AMC Boston Chapter Backcountry Ski Workshop
January 30 to February 1, 2004
Information for Registered Participants
Revised 11-09-03
This document contains information you will need to prepare for the backcountry ski workshop. Please read this document thoroughly well in advance of the workshop.
IMPORTANT: You must register in advance for this workshop – NO on-site registrations will be accepted. See registration information online or in the AMC Outdoors.
Welcome to the AMC Boston Chapter Backcountry Ski Workshop. This document will help you prepare for, and know what to expect at, the workshop. Please also see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
As detailed below, there are several things you must do to prepare for the workshop. You must come to the workshop with:
· A good idea of which instructional group you wish to join
· Skis, boots, and poles (backcountry or telemark, depending on the instructional group you select) that are in good condition
· Clothing, pack, and other gear as specified herein
· A signed liability release form
· Driving directions to the AMC’s Cardigan Lodge.
If you intend to participate in the Intermediate/Advanced Telemark instructional group (see discussion below), you will also need:
· Telemark skis and boots (instead of standard backcountry skis and boots)
· Full-length climbing skins.
We strongly encourage car pooling to the workshop. If you requested it at the time of registration, a car pool list will be mailed to you in advance of the workshop.
Please advise the workshop registrar, Charlotte Ricker (charlottericker@earthlink.net), of any dietary restrictions well in advance of the workshop.
We attempt to cover a range of skiing interests and abilities at this workshop. Participants generally find the workshop most enjoyable and educational if they are with a group having similar skiing abilities and interests. While there is no perfect system for grouping participants, we use self selection in advance of the workshop, followed by adjustments as needed at the workshop. Click here for a description of the instructional groups offered at the workshop. You should review the descriptions in advance of the workshop and select the group that best represents your abilities and interests. If you and your instructors determine Saturday morning that you would be better off in another group, you will have the opportunity to change groups for Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
You must consider the different equipment requirements for the Intermediate/Advanced Telemark Group compared to the other groups in making your group selection (see discussion under Ski Equipment below). While all groups require equipment suitable for backcountry skiing, the Intermediate/Advanced Telemark Group requires equipment suitable for telemark skiing (telemark skis and boots, and climbing skins).
In any case, we ask for your patience and understanding. Unlike skiing at touring centers, in the backcountry groups must keep together for safety’s sake. Even under the best of circumstances, there will be a range of abilities and skiing speeds within any given instructional group, and faster skiers will sometimes need to wait for slower skiers to catch up.
You must sign a liability release to participate in this workshop. The registrar will email you a copy of the form. Please print, sign, and bring to the workshop.
We spend much of the workshop outdoors skiing, so your focus should be on the clothing and equipment needed for extended outdoor activity in cold and perhaps wet conditions. Click here for clothing (outdoor and indoor) and gear recommendations for the workshop. While cotton is acceptable inside the lodge, it should NOT be worn outdoors. Cotton offers little or no insulation when wet, and is very difficult to dry once wet. Please avoid cotton blue jeans, tee shirts, socks, underwear, etc. while skiing. Check the tags on your clothing if in doubt. Suitable synthetic or wool clothing can be purchased at REI, EMS, Wilderness House, or a number of other recreational equipment stores. On a limited budget? Thrift stores or Army/Navy stores generally have low-cost wool pants and shirts that work fine in the backcountry (even if their first life was as dress clothing). Bring clothing that you can layer to suit the weather and your activity level–multiple thin layers are better than one heavy layer. Be sure your daypack has sufficient space to hold the layers you will peel off as you warm up.
Ski equipment needs vary with instructional group. Click here for ski equipment descriptions. You will need backcountry or telemark ski equipment (depending on instructional group) for this workshop. Do NOT bring regular touring, racing, or skating skis, boots, or poles to this workshop. You may bring either waxless or wax-based skis to this workshop. While many prefer the convenience and simplicity of waxless skis, the workshop instructors can assist you with waxing tips if you have wax-based skis. Please bring your own ski waxes for wax-based skis.
Please inspect your equipment carefully in advance of the workshop to be sure your equipment is in good condition. Pay special attention to:
· Skis/Bindings (make sure bindings are tight and free of cracks, make sure skis are free of splits or delamination)
· Boots (soles should be free of cracks and firmly attached to uppers at all points, check that boots fit the bindings)
· Poles (make sure both baskets intact, and that straps are firmly attached to poles and easily adjusted).
