcountry ski tour was beneficial in so many ways: getting more time on the mountain uphill with new gear, and being able to ask lots of obvious and non obvious questions in a really chill, educational and fun environment. Abby also offered a lot of content I wouldn’t have thought to ask, and it was all super fun and non-competitive. Great prep for my Avi 1 the following weekend. I learned a lot and had a great time. Layering and packing education was key, as well as getting a start on understanding planning and research so I can start to know how to get out on my own.”

Julianne G., Scituate, MABeginner Backcountry Ski Tour, NH

“The venue of an all female instruction and clientele was integral to my being comfortable at a level that allowed me to participate fully, which left me feeling exuberant and confident. I don’t think it is easy to impart both a sense of confident determination and wary consideration, yet that’s what I came away with from your course. Thank you for your vision and follow through. I believe you have a terrific product. I’ll certainly be recommending Backcountry Babes to any who’ll listen.”

ClaudinBackcountry Basics 101

“Everyone in the clinic was just raving about their experience and that it was the best intro avalanche course they had ever taken. I would agree!”

Kolleen D.Backcountry Basics 101

“There is an incredibly positive and high energy stoke level of the female-empowered AND co-ed classroom environment. It is cool to hear our students discuss the value of the learning environment–enjoying growth through our women’s empowerment focus and recognizing the reality that future teamwork will consist of co-ed teams in the backcountry.”

Anne St. ClairLead Instructor

“This co-ed setup is so cool, as it allows couples to take an AIARE class together in a stigma-free environment where both partners can feel empowered instead of the “token” female among males or vice versa taking an avalanche course. It really flows well with what AIARE tries to accomplish and I think everyone in the group really enjoyed this format and how well the group dynamics worked.”

Mike BortnowskiAIARE Avalanche Level 1 Instructor