AMS Ski Mountaineering Course
The AMS Ski Mountaineering course offers advanced skiers an introduction to unsupported winter backcountry travel in a glaciated mountain environment. Roped glacier travel, moving and building camps, crevasse rescue, and a field-oriented avalanche curriculum is built around a skiing-focused course.
Students learn how to live comfortably and take care of themselves and others in winter conditions. You will be on a snow-covered glacier the entire time.
Expect to learn how to safely explore and enjoy the surrounding mountains using skis. From a solid foundation in camping and glacier travel, we embrace a multifaceted approach to backcountry skiing on a glacier.
Schedule
April 14 – 20, 2025
All Women’s Team:
May 1 – 7, 2025
Custom:
March – April
Contact us about custom options
What's Included
- Professional instructors
- Roundtrip glacier flight
- All food during your course and team lunch at AMS headquarters on day 1
- All group camping and climbing equipment: ropes, tents, pickets, technical climbing gear, snow saws, wands
- Sled for each student, pre-rigged for roped glacier travel for use during the climb
- Snow kitchen equipment: kitchen tents, cooking stoves, utensils, and fuel
- Mountain communications: emergency use satellite phone, FRS on-mountain radios
- Maps, GPS; medical protocols, first aid, medication and repair kits
- Staging area at AMS HQ
- 24/7 support from staff at AMS in Talkeetna during your climb
- Regular social media updates during your climb
- Luggage storage and free parking during your climb
- Camping at AMS HQ campground
- Welcome-back table with fresh foods and drinks after your course
- Knowledgeable staff to assist with lodging and shuttle logistics.
AMS’s 7-day Ski Mountaineering course itinerary is designed to get the most out of an introduction to Alaska ski mountaineering.
Pre-course Briefing and Packing
AMS guides are hired for a full two days before the start date to brief, and check all group gear, and pack food.
Day 1
8:00 a.m.: Meet at AMS for course orientation and overview of the day. Check equipment and issue gear. Pack lunches. Calculate weights. This is a busy day, so please be on time.
12:00 p.m.: Lunch provided at AMS.
1:00 p.m.: Dress for glacier.
1:30 p.m.: Fixed-line ascension
3:30 p.m.: Weigh gear, load van, register at Talkeetna ranger station.
4:00 p.m.: Drive to airport. Organize loads for fixed-wing flight.
4:30 p.m.: Fly onto the glacier. Establish camp: probe and wand the perimeter, build walls, make sleeping platforms, set up group kitchen, establish the bathroom.
6:00 p.m. Make dinner.
PM Meeting: snowpack and weather observations, avalanche observations. Debrief of the day held nightly.
Day 2
7:00 a.m.: Group breakfast.
8:00 a.m. AM meeting: Current weather, weather forecast, red flags present, critical factors, avalanche problems. Morning meeting held daily.
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Basic glacier-travel ground school: knots, rope identification and care, rope handing and coiling, snow protection and anchor systems, belaying, roping up for glacier travel, rope travel techniques, simple crevasse fall scenarios, transferring a load.
1:00 p.m.–6 p.m.: Practice uphill and downhill ski techniques at ski slope near camp. Practice transceiver searches. Ski tour with snow pack evaluation and stability tests.
Day 3
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Organize rope teams and head to crevasse for rescue practice. Secure the site and build anchors for lowering and raising systems.
1:00 p.m.–6 p.m.: Ski tour. Students practice building study pits and performing stability tests. Plan to move camp.
Day 4
Break down camp. Roped glacier travel to new camp location. Build camp. Afternoon ski tour.
Day 5
All day ski tour.
Day 6
All day ski tour.
Day 7
Alpine start to packing up camp. Student-led rope teams head back to the airstrip. Fly back to Talkeetna. Clean up and de-issue, evaluations and logistics. Group dinner at a local restaurant.
This course requires excellent skiing ability in order to ski comfortably with a pack or in challenging conditions. You should be able to ski black diamond runs at a downhill ski resort. Previous backcountry skiing and winter camping experience are not required. Participants should be in good physical condition.
Advanced Downhill Skiing Ability Required.
“Perfect trip, professionally guided, good organization and sense of humor!”
— Elisabetta Pallavicini, Upper West Rib Expedition
