Washington Alpine ClubBackcountry Travel Class
A six-week course in safe winter backcountry travel for skiers and splitboarders, taught by Washington Alpine Club volunteers.
The Washington Alpine Club's Backcountry Travel Class teaches skiers and splitboarders to move safely into, through, and out of the winter backcountry. Six weeks, taught by volunteers who ski here every season.
What the six weeks look like
- 5 in-person lectures: Decision Making + Risk Management, Mountain Weather, Mapping Tools + Navigation, End-to-End Trip Planning, and Spring Skiing + Hut / International Trips
- 3 weekend tours: in the Cascades, all within a 2.5 hour drive of Seattle, plus a backup weekend held in reserve. We try to dedicate one tour to overnight snow camping in the backcountry (dependent on weather and conditions)
- 1 Cabin Weekend: overnighter at the Washington Alpine Club's Guye Cabin, with deep dives on avalanche companion rescue, uphill movement, transitions, snow shelters, and navigation, with the option to sleep out in the snow
There is a Meet and Greet event, event prior to first in-person lecture where you'll meet your instructors and fellow students, and pick up learning materials.
Before you apply
- Who: alpine touring skiers and splitboarders 18 and older. Class size is 18 students.
- Prerequisites: AIARE Level 1, or an equivalent introductory avalanche course, taken within the last five years. This isn't an entry-level avalanche class; we build on that foundation rather than repeat it.
- Ability: you need to already ski or splitboard. This course teaches backcountry travel, not skiing or riding. See skiing and riding ability for what that means in practice.
- Cost: $600 plus sales tax, and a $40 annual WAC membership. Two Access Scholarships are available.
- Equipment: you bring your own. Read the gear list before applying: outfitting yourself is the largest hidden cost of the class.
Taught by volunteers
Our instructors are Washington Alpine Club members, most of whom took this class themselves and came back to teach it, alongside guides, Mountain Rescue and ski patrol members, and NWAC affiliates. We bring in industry professionals to lecture on avalanche safety, meteorology, and tour planning. A lot of students stay involved with the club long after the class ends.
Teach with us
If you have (at least) an AIARE 1, have backcountry, patrol, or guiding experience, have taken first aid training, and are interested in teaching new generations of backcountry folks, reach out to us.
Questions
Email us at wac-bc-chairs@googlegroups.com.