Intro to Backcountry Skiing

Intro to Backcountry Skiing is a trip aimed at people who can ski already who want to get into backcountry skiing and tent camping. The objective of the trip is to camp and do some skiing above camp, or climb a peak and ski down (not just skiing to camp and back). Participants should ski well enough that they will be able to descend through forest with a pack on without hitting trees, but they do not have to look remotely good while doing it (this is called Survival Skiing). The trip is a one night excursion to an area with simple terrain and no hut. Participants stay in tents and cook in a snow kitchen, while getting some advice on travelling in the backcountry and winter camping from the more experienced trip leaders.

Past locations have included

• Marriot Basin, (before the construction of the Wendy Thompson Hut)
• Needle Peak, Coquihalla
• Caspar Creek

Into to Backcountry Skiing 2007

Date: February 3-4

Pre-Trip Meeting was on Monday, January 29th, 6pm in the clubroom. A number of people weren't there or couldn't make it, so we will do the rest of the organising of the trip here on the wiki.

Location: Rainbow Peak, West of Alta Lake in Whistler

Driving Instructions: Take Highway 99 to Whistler. Take the Alta Lake Road turnoff, about 1km south of the Creekside Gondola on Whistler. You will notice this turnoff by the big sign for "Le Gros" restaurant. A prominent sign on Twentyone Mile Creek indicates the Rainbow Lake trailhead.

Sign-up

Instructor Sign-up

1. Matthew Baker
2. Pete Hudson
3. Christian Veenstra

Student Sign-up

(max 18)

1. Matthew Carroll
2. Charlie Caunt
3. Pawel Mirski (Snowboarder)
4. Tristan Banwell
5. Line Christiansen
6. Christian Champagne (2 person 4-season tent, pots, stove)
7. Jeff Ferguson
8. Lisa Blachut
9. Piotr Forysinski (UBC fairview. have 2 person 4-season tent and propane stove. not veggie)
10. Stefan Verster (snowboarder)
11. Bronwyn Jarvis (have a 4 person, 3-season tent; live at 41st & blenheim; NOT a vegetarian and plan on bringing chili or curry and buttered rum; unfortunately can no longer have ppl up to whistler fri night as brother is using place and does not like to share. will stone him upon next meeting)
12. Stu Masterman
13. Thomas Rowntree (Piotr's friend. is coming, but will already be in Whistler)
14. Jan Ulrich
15. Marcus Rohrbach (Snowboarder)
16. Meghan Anderson
17. Rick Havlak

Rides

Please indicate here if you have a car, where you are leaving from and how many people you can transport.

Drivers Name [email, location leaving from, # of passengers]

Matthew Carroll [m@tthew.org.uk, 19th + Dunbar, 6] (CAN minivan, booked, coming to UBC, and considering driving up Friday night, see message board thread)

1. Christian Veenstra
2. Christian Champagne
3. Piotr Forysinski
4. 
   
5. 
   
6. 
   

Pete Hudson [pmbhudson@hotmail.com, Nelson & Burrard - may swing into Kits but want to avoid UBC, 4]

1. Lisa Blachut
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   

Matthew Breakey [hairycow@gmail.com, MacDonald & 4th, 4]

1. Matthew (tent,stove)
2. Charlie (tent)
3. Line
4. Stuart

Jeff Ferguson [jferg1@interchange.ubc.ca, 11th & Camosun, 4]

1. Jeff (obviously)(tent,stove)
2. Meghan Anderson
3. Tristan Banwell (tent, stove, space blanket, jokes)
4. 
   

Rick Havlak [reekus9@gmail.com, oak and 25th, 4]

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   

Food Groups

2-3 is a good number for a food group. It also works well to food group with the same people you're sharing a tent with.

The Veggie Parade - all aboard the legume train

1. Lisa Blachut (stove, fuel, 1 pot)
2. Matthew Carroll (stove + fuel, we probably want 2 stoves if Afton comes)
3. Matthew Baker

Christians' Meat Eating Consortium (has stove+pot+fuel - you can carry some of these)

1. Christian Veenstra
2. Christian Champagne (finally, no vege meals!)
3. Perhaps even three, but two is easier

Tents

Please indicate here if you have a tent suitable for winter camping, and how many it can sleep.

Matt's Moss Winter Bombshelter [3]

1. Lisa Blachut
2. Matthew Carroll
3. Matthew Baker

Christian's Sleeping Consortium

1. Christian Veenstra
2. Will you be the mystery person?
3. Oh god, you have no idea how crowded this tent is with three people. We should really keep it to two.

Piotr's tent <2>

1. Piotr himself (how surprising)
2. Tom Rowntree

bronwyn's tent of witchdoctors and capaciousness <4, 3-season>

1. me
2. Marcus Rohrbach
3. Rick Havlak
4. Jan Ulrich - I'll practice my witching

Champagne's Tent of Love <2, 4-season>

1. Myself
2. Some lucky lady (hopefully...) (watch out ladies he may try to suffocate you in your sleep)

Equipment List

Personal

In winter especially, none of your clothing should be made out of cotton. Anything synthetic is safe. Just remember, Cotton Kills.

Camping

• sleeping pad - you may want to consider also grabbing a thin foamy or other pad (or even a few garbage bags) to provide a little more insulation - most people are cold in the night if they can feel the snow below them
• sleeping bag (rated for winter or 3 season if you sleep warm)

Clothes

• warm jacket (fleece or down)
• warm pants (fleece or thick long underwear)
• long underwear
• layers (fleece or wool sweaters)
• toque, mitts (2 pairs, or a set of waterproof shells)
• warm socks (2 pairs, wool/wool mix)
• waterproof jacket (goretex or coated nylon)
• waterproof pants (goretex or coated nylon)
• gaiters
• good waterproof boots (wax them before the trip) or ski boots
• goggles if skiing
• sunglasses

Transport

• skis and skins / snowboard and snowshoes / etc
• poles

Other

• cup, bowl, spoon, knife
• toothbrush etc.
• sunscreen
• water bottle (1L)
• lunch, snacks, breakfast, dinner contribution (in winter you will need 2500-3500 calories per day, fat-rich stuff keeps you warm)
• headlamp
• garbage bags - bring a few, these are useful for everything
• gas money for your driver
• spare batteries for headlamp, beacon and anything else that uses 'em

Avalanche Safety Gear

• avalanche transceiver
• shovel
• probe (optional but recommended)

Optional Extras

• camera
• musical instruments
• large quantities of mulled wine - or hard booze (more value for your weight)

Small Group

2-3 people per group

• tent
• stove + fuel + lighter (you'd be surprised how often one of these stays home)
• pots

Big Group

Everyone

• first aid kits
• song books
• snow saw
• maps, compass, etc
• repair kit