The Backcountry Travel class focuses on safe backcountry travel. The class is divided into groups of snowshoers; snowboarders; and skiers, both Alpine Touring (AT) & telemark. The participants are then further divided up by ability. The class is limited to 25 students.

Each touring section will be 5 students with 2 instructors. The first third of the course focuses entirely on Basic Avalanche Avoidance and Assessment and involves little time sliding about. These skills are then applied on two backcountry tours (one day-trip and one overnight). While out touring, students will learn about snow stability analysis, route selection, avalanche rescue techniques, winter navigation and camping, how to ski varied snow conditions, look good and have fun.

2008 Backcountry Class

Registration for the 2008 class is now closed! Thanks to all that applied. We'll be reviewing applications the night of 2/5/2008 and sending out emails this week.

Feel free to contact Jason Christensen at 206 235 4539 or jason at jasonchristensen dot net if you have questions about our next class.

Applications

Registration for the Backcountry Travel Class will open mid-December with an application deadline of the last day of January. All applications postmarked no later than January 31st will be considered. Applicants will be contacted by February 7th as to whether they have been accepted or are on the waiting list for the class. 25 Students will be chosen from all the applications received with a postmark of 1/31/2008 or earlier. The cost of the class is $80.

The Class is available to skiers, both Alpine Touring (AT) and Telemark; Snowshoers; and Snowboarders (splitboards are highly recommended, but snowboarders with snowshoes will also be accepted).

Skiers & snowboarders should be at least of intermediate ability. This means the ability to stop, turn, and get down blue-square runs in a reasonable amount of time.

2008 Class Schedule

• Tuesday, February 19th, 7-9 PM, Prospect Church: Avalanche Lecture.
• Friday Night - Sunday Night, February 22-24, Guye Cabin: Avalanche Weekend.
• Tuesday, February 26th, 7-9 PM, Prospect Church: Routefinding Lecture.
• Saturday, March 1st, All-Day Field Trip, Location TBD: Field Work.
• Tuesday, March 4th, 7-9 PM, Prospect Church: Snow Camping Lecture.
• Saturday Morning - Sunday Night, March 8-9, Location TBD: Field Work & Snowcamping.

Admittance

You must be a member of the WAC to take this class and you can easily sign up for membership at the same time you apply for the class. Please note that WAC membership is not refundable; you will not be charged the $80 class fee if you do not get in to the class or if the course is cancelled due to lack of snow, but we cannot offer refunds on your WAC membership dues. Admittance is based on a lottery of reviewed applications and is not first come-first served. Applicants turned away from previous classes or who have volunteered as instructors in other WAC courses are given preference.

Travel Type

You can choose to Telemark or AT ski, use a split snowboard, employ a snowboard-snowshoe combo, or snowshoe. Lightweight nordic equipment (such as touring skis and leather boots) is not appropriate for the class.

Trip Gear List

The gear required for the course is listed here.

Application

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2008 class. But it'd be great to have you apply for next year!!

Instructors

Want to improve your backcountry skills while teaching and having fun? Please help teach the class!

If you have at least a Level 1 Avalanche certification and a few years experience in the backcountry please contact Jason Christensen at 206.235.4539 or by email at jason at jasonchristensen.net to participate. Thanks for your help!