Backcountry Information

Backcountry Skiing / Boarding

1&2 Day Outdoor Trips

2 Day Mountaineering Course

 Skiing for Grade III Alpine Mountaineering skill track

Location: Bldg. 8050 NCO Beach Rd. JBLM North, WA

   Overview:

The MWR Alpine program is designed for DoD ID card holders, their immediate family members and no more than 3 guests per card holder.  It will provide education and leader led trips for backcountry ski/board adventures. Whether you are an expert on the resort looking for a challenge or just tired of those icy crowded groomed runs these are the trips for you.  We provide all the equipment necessary and the opportunity to learn with professional instructors.  Unfortunately the backcountry is not the place to learn how to ski or board so you must first be able to descend intermediate resort ski runs before you can participate in backcountry trips.  The ability to link turns and ski in control is mandatory and a major safety concern.  Divided into two distinct sections the backcountry program will progress participants to basic levels as an alpine touring / split boarding athlete.  This is accomplished through educational classes and a skill demonstration excursions.  The intent is to enable participants to effectively and safely pursue backcountry adventures outside the program.  Successful completion of the ski / board mountaineering course will qualify the participant for inclusion in MWR Alpine program grade III climbs.  Ski mountaineering will teach you the fundamentals to begin confidently traveling up technical ski runs on big mountains including glaciated peaks.

  Course Dates:

Basic backcountry trips are open to anyone who meets the prerequisites for ability.  Typically being able to safely descend intermediate resort runs will qualify you.  The ability to link turns in deep snow and be in control at all times is what we are looking for.  The backcountry has hazards like trees and steep drop offs that you must be able to avoid.  We provide skis or snowboards, boots, ski poles, touring skins, and avalanche equipment including air bags.

Ski/board mountaineering courses are open to those individuals who have completed the basic mountaineering level of education or demonstrated equivalent skills.  This course prepares you to ascend on skis or splitboard up technical mountains in order to ski down big mountain slopes in remote regions.  For anyone wanting to continue their climbing career up larger peaks like Denali this course is a must.  Most remote peaks require travel on skis or boards across large distances of snow where boots or snowshows present extreme difficulty.  In this course we cover basic mountain rescue skills, roped travel, steep descent techniques, and sled towing.  

   Prerequisites:

Medical Disclosure and Waiver:  All participants will complete a medical disclosure stating they understand the rigors and difficulties of the activity. 

Skiing Physical requirements: Backcountry travel requires long days of continuous physical exertion often carrying heavy loads at altitude.  This places serious demands on the body and limited physical ability endangers other climbers.  General fitness is required.

Skills Covered:	Equipment Required:
Mountaineering Equipment	Sunglasses
Climbing Knots	Clothing Appropriate for day outside
Belay Techniques	Hiking boots or shoes
Roped Travel	Day pack
Crampon Technique	Food for a day out
Self-Arrest	Water Bottle
Self-Rescue	Leather Gloves
Team Rescue
Nutrition at Altitude
Clothing systems
Alpine Navigation
Snow Camping
Mountain Weather

Outdoor Skills Practice:

            In addition to providing a fun day, our guides will provide expert instruction on your climbing movement, foot-work, and balance. They will also teach specific ski maneuvers for the variety of positions – from simple to complex – which you’ll encounter in steep terrain. On this jam-packed day you’ll learn and practice belaying, ski maintenance, placing ice/snow protection, have the opportunity to rappel, learn about rope management, and climb various types of slopes. Conducted over two days at the majestic Mt. Rainier you’ll get to learn in the actual environment and progress to climbing steep snow. The trip will cover skills to ascend and descend up to 45 degrees in angles.  Techniques will cover glacier travel, safety, simple rescues, ice/snow protection systems, and ski specific belay techniques.  We will spend the majority of our time ascending and descending steep terrain for safety practice.  Participants will leave the course with the confidence to begin skiing steep technical terrain.

Equipment:

Packs

Backpack - Approximately 5-6000 Cu In. We'll be carrying quite a bit of gear to our camps.

Small Additional Duffle Bag - To store items you leave behind, such as travel clothing.

Sleeping Gear:

Sleeping Bag - Rated to 20 degrees. Down or Synthetic. Depends on expected condition.

Compression Bag - To shrink sleeping bag and save pack space

ü  Sleeping Pad - Foam or inflatable. Bring repair kit if inflatable.

ü  3/4 or 4 Season Tent or Bivy.

 Technical Gear:

ü  Climbing Helmet

ü  Lightweight Climbing Harness

ü  Crampons

ü  Ice Axe (mountaineering/glacier travel & Technical ice tools)

ü  Trekking Poles (not optional, please bring to save your knees, we'll have big loads)

ü  3 Locking Carabiners 4 non locking

ü  Slings 3x Single, 3x Double

ü  Snow Shovel & Saw

ü  Avalanche Beacon

20' 5-6mm Cord

Head Wear:

Warm Fleece Hat - ideally thin enough to also work under helmet.

Balaclava or Neck Gaiter -

Buff – Very thin neck gaiter for sun protection.

Sunglasses - Full wrap or glacier glasses. Don't skimp here. UVA and UVB protected.

Goggles - Amber lenses help in mixed and stormy weather

ü  Headlamp - with spare batteries. The cold can really eat them up.

Extremities Gear:

Gloves (insulating) - 1-2 pairs of fleece. I bring three different weights of fleece that fit inside each other. The heavier pair should be wind/water resistant or proof.

Gloves (shell) - Waterproof/Windproof.

ü  Mountaineering Boots - Plastic or leather but must be completely rigid (full shank), and insulated. 

Shoes/ Hiking Shoes – For transit to from mountian

Camp Shoes - Crocs work well as do Down Booties. (Optional)

ü  Gaiters - Knee length, gore-tex or equivalent and fit over your big boots.

Socks - Wool or synthetic. Find ones that work for you. Need multiple pairs for trip. Liner socks are optional, some people like them, and some don't.

Core Gear:

Base layers - Synthetic, long sleeve, lightweight. Ventable if possible

Insulating Layers - have several options 2- 3 Layers fleece or similaar

Long-sleeve lightweight shirt with collar - synthetic. To protect yourself from the sun.

Shell Jacket - With hood, Gore-Tex or equivalent.

Street Clothes - for travel times

Leg Gear:

Base Layers - same as above but long leg vs. long sleeved

Insulating layer - fleece pants or equivalent

Shell Pants - Gore-Tex, full side zip if possible.

Lightweight synthetic pants for non-summit days but on snow still

Other Gear:

Sunscreen and lip protection. Bring spares.

Utensils, cup, bowl

2-3 quart sized water bottle, wide mouth. Hydration bladders are fine but can freeze so still have 2 bottles with you.

Several Large Garbage bags and zip-locks for keeping things dry

Toiletries - toothbrush, deodorant, etc.

Bio-degradable toilet paper. We'll also be using the blue bags on Rainier.

Ear Plugs (Optional)

Camera - if you're into that sort of thing, spare batteries/memory cards.

Personal Medical supplies - first aid kit (especially for blisters) and any prescription/non-prescription items

ü  Water Purification Source

ü  Stove - per cook group

ü  Fuel Bottle (we'll get fuel in Tacoma)

ü  Cooking Pots

Reading Materials

Stuff sacks for organizing gear

Knife/Leatherman (put in checked luggage, not carry on).

Ski Mountaineering gear:

ü  AT Skis or Split Snowboard

ü  AT Boots

ü  Whippet, Ski Pole

ü  Ski Crampons

ü  Ski Skins

Glop Stopper Wax