If you do not own ski equipment suitable for this workshop, you will need to borrow or rent equipment. Borrowing equipment can be tricky, as equipment needs vary depending on your weight, skiing ability, and type of skiing you wish to do.
If you wish to rent, keep in mind that many rental outfits will not accept reservations. Please allow ample time for rental in case your first source does not have what you need. Please be sure to specify backcountry ski equipment (or telemark, depending on your chosen instructional group)–not regular cross-country skis designed for groomed trails or gentle terrain–see Ski Equipment discussion above. Please check rental equipment carefully before leaving the shop (see checklist under Ski Equipment above). Also make sure that you understand how the binding system works, and that the boots fit the bindings. Most rental outfits do NOT rent climbing skins (needed by the Intermediate/Advanced Telemark Group participants only). Based on a limited survey, here are some rental outfits that you may wish to consider:
·
REI, 279 Salem St., Reading, MA (781-944-5103)
Skis: Karhu 10th Mountain
Division Tour
Boots: Asolo (leather)
Price: $40 for 3 days (2003 price)
No reservations accepted
·
EMS, Main St., North Conway, NH 03860 (603-356-5433)
Skis: Fischer Outtabounds, Outbounds,
Rebounds
Boots: Garmont Excursions (plastic)
Price: $30 for 3 days (2003 price)
Reservations accepted with credit card.
We supply the above information for your convenience. We cannot guarantee its accuracy. Please advise the workshop registrar of any inaccuracies or omissions. Thanks!
The workshop will be held at the AMC’s Cardigan Lodge. The AMC's Cardigan Lodge is located at 774 Shem Valley Road in Alexandria, NH, about 2.5 hours driving time from Boston under good road conditions. Click here for directions from the Boston area.
Warning—the road into Cardigan Lodge is remote, steep in places, and narrow. Your vehicle should be equipped with snow tires in good condition, or tire chains, and a shovel. Bring a cell phone if you have one in case you need to call for assistance.
If at all possible, please plan to arrive no later than 10:00 PM Friday, January 30. If you plan to partake in the Friday night buffet, remember that the buffet is served from 6 to 8 PM only. If you get lost, call the Lodge at 603-744-8011.
We encourage all participants and instructors to car pool. Not only does this save money, the environment, and parking space, but it’s also more fun. If you requested it when registering, you will receive a car pool list by mail in advance of the workshop.
Much of the workshop is held outdoors, developing and practicing skills and taking ski tours. We will also have information booths Saturday evening to help answer your questions about clothing, gear, ski equipment, and safety. Click here for a draft workshop agenda. The agenda is subject to change, depending on snow conditions, weather, participant preferences, and other factors. You will notice by the agenda that your time will be fairly structured for most of the workshop.
While outdoors, it is important that you stay with your group and your instructor(s). This is both a safety and a consideration issue. We also ask that you help by adhering to the schedule for meals, meetings, and ski-tour departure times.
Your registration fee includes:
· Lodging for Friday and Saturday nights;
· Friday night buffet (served only from 6 to 8 PM);
· Breakfast, lunch, happy hour (BYO wine/beer), and dinner on Saturday; and
· Breakfast and lunch on Sunday.
A description of the AMC’s Cardigan Lodge can be found here. You will stay in bunkrooms (4 to 6 people per room), with community bath/shower rooms. You must bring a sleeping bag or linens. Blankets (2 per bunk) and pillows are provided. A sleeping bag is preferred, as the lodge can be quite cool at night. You will need to bring a towel, soap, shampoo, and other personal items (see Clothing and Gear above). Meals (except for trail lunches) will be served at the lodge.
Before you depart on Sunday, we will ask you to complete a workshop evaluation form. We greatly appreciate your careful completion of this evaluation (especially your written comments) so we can improve the workshop in future years.
· Smoking is NOT allowed inside the lodge or visitor center.
· Pets are NOT allowed at this workshop.
· Participants under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also registered for the workshop
· Courteous and safe consumption of alcohol is permitted in the evenings (after all outdoor activity is complete). The legal drinking age in New Hampshire is 21.
