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Registration will be open from November 15th to December 10th. Acceptance will be communicated by December 17th.
New for 2022, Interested parties and prospective students who don’t get accepted to the course this season can get access to last year's 6 part virtual lecture for $30. This is 12 hours of education and covers topics such as gear needed, trip planning, weather evaluation and more. One live group Q&A session will be scheduled for all participants. These lectures would be a great compliment to an Avy 1 course.
**COVID-19 Safety Class Guidelines**
All lectures will be held virtually. They will include breakout rooms and online student engagement exercises. Field classes and tours will reduce the number of participants (6 students and 3 assistants) to ensure social distancing of 6ft apart. Wearing masks will be required at all in-person classes if less than 6ft. Students will be required to take their own temperature before attending in-person classes and expected self exclude if experiencing symptoms. There will be no overnight tours offered.
Please follow the Mazama’s Coronavirus Response and Policy for more information.
Course Information
The Mazama Backcountry Ski Touring Program (formerly called Ski Mountaineering) is designed to teach you the skills, attitude, and awareness necessary to safely enjoy the many backcountry ski opportunities that exist in the Cascades and beyond. Ski mountaineering in the Pacific Northwest can span the spectrum from multi-day traverses, to skiing off the summits of local volcanoes, to just basking in the sunshine on the south side of Mt. Hood in July. Each tour has its special joys and dangers.
Our goal is to help you make a safe and confident transition from skiing advanced slopes at resorts to touring the off-piste environment of mountain wilderness. The focus of this course is on the skills necessary to ascend/descend non-technical intermediate level backcountry ski climbs in the Northwest (terrain such as the basic routes of St. Helens, Mt. Adams, South Sister, and snow fields of Mt. Hood).
The course takes place over a period of 8 weeks and includes lectures and field sessions. It is open to AT/randonee skiers, telemark skiers, and splitboarders, and is taught by experienced Mazama volunteers. Participants must be 18 years or older by the day of the first lecture.