The best backcountry days are stitched together — a forecast, an objective, a team, a climb, and the quiet reward of untracked snow.
Fieldcraft Ski Touring Pathway
The Fieldcraft Backcountry Touring Pathway is a two-level guided progression for skiers and riders developing the skills to travel further, make better decisions and complete more ambitious objectives independently in the Australian alpine environment, or guided abroad. Australia's alpine environment presents a uniquely ‘mixed bag’ of conditions—variable snowpacks, rapid weather changes, melt-freeze cycles, wind-affected surfaces and diverse terrain—which makes it an ideal training ground. Level 1 develops participants toward extended ski touring (meaning out for more than 24hrs), with the aim of completing a traverse or summiting a challenging peak. Level 2 develops participants toward expedition-style ski touring, with the aim of planning and completing a complex alpine-scale objective.
Level 1: Fieldcraft — Extended Touring
Development towards extended ski touring
Extended Touring is for skiers and riders ready to move beyond resort, sidecountry or simple guided day tours and begin travelling further into the Australian backcountry. The course is set in moderate alpine terrain where participants can develop touring skills, practise uphill and downhill movement, understand local snow and ice conditions, and learn how to make strong group decisions. Australia's highly variable alpine conditions provide an excellent environment for developing adaptable skills for larger objectives in New Zealand, Japan, Europe and North America. The intended field outcome is to complete a supported traverse or summit an intermediate peak while developing the hard, soft and live skills required for future extended touring.
Participants should already be confident skiing or riding in resort conditions and willing to travel uphill with a pack. Prior touring experience is helpful but does not need to be extensive.
By the end of the course, participants should be better able to:
prepare for an extended ski tour
understand adapting the day’s hazard forecast and surface conditions to a tour plan
recognise macro and micro hazards
use basic route planning and timing
move efficiently uphill and downhill
understand when ski crampons, boot crampons or an ice axe may be required
participate in group decisions
manage food, water, warmth and energy
review the day and identify the next step in their progression
4 day ski/split touring package includes:
• Professional Guiding at a ratio of 4 participants per Guide
• Transport and Passes and Permits
• Accomodation AirBnB in the valley
• Accomodation Tents and Mats for nights out
• Breakfast and Dinner - (Vegetarian available - select below) *Lunch and snacks is up to you.
• Course Fieldnotes Book and assessment
We strongly encourage participants to book as at least a pair, if not a full team of 4. Give us the name(s) of your friends in the checkout form so we can reconcile friend into teams for guides. Use the ‘booking with a friend’ discount code: XDQWBRQ
Level 2: Fieldcraft — Expedition Touring
Development towards expedition-style ski touring
Expedition Touring is for skiers and riders who already have touring experience and want to progress toward larger alpine objectives, advanced Australian touring and guided international expedition readiness. The course is set in more committing terrain, with longer days, greater vertical gain, firmer surfaces, more complex weather decisions and higher demands on group systems. Training in Australia's dynamic alpine environment develops the adaptability, judgement and self-management required for expedition-style objectives overseas, where conditions, terrain and logistics can be equally demanding. The intended field outcome is to plan and complete an alpine-scale objective of around 1000 metres of vertical gain.
Participants should be able to ski or ride variable snow with a pack, manage their own touring equipment, and have experience on extended or overnight tours.
By the end of the course, participants should be better able to:
contribute to objective planning
build a route plan with timing, escape options and turnaround points
assess changing snow, ice and melt-freeze surfaces
read, adapt and iteratively reassess the public hazard forecast
use ski crampons, boot crampons and an ice axe where appropriate
manage longer climbs and descents under load
support head/tail group movement systems
communicate clearly in more complex terrain
adapt objectives as conditions change
manage fatigue, food, water, warmth and recovery over longer days
review performance against an advanced touring objective