This 3-day Ski & Splitboard Mountaineering Camp focuses on learning ski mountaineering skills and applying these to the ascent and descent of couloirs, such as those in Wolverine Cirque, and peaks like Toledo, Superior and the Pfeifferhorn. Camp objectives are dependent on weather, fitness, snow conditions, etc.

Guides teach the proper techniques for the use of ice axes, boot and ski crampons, ropes, knots, anchors and rappelling. The course covers glacial navigation and crevasse rescue, belayed climbing and skiing, reading snow and terrain, avalanche hazard evaluation and mitigation, and steep skiing. The program is offered in late winter when the Utah snowpack is typically deep and strong enough for ski mountaineering objectives.

SKI & SPLITBOARD MOUNTAINEERING CAMP LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Best practices for the use of boot and ski crampons and ice axes
• Self-belay and self-arrest with ice axe
• Rock and snow anchors and equalization
• Fixed and running belays
• Rappelling with skis or a splitboard on and without
• Glacier travel and crevasse rescue
• Knots and hitches for raising systems and lowering
• Belayed skiing and snowboarding
• Reading snow and terrain
• Improved skinning skills, including advanced kick-turns and self-belays
• Avalanche hazard evaluation and mitigation
• Steep skiing/boarding skills

This course includes 3 full days in the backcountry skinning and skiing/splitboarding (expect to be in the field for 6-8 hours per day). Guests are expected to bring their own snacks, lunch and water (1-2 liters). UMA does not provide transportation. We encourage carpooling to help mitigate traffic in the canyons and crowded parking areas.

SCHEDULE & MEETING LOCATION

Meeting times are usually between 7 am and 8 am. Meeting locations are provided to enrolled participants before the course date. This course takes place in either Little Cottonwood Canyon or Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Central Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah.