Location:
The Course will initially meet and spend the first part of the morning in Cooke City, MT at the Beartooth Power Guides Office. The remainder of the course will be held at the Woody Creek Cabin, which is a skin-in backcountry lodge. Participants will ski out on Sunday afternoon.
Course Summary:
Powder skiing in the rugged and remote mountains that surround Cooke City will be our primary focus during the course. Of course, traveling to the top of mountains under ones own physical power, takes time and provides the perfect scenario for sharing and teaching our guests about Avalanche Safety, decision making, wildlife tracking and high mountain ecology. Over the course of four days, participants will gain knowledge and experience for backcountry powder skiing/riding to include avalanche safety and rescue skills, up hill and downhill terrain management, decision-making and trip planning. In addition to these skills, ski touring and spending the entire day in the mountains will allow our lead Ecology guide Jesse Logan and Beartooth Powder Guides other two trip leaders to discuss and demonstrate such things as wildlife tracking, high mountain forest ecology and expose our guests to dramatic Alpine objectives and views. The loss of white bark pine and the effect that is having and will have on the Grizzly Bear population will be a primary topic. The impact of our changing global environment and the effect on wildlife and forests will be discussed at length during our travels in the mountains.
Each day, we will begin the day with a discussion on the subjects mentioned above and then the group will head into the mountains. The group will be split into two different groups each day, keeping in mind peoples fitness and ski ability levels and objectives desired for the day. Upon returning to the cabin in the afternoon/evenings, a debriefing of the day’s events will take place and high mountain ecology and mountain safety discussions will be held over après ski snacks.
The course includes food and snacks for all guests from lunch the first day through lunch on the last day. Dietary restrictions and allergies can be accommodated easily.
Requirements for the Course:
To participate, you must be an expert skier (proficiency on black diamond runs), have some experience in skiing powder, and by the start of the course have to understand how to put on and take off skins and execute a kick turn up hill. While they don't have to have any formal avalanche training, the better understanding they have ahead of time of traveling in avalanche terrain the better.
Participants must bring all gear listed on the following equipment list. If you do not own the gear, you need to rent it before you come to Cooke City, or give yourself enough time if you are flying into Salt Lake City or Bozeman, MT to rent the gear ahead of time at a local mountain shop or outdoor store like REI.
Guests will be required to have an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel with them at all times in the mountains. Beartooth Powder Guides can provide these items at an additional cost if needed.
Guests will be required to have AT or Telemark ski gear and skins or splitboard and skins. Snowshoes are not recommended.
Equipment List
Avalanche Level 1
CLOTHING
- Base layer top and bottoms (capilene or wool)
- Mid layer vest and/or top
- Weather proof outer shell, top and bottom (Gore Tex or equivalent)
- Down/ Insulated jacket
- 2 pairs of wool or polypro (synthetic) socks
- Gloves or Mittens (2 pairs recommended, light and heavy)
- Sun visor or brimmed hat, stocking cap, bandana
- Fleece pants, t-shirt and booties for hanging out in the hut
OVERNIGHT GEAR
- Sleeping bag
- Toothbrush/ paste
- Headlamp
AVALANCHE GEAR
- Avalanche transceiver
- Shovel
- Probe
- Snow saw (optional, but recommended)
- Compass/Inclinometer
- Lens and Crystal Card (optional)
MISC AND ACCESSORIES
- Water bottle/ Hydration unit
- First aid/ foot repair-blister kit
- Sunscreen
- Map
- Goggles/ Sunglasses
- Extra batteries
- Lip balm
SKIING/SNOWBOARDING
- AT, Telemark, cross country skis or splitboard
- Ski/Snowboard boots
- Ski poles
- Climbing skins
- Ski scraper
OPTIONAL GEAR
- Book
- Earplugs
- Leatherman/Multi-tool
