Negotiating increased slope angle, wind swept ridge tops & icy surfaces requires a new set of skills! SMBC will teach you how to move about safely in more challenging terrain where climbing skins begin to fail because of steeper slopes &/or icy surface conditions. This one day course will teach you basic ski mountaineering skills adding a huge layer of safety to your skills tool box. If you are progressing to challenging slopes such as the Western Faces or other aspiring OS missions come along with us & build the necessary skills for ascending & descending steeps or travelling through icy alpine passes! We will teach you essential techniques & discuss the importance of good judgement, decision making & acting with commitment & purpose! This day is a precursor to our Western Faces Experience Tour, don't be caught wanting of skills & overcome by exposure in challenging terrain, get skilled up before you get there!

Please see MORE DETAIL below

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Guiding Topics

• Equipment familiarisation

• Crampon & Ice Axe technique​

• Self Arresting

• Transitioning in steep terrain

• Ski/Pack Configuration

• Descent strategies & techniques

• Route selection

• Exposure & Confidence

 

Intended Location

This day is not about the destination reached but

about the skills learnt. To maximise time the course will be 

conducted in the Guthega area

 

Rating: Challenging

Requires a stronger level of fitness, advanced skiing ability & prior

experience in the backcountry. Expect to encounter longer climbs

with distances about 10km+ with climbs around 1000+ vertical meters

& more challenging

 

Duration: 8+hrs approx, distances include descents which is generally half the total distance

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Meeting Place

• Start: Guthega SMBC HQ 7:00a.m. 

  • Brief

  • Equip familiarisation

  • Route overview

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Experience Required

• All participants will have undertaken one of our tours or have previous backcountry experience which we need to reference!

• Be a confident advanced off-piste skier, this day is not for intermediate skiers!

• More challenging distances & climbs.

 

Group Size

• 1:3 guide to client ratio

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Provided

• 40Lt Backpack: anything less is not enough

• Crampons: for ski & snowboard boots

• Ice Axe

 

Needs

• See ”EQUIP LIST" below

• Helmets are necessary

• Alpine Touring skis, climbing skins

       & adjustable poles​ for hire

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MORE DETAIL

• Equipment familiarisation, fitment & pre tour shakedown will be undertaken at SMBC HQ prior to departure.

• You are welcome to bring your own equipment but it must be checked for suitability by SMBC prior to departure.

• A 40 Lt pack with ski carry capability is provided. You are welcome to bring your own but anything smaller than 40Lt &/or unable to carry skis is not suitable & you will be required to use SMBC packs!

• If staying in Perisher you will need to drive to Guthega as the lifts will be closed on return.

• It is preferable for snowboarders to have a stiff full shank soled boot like K2 Aspect, Fitwell, DeeLuxe, JONES 32, Burton Tourist. All these boots also have a welted sole able to take a semi-automatic crampon which has a heel bail. A soft soled boot requires a strap on crampon which works but the integrity of the boot sole/crampon interface is compromised when climbing steeper terrain.