Get familiar with the sharp ends of alpine travel @ The Australian Backcountry Festival

29 or 30 August 2026 | Mount Hotham

A practical introduction to selecting, fitting and safely using crampons and an ice axe in Australian alpine terrain.

Learn fundamental crampon footwork, basic ice axe use, equipment compatibility, snow-surface assessment, route selection and how to recognise when terrain or conditions are beyond your current skills.

The workshop uses a gradual progression from equipment familiarisation and instructor demonstrations through to supervised movement and a short practical journey on low to moderate-angle snow.

Thanks to Edelrid, participants can demo NEMO crampons and FIRN GUIDE ice axes during the workshop, with an opportunity to purchase gear if you find the right fit.

Time: 8am - 2pm

Meeting point: Davenport Drive Playground, Mount Hotham

You must bring: suitable alpine clothing, waterproof gloves, helmet, crampon-compatible boots, food and water. Bring your own crampons, ice axe or ski boots if you have them; loan equipment will also be available.

This is an introductory workshop. It does not include self-arrest, steep snow climbing, ice climbing, rope systems or technical mountaineering.

What you’ll learn

Gear selection and compatibility

• Understanding flexible, semi-rigid and rigid boot systems

• Recognising strap, hybrid and automatic crampon systems

• Matching crampons to hiking, mountaineering and ski boots

• Correct fitting, adjustment and buddy checks

• Understanding anti-balling plates

• Inspecting equipment for damage or wear

• Safely carrying, transporting and storing sharp equipment

• Choosing an ice axe and understanding its intended use

Crampon fundamentals

Working progressively on low to moderate-angle snow, we’ll cover:

• Safe and efficient foot placement

• Flat-footing or French technique

• Basic front-pointing and combination techniques

• Ascending and descending

• Traversing and side-stepping

• Turning and changing direction

• Avoiding catches between crampon points, clothing and gaiters

• Recognising and managing snow balling beneath crampons

• Ski-to-crampon transitions (if relevant)

Ice axe fundamentals

You’ll learn:

• Correct grip and hand position

• Safe carry positions

• Walking with an ice axe

• Using the axe for balance and stability

• Ascending and descending with an axe

• Basic step and platform cutting

• Safe handling around other participants

Terrain awareness and decision-making

Equipment is only useful when it is appropriate for the terrain and conditions. The workshop will introduce:

• Snow-surface assessment

• Choosing safe practice terrain

• Route and runout assessment

• Recognising terrain traps and objective hazards

• Understanding changing Australian alpine snow

• Managing a group while travelling

• Recognising when crampons are—and are not—the right choice

• Knowing when conditions exceed the scope of your equipment, skills or experience

What to bring

Essential

• Suitable alpine clothing and a waterproof outer layer

• Warm layers appropriate to the forecast

• Waterproof gloves—these must be worn during practical activities

• A helmet

• Crampon-compatible boots, preferably rigid or semi-rigid

• Food and sufficient water for the day

• Sunglasses or goggles suitable for reflective snow conditions

• Sunscreen and personal sun protection

• A backpack suitable for securely carrying alpine equipment

• Any personal medication you may require

Bring if you have them

• Your own crampons

• Your own ice axe

• Ski boots, if you would like to practise fitting crampons to them

• Gaiters

• Crampon point covers or a protective crampon bag

• Spare gloves

All equipment will be inspected before entering the practical area. Participants with incompatible footwear, damaged equipment or incorrectly fitted crampons will need to rectify the issue before taking part in movement exercises.

What this workshop does not cover

Sharps Fundamentals is an introductory course. It does not include:

• Self-arrest training

• Steep snow climbing

• Technical ice climbing

• Glacier travel

• Crevasse rescue

• Rope systems

• Snow or ice anchors

• Belayed climbing

These are separate technical skills requiring additional instruction and appropriate terrain.

By the end of the workshop

You should be better able to:

• Select crampons that are compatible with your footwear

• Correctly fit, adjust and check crampons

• Inspect, carry and store sharp equipment safely

• Move more efficiently on low to moderate-angle snow

• Use an ice axe for balance and stability

• Assess basic snow, terrain and runout conditions

• Recognise when the conditions or terrain are beyond the scope of your current skills

• Make a more informed decision about the equipment and further training you need

The goal isn’t simply to put sharp equipment on your hands and feet. It is to understand when to use it, how to use it safely, and when the better decision is to stop, change the plan or turn around.

Edelrid is partnering with this program and will have demo gear to try on the day!

Rijan from Buffalo Boulders

This program is in partnership with Buffalo Boulders. Rijan is out to help (pictured on the left) He runs the super rad bouldering stopover on the road to the mountains located at Myrtleford. Drop in and tell them you are headed to the Alpine Skills Course and get some local love from the north east bouldering scene.

https://www.instagram.com/buffaloboulders/