Overview

The Ski Mountaineering School is offered once a year, usually March through May. The Ski Mountaineering course is designed to acquaint CMC members with the skills, attitudes, and awareness needed for ski mountaineering tours, such as 13'er and 14'er ski descents in Colorado, and ski traverses such as the Haute Route in the Alps or the Wapta Traverse in Canada. Some of the topics covered include planning and preparation, ski gear and equipment, ski techniques, and avalanche assessment.
Prerequisites include successful completion the CMC Avalanche School (or other AAA or AAI level I courses) and first aid training. The Basic Mountaineering School, or equivalent experience, is strongly recommended. Backcountry skiing skills and experience comparable to a CMC Denver Group "advanced" skier rating is also recommended. The school accepts participants using Telemark skis, alpine touring skis, or split snowboards. Applicants with Telemark gear must have successfully completed the CMC Telemark Ski School or equivalent, and all applicants should be comfortable on slopes equivalent to "black diamond" slopes at downhill ski areas.

The course consists of three evening lectures and five field trips; the final field trip will be a two-day peak climb and descent. The lectures are held on weekday evenings in March; the field trips on 5 separate weekends, March through May.

Registration for the school is by application. For more information and a registration form, go to http://www.cmc.org/skimtnapp, or call the CMC office. You must be a CMC member to register.