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SKI SCHOOL
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Avalanche hazard review
Practice with avalanche rescue technique
Advanced uphill travel techniques
Mountaineering skills for climbing and belaying steep slopes
Transitioning from climbing to skiing or riding in steep terrain
Strategies for skiing steep slopes
Try before you buy, all gear included
Avalanche beacons, probe, shovel included
Feel comfortable skiing black diamonds
Snowboarders must provide snowboard boot compatible crampons
No formal avalanche training (see AIARE Level I avalanche course)
Ski Mountaineering combines the techniques of skiing and mountaineering into one sport. This allows you to access steeper slopes in alpine terrain characteristic of “extreme” skiing. Ski Mountaineering often requires the use of ice axe, crampons and rope to safely negotiate ice, rock, steep gullies and glaciers.
This course will give you the tools to more confidently climb and ski in potentially dangerous alpine terrain. This allows you to continue beyond the boundaries of ski touring and gives you access to steeper and more extreme slopes.
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Course offered 7 days a week:
$275 + $100 each additional person
Special Group Rate:
$150 per person on these dates
January 16
February 27
March 20
April 17
Start/ End:
8:30am to approximately 4pm. Groups will meet at the North Conway EMS.
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Includes: AT/ backcountry or Telemark ski rental, boots, poles, skins, beacon, shovel, probe, professional instruction
Does Not Include: lodging, transportation, meals, personal gear and clothing
Prerequisite: previous backcountry sking experience required. Able to ski or snowboard comfortably on black diamond trails.
Driving Directions
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Equipment List for Ski Mountaineering
EMS Ski School Provides: AT/ Backcountry or Telemark ski rentals, boots, poles, beacon, probe, shovel
You Provide: (Required) In these courses, you will be going above treeline and will be exposed to the elements. In this environment, it is essential that you pay closer attention to being dressed appropriately for your personal safety. Dressing in layers works the best. This way, you can take off or add on any layers to adjust to the changing environment as you heat up and cool down. Wearing your “winter coat” or heavy “snow pants” is not the best choice when trying to dress in layers. Most likely, you will overheat when being active and you’ll end up sweating and expending more energy than needed.
Cotton has no place in your winter layering system: it keeps you cold if you sweat and it takes a long time to dry out. Synthetic fabrics or wool keep you warmer when they become wet with sweat and certain synthetic base layers are designed to wick the sweat away from your skin to keep you drier and warmer. In order to make your experience more enjoyable, please do not wear any cotton as layering pieces. Also, remember, you have to carry all your clothing with you, so packing efficiently is important. If you can't wear it all at once, you don’t need to bring it. If you have questions about how many or which items to bring, please call 800-310-4504. We expect that you will be dressed and ready to go upon arrival to your lesson.
* indicates rental item from the ski school or retail store. Call 800-310-4504 to discuss rental needs.
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Base Layer
(top and bottom)
Light to mid-weight synthetics, snug fit and close to skin, eg. EMS® Techwick®.
Over-Base Layer
(top and bottom)
Light-weight fleece or heavy-weight EMS® Techwick®. Power-Stretch and micro-fleece are ideal materials for this layer. No heavy, 300 weight fleece trousers—you will be over-dressed.
Insulation Layer
(jacket only)
200 to 300 weight fleece, heavy weight soft shell or Prima-Loft sweater
Uninsulated Waterproof/breathable Shell
(jacket and pants)
EMS System III, Gortex®, or similar waterproof/breathable material. Jacket MUST have an integrated hood. Flimsy “stow-away” nylon hoods are not adequate. Full side zip pants are helpful.
"Over-It-All"
(jacket)
A.K.A. "Puffy" --Hooded, Down or Prima-Loft Jacket.
Gloves/Mittens
(2 pair)
Either warm gloves or mittens.
Fleece Hat
*Backpack
2,000 to 3,000 cubic inches
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Wool/Synthetic Socks
(1 pair)
Balaclava
*Ski Goggles
Ski Helmet
Neoprene Facemask
No “windproof” face masks. Must be neoprene for the best prevention against frostbite.
Headlamp
Lunch
Peanut butter and jelly, cheese and pepperoni…whatever you normally eat on the trail. Temps may be well below freezing, so choose food accordingly, and make sure you can open it and eat it with gloves on.
Snacks
Trail mix and energy bars
Water 1-2 liters
Use a wide-mouth Nalgene plastic bottle. No thin plastic Poland Spring bottles, water bladder hydration systems, or metal water bottles.
Optional Items
Camera
Light-weight thermos (1 liter max, with a hot drink in it)
Water Bottle Insulator (old "clean" socks work well)
Hand/Foot Warmers
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Missing anything on this list?
Don't forget your 20% discount EMS coupon that comes with your Ski School confirmation letter!
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