Intro Ski Touring Course
Weekend (fri-sun)

Would you like to do more ski touring on your own, but do not know where to begin?

Join a social weekend with practical learning in the mountains!

Aims and content

Through close guidance, you and the rest of the group will be planning and carrying out ski touring trips at a basic level. You will gain experience in planning trips based on current snow and avalanche conditions, making safe route assessments in the terrain, and finding good snow.

We plan every the trip carefully the day before, linking theory to practice and the specific trip.
Both Saturday and Sunday we head out on day tours, where we hold learning conversations and demonstrations, and you will be given specific tasks and exercises along the way.

Active participation, practical learning, and positive ski touring experiences will be the main goals of the weekend.

Topics:

Trip planning
You will get to practice how to use avalance and weather forecasts, maps and other tools and methods, to plan safe and good route alternatives, and assess different conditions and factors.

How to use your ski and avalanche equipment
You will learn how to use your avalanche beacon, and other avalanche and ski touring equipment of yours.
We will also do an avalanche exercise, with search and rescue.

Skiing techniques
You can get tips and feedback regarding skiing technique
Terrain management
What is avalanche terrain, and how can I avoid it?
How to assess steepness and different terrain formations
Terrain traps and supportive terrain
Routefinding on skis in the mountains

Snow
Alarm signals
Main snow types and qualities
Characteristics of weak layers in the snowpack
Brief assessment of snow stability

Weather
Alarm signals
Positive and negative weather development according to avalanche risk
How to adapt the trip to the weather

The human factor
How can different goals and expectations, roles, health, mental shortcuts, and other human factors, influence decisions and choices during a trip?
We will practice routines to create good communication and group dynamics.

Practical information

Participants: 4–8
Price per person: 3399 NOK

Program:
Friday evening: Welcome! Get to know each other, and trip planning
Saturday: Day trip + trip planning in the evening
Sunday: Day trip
Destination/area: Sogndal or Tromsø, depending on registrations
Accommodation and transport: Participants must arrange their own accommodation and transport. However, we're happy to help!
Equipment: An equipment list will be sent by email upon registration