Before Friday, January 30:
· Charlotte Ricker, Workshop Registrar: 617-290-3350 (6 to 10 PM)
· Bob Zogg, Workshop Coordinator: 617-489-5913 (7 to 10 PM)
Friday:
· Call Cardigan Lodge at 603-744-8011
Some skiing experience, but still shaky and nervous when moving on skis. This group will focus on controlled ski manipulation (side-stepping, stationary turn, and keeping poles out of the way), diagonal stride (classic technique), hill climbing, and the use of the wedge (snowplow) to control speed, turn and stop. Instruction will be mostly in open areas and on the relatively short and easy trails.
Skiers in this group should be able to ski in control on groomed trails rated “Easiest” (green) and “More Difficult” (blue) and have some experience on groomed trails rated “Most Difficult” (black), and may have some experience on ungroomed trails. Areas of skill instruction will be similar to the Novice Group, but will include practice on longer and steeper slopes. We will introduce the telemark turn to those interested in learning this downhill turning technique. Relative to the Novice Group, ski tours will be on longer, more challenging trails. Additional instruction and tips will be provided along the trail.
Skiers in this group should be able to ski in control on most groomed trails and have some backcountry experience. Areas of skill instruction will be similar to the Intermediate Group (including introduction to the telemark turn), but tours will be on more challenging trails and at a faster pace. Intermediate Plus participants should be in good physical condition to accommodate the faster pace.
This group will work on telemark, parallel or other turning techniques on open hills and on the trails. Specifically, the focus will be on improving turning techniques in ungroomed conditions, telemark techniques on narrow trails, and general off-trail techniques in steeper terrain. Participants in this group must have proficiency with linked telemark turns on the open slope, the ability and experience in climbing over one thousand vertical feet in winter, and the ability to control descents on steep, narrow trails. In addition, participants must come equipped for telemark skiing as outlined under Ski Equipment. Participation in this group is by instructor approval only, based on your skills and abilities demonstrated in the Saturday morning skills session.
Here’s the clothing and gear (in addition to skis, boots, and poles) recommended for the workshop.
· Large daypack – Fanny packs are not large enough
· Water bottles (2 one-liter bottles recommended) or winterized Camelback (or equivalent) that is compatible with your daypack
· Head lamp (best) or flashlight (this is also handy for use in the lodge)
· Trail lunch (provided), if an all-day tour
· Sunglasses
· Long underwear (synthetic, silk, or wool)
· Lightweight pile top or wool shirt
· Pile jacket or wool sweater
· Rain/wind gear, including hooded jacket and pants
· Synthetic tights or pants, or wool pants
· Hat (synthetic or wool)
· Liner socks (synthetic or silk – 2 pairs)
· Outer socks (synthetic or wool – 2 pairs)
· Liner gloves
· Medium-weight gloves or mittens
· Nylon mitten shells
· Gaiters (to keep snow out of your boots)
· Hiking boots (in case there’s no snow and we hike instead)
· Optional – neck warmer, scarf, ear muffs, extra hat, extra gloves/mittens, camera, extra sunscreen, trail map, extra trail snacks
Think layers – several lighter layers are better than a single, heavy layer. This allows you to adjust your clothing depending on weather and your activity level.
Remember – NO COTTON!!
· Sneakers, slippers or moccasins
· Casual clothing, including sweaters/warm stuff
· Sweats or pajamas (to wear to and from the community shower/bathrooms)
· Toiletries, including soap, shampoo
· Towel
· Sleeping bag (recommended) or bed linens
· Ear plugs (for sleeping)
· Sunscreen (to apply to exposed areas before you go out to ski)
Recommended Ski Equipment for the Workshop
The following are ski equipment guidelines for participants in the AMC Boston Chapter Backcountry Workshop. The first section covers equipment for the Novice, Intermediate, and Intermediate Plus instructional groups (i.e., backcountry touring equipment). The second section covers equipment for the Intermediate/Advanced Telemark instructional group, and is only for advanced level skiers who plan to telemark for the entire time.
These guidelines will help you choose equipment that will allow you to tour in comfort and learn a variety of turns, including wedge, parallel, and telemark. We strongly recommend that you follow the guidelines below so that you can take full advantage of the workshop. If you have questions, feel free to contact the workshop registrar.
Backcountry Touring Equipment (for Novice, Intermediate, and Intermediate Plus Instructional Groups)
Skis:
· Choose wider skis (between 50 to 68 mm at the waist) having metal edges. Metal edges are essential for backcountry skiing.
· Skis should be double camber or a camber and a half. Camber refers to the central arch under the foot of the ski. Single-camber skis (typically downhill skis) are NOT recommended and will slow you down on the tours.
