AMS Ski Mountaineering Course
The AMS Ski Mountaineering course offers intermediate 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 18 – 24, 2024
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 intermediate skiing ability. Students should be able to confidently ski intermediate runs at a downhill ski resort. No previous backcountry skiing or winter camping experience is required. Participants should arrive in excellent physical condition and be willing to work hard as a team member.
Intermediate Downhill Skiing Ability Required
7 days
2 instructors: 6 skiers
$3,900
“Perfect trip, professionally guided, good organization and sense of humor!”
— Elisabetta Pallavicini, Upper West Rib Expedition
