Learning to Backcountry Ski
As many of the scheduled openings for the ski resorts in the Rockies approach, you may be thinking about learning to Backcountry Ski. This incredible sport takes your on-piste resort skills and opens up a whole new world of terrain. Although your resort skiing skills will help you make the transition to backcountry skiing, there are enough differences to make an introductory course well worthwhile.
Ski touring boots and bindings are the first obvious differences as well as the use of ‘skins’ to walk uphill. Learning the subtleties of set up and use are critical to enjoying your backcountry skiing experience. There is also a difference between skiing groomed runs and untracked lines – again technique is everything and will mean the difference between falling down every turn or truly enjoying a fresh powder run.
Like all of our Intro courses, Intro to Backcountry Skiing is a low commitment weekend course that gives you a first taste of getting out there on touring gear and finding great ski runs. Our certified guides will show you everything you need to get started and take you out to a few classic spots in Banff and Kananaskis.
As always, before venturing out into the Backcountry, we recommend formal avalanche training. It isn’t a prerequisite for our course but it is invaluable training if you spend any amount of time in the backcountry.
Don’t forget we also do Private Guiding days where you can get individual instruction or have one of our guides take you out for an unforgettable skiing experience. This is very popular for people who are staying in Banff or Canmore to ski the local resorts but want to really experience what Rockies powder is all about.
Now bring on the snow!
