Build the Skills to Travel Safely Beyond the Ski Area Boundary
- 5 Days
- IFMGA & NZMGA Guides
Mountaineering Skills Course
Five Days, From the Ski Area Boundary to Backcountry-Ready
This is a five-day ski mountaineering and backcountry skills course for skiers and splitboarders ready to move past the ski area boundary. It isn’t an avalanche safety course wearing a different name — it covers the full skill set you actually need out there: touring technique, core mountaineering skills like crampon and ice axe use, terrain and route planning, avalanche awareness fundamentals, companion rescue, and emergency survival skills, all built across full days in real terrain.
Every day is led by our IFMGA and NZMGA certified guides — internationally recognised qualifications held by professional mountain guides worldwide. You’ll get direct, hands-on coaching in the field, not a classroom briefing followed by a group walk.
Whats included?
- 5 days professional instruction
- Beacon, shovel, and probe
- Insurance
Not included:
- Accommodation
- Lift tickets
Optional Canyons Accommodation package available: 4 nights including breakfast, ¥50,000.
What to bring:
Touring equipment (skis or split board) boots, ski clothing, helmet, backpack (recommend 25L+), crampons, ice axe
If you need to rent equipment check rentals page
Confident skiers and splitboarders ready to move past the ski area boundary.
No prior avalanche training is required — this course builds your avalanche awareness from the ground up as part of the curriculum. What you do need is solid off-piste ability and a reasonable level of fitness for consecutive days of touring. If you’re after a genuine grounding in backcountry travel rather than just a guided powder day, this is the course.
| MEETING LOCATION | Canyons Minakami |
| DATES | March 5–9, 2027 |
| DURATION | 5 days |
| GROUP SIZE | Max 10 participants |
| GUIDES | IFMGA & NZMGA certified |
Course Curriculum
Backcountry Touring Core Skills
- Using skins, bindings, and touring boots effectively
- Uphill technique: kick turns, transitions, and track setting
- Downhill skills in variable, off-piste snow
- Energy management, layering, and efficient travel
Ski Mountaineering Core Skills
- Using an ice axe for touring
- Using crampons for touring
- Self-arresting
- Considerations for steep terrain
- Steep and firm terrain transitions
- Glide crack and creek extraction
Terrain Awareness and Route Planning
- Reading terrain features and identifying avalanche-prone areas
- Safe route selection for uphill and downhill travel
- Using topographic maps, compass, GPS, and mobile apps for backcountry navigation
- Planning simple day tours with elevation, timing, and hazard awareness in mind
Intro to Avalanche Awareness
- The basics of avalanche formation and terrain
- Reading and applying the Avalanche Advisory
- Using the Dangerator tool in areas without an official forecast
- Recognising avalanche red flags in the field
- Safe travel habits: spacing, group movement, and terrain avoidance
Avalanche Rescue Essentials
- Transceiver use: signal search, coarse search, fine search
- Effective probing and strategic shovelling
- Companion rescue fundamentals and managing a rescue scenario
Emergency Survival Skills
- Digging and building emergency snow shelters (snow trench, snow cave, or mound)
- Basic cold-weather survival: staying warm, dry, and protected from the elements
- What to carry in a backcountry emergency kit, repair kit, and first aid kit
- Sheltering in place: when and how to wait out bad weather
- Managing injuries or delays when professional help may be hours away
Group Dynamics and Decision-Making
- Communication and teamwork in the backcountry
- Recognising personal and group decision-making traps
- Applying checklists and simple planning tools for better judgement
On-Snow Learning in Real Terrain
- Full days in the backcountry
- Daily coaching from experienced, professional IFMGA & NZMGA ski guides
- The chance to put every skill into practice in a safe, supported setting
This immersive five-day course is built for anyone ready to move beyond the ski area boundary and into the backcountry — skier or splitboarder. You’ll leave with the tools and the confidence to start planning your own backcountry days.