Whether it’s your first summit ever or just the first of the season, Bow Hut is the perfect place to kick things off. Join us for three days of hands-on ski mountaineering training in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.

You’ll build essential skills, learn new techniques, and put your knowledge into practice in a stunning alpine environment. With expert instruction and real-time application, this course is designed to boost your confidence and prepare you for a winter of ski mountaineering success. This course is designed for those with little to no previous ski mountaineering experience, however participants should have prior ski touring experience.   Participants should also have their AST1,  preferably AST2.  

 The course focuses on the following skills:

• Roped glacier travel
• knots
• Crevasse rescue
• Snow anchors 
• Use of mountaineering axe 
• Navigation skills (including topographic maps, bearings, trip planning, and electronic navigation devices)

If conditions allow and group interests and abilities permit, we may have the opportunity to summit objectives such as:

• Mt. Olive (3,126m)
• Mt. Rhondda (3,062m) 
• Mt Gordon

Led by ACMG guide Brent Peters, this trip will include instruction and review of key glacier travel, ski touring, and mountaineering skills.

A mandatory pre-trip meeting will be organized about 10 days prior to the trip start for all participants to discuss the itinerary and trip planning.

Trip price includes 2 nights' accommodation at ACC's Bow hut but does not include food.  

Dehydrated meals can be purchased for an additional price, at your option. 

If I do not already know you, please send the following info to kbmorianos@gmail.com 

Describe your avalanche training (AST1,  AST2 if applicable), and any previous crevasse rescue and glacier travel experience, if applicable.

• • Describe your backcountry ski experience.  Provide some examples of trips/summits you're doing this season and in the previous 2-3 years. 
  • Describe your ski comfort level (e.g. OK on Blue runs, struggle on Black Diamonds, I do the Delirium Dive blindfolded, I'm new to this)

  You will not be considered for this trip without sending an email with this info!  Please send an email instead of using the built-in ACC notes page when you add yourself to the waitlist.

Personal Clothing and Equipment

PeakStratagem recommends the following clothing:

Base Layers

Fleece/Wool Hat

Synthetic/Wool Baselayer (like Icebreaker 150-200), Synthetic/Wool Midlayer (like BD Coefficient Fleece)

Synthetic/Wool Baselayer (like Icebreaker 150-200), Synthetic/Wool Socks (like Icebreaker OTC)

Outer Layers

Softshell Jacket (like BD Alpine Start) and Hardshell Jacket (like BD Helio)

Hardshell Ski Pants (like BD Recon)

Insulating Layers

Light Insulated Jacket (like BD First Light)

Medium Insulated Jacket (like BD Vision) – for cold days or around hut

Insulated Pants (like BD Stance) – for around hut

Gloves

Light Gloves (like OR Stormtracker), Medium Gloves (like OR Extravert)

Heavy Gloves/Mitts (like BD Glissade/Soloist)

The following personal climbing gear is required except where noted as optional:

Multiday Pack 50-55L (like BD Mission 55)*

Helmet, Harness (like the Petzl Couloir)*

Skis w touring bindings (like G3 Ions), touring boots, poles, skins, ski strap, ski crampons**

Or splitboard equivalent

Transceiver w fresh batteries, Shovel, Probe**

Mountaineering Ice Axe (like IceRock IDOL)* Boot crampons (like BD Neve)

Assisted Braking Belay Device with Locking Carabiner (like BD Guide ATC w Grivel Clepsydra Mini)*

Anchor Sling (120cm) w 2 non-locking, 3 locking carabiners (like Petzl Pur’Anneau, Ange L, Attache 3D)*

2x 5mx10kN accessory cord, 1x 2mx10kN accessory cord, ice screw*

Sunglasses, Sunscreen, Thermos or Water Bottle w insulated sleeve

Sleeping Bag 0C or colder (depending on how you sleep), camp pillow - optional

Ear Plugs, Hut Booties, Headlamp

Small first aid kit with blister kit

Camera, GPS or Smartphone w mapping app, Compass

Ropes are provided by PeakSTRATAGEM.

Communication and Rescue

What are the Risks

Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be available| Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field 

If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow|

Hazard Mitigation

First Aid / Rescue Training| Satellite Communications | 

Terrain

What are the Risks

Cornices | Crevasses | Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps | Cliffs | Creeks | Rocks and Boulders |Holes and depressions below the snow surface| Variable and difficult snow conditions |Snowcat roads and road ranks | Fences and other man-made structures | Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects | Encounters with domestic or wild animals | Loss of balance or control | Becoming lost or separated from the group | Slips, trips, and falls|

Hazard Mitigation

Mitigated by Trained and experienced Guide| Radios

General Hazards 

What are the Risks

Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor| Equipment failure| Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact| Negligence of other persons, including other guests| Negligent first aid| Negligence of the guide Including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, on participating in ACC activities|

Hazard Mitigation

Developed safety plans and procedures with decades of experience managing risk.

 Rockfall and Icefall

What are the Risks

Rockfall and icefall can be caused by natural forces or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. climbing/scrambling/hiking)

Hazard Mitigation

Mitigated with certified and experienced guides, Helmets

Avalanche

What are the Risks

Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering| Caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (skiing/snowboarding)| Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.|

Hazard Mitigation

Certified Guides with experience and training to manage this risk 

Daily risk assessment processes  

Guest training  

Boots and Binding Systems

What are the Risks

Even when set up correctly, a ski binding might not release during every fall or may release unexpectedly. The ski boot/binding system is no guarantee that the skier will not be injured.  Non-DIN-certified bindings, such as pin/tech bindings, present a higher risk of pre-release and/or injury as they are not designed to the same safety standards as a DIN-certified alpine binding.

Unlike alpine ski boot/binding systems, snowboard and some telemark boot/binding systems are not designed or intended to release and will not release under normal circumstances.  Using such a system increases the risk of injury and/or death when caught in an avalanche.