· Skis can be waxable or waxless. If you do bring waxable skis, be sure to bring wax as well.
Bindings:
There are several options for backcountry touring bindings. Any of the following will work well for this workshop.
· Three pin/75mm
· Three-pin cable
· NNN BC or SNS BC (these bindings have a wider toe bar than SNS or NNN general touring bindings, which are NOT recommended)
Boots:
Backcountry tours involve more turning and downhill travel than XC ski
center touring, so you need boots that provide solid ankle support and rigidity.
There are several types of boots available for backcountry skiing:
· All-leather boots cut above the ankle with a “duck bill” in front to fit 3-pin bindings. They look like leather hiking boots.
· Combination boots are made of both leather and plastic, and can fit either 3-pin or NNN BC bindings, depending on the boot. Check to make sure your backcountry boots are compatible with the bindings you choose.
· Light-touring all-plastic boots are also now available. The Garmont Excursion or Salomon T3 boots are two currently available. If you do choose all-plastic boots, be sure that they are for touring. Heavy plastic boots are NOT recommended and will add extra weight and slow you down on tours.
IMPORTANT: Please be sure that your boots and bindings are compatible before you arrive at the workshop. NNN BC boots will fit NNN BC bindings. SNS BC boots will fit SNS BC bindings. Three-pin or 75mm boots will fit in 3-pin bindings or 3-pin cable bindings.
Poles:
Poles should be lightweight and strong. Bamboo poles are not recommended. Lightweight adjustable skiing poles (not hiking poles, as they are generally not strong enough) are a great choice for the backcountry. However, non-adjustable poles will also work well. Be sure poles have large baskets and adjustable wrist loops that are anchored firmly to the pole grip.
Telemark Equipment (for Intermediate/Advanced Telemark Group Only)
Advanced skiers who can easily make linked telemark turns and who plan to telemark the entire time should bring the following equipment. (If you want to participate in some of the non-telemark tours, you should plan to bring lighter backcountry gear in addition to telemark gear.)
Skis:
· Single-camber telemark skis or alpine skis mounted with tele bindings, with a sidecut of at least 15 to 20 mm.
· Fischer S-bound series of skis, which include the Rebounds, Outtabounds, and Boundless, are also a good choice and can be rented at the EMS in North Conway. These are a new category of ski that fall in between heavier lift-served tele skis and lighter touring equipment. The Rebounds and Outtabounds can be used for both backcountry touring and telemark. The Boundless would be a better choice for just telemark.
Bindings:
· 3-pin/75mm (preferably with cables)
· Any tele cable or rod binding combination (Chilis, Superloops, Cobras, Hardwires, etc.) NNN BC or SNS BC bindings are not recommended.
Boots:
Heavier leather or all-plastic boots will both work—it’s your choice. However, you may find you get more control with combination leather/plastic boots or all-plastic boots. Be sure that your bindings are adjusted to fit your boots.
Poles:
Adjustable poles for skiing (not hiking, they are generally not strong enough) are a great choice for backcountry tele. Alpine-style poles will also work well. Cross-country poles are NOT recommended.
Climbing Skins:
If you want to participate in the telemark tours, you will need full-length climbing skins. Most places do not rent skins, so if you don't have skins, you will have to borrow a pair or buy them.
Other Equipment:
· Knee pads - preferable, but optional
· Helmet - optional
774 Shem Valley Road, Alexandria, NH
603-744-8011
About 2.5 hours driving time from Boston under good road conditions
From Boston (and Interstate 93 in New Hampshire):
1) Take Interstate 93 North to Route 104 West (Exit 23, New Hampton, NH).
2) Take Route 104 West about six miles to Route 3A North in Bristol, NH
3) Take Route 3A North toward Plymouth for 2.1 miles.
4) Turn left onto West Shore Road - at the blinking light where Our Lady of Grace stone church is on the far-left corner.
5) Proceed 2.9 miles before turning left onto North Road.
6) Turn right onto Washburn Road in Alexandria, NH
7) Bear right onto Mount Cardigan Road.
8) Follow Mount Cardigan Road for 3.6 miles.
9) Stay left at the intersection with Brook Road.
10) Follow Shem Valley Road 1.5 miles to Cardigan Lodge
If at all possible, please plan to arrive no later than 10:00 PM Friday, January 30. If you plan to partake in the Friday night buffet, remember that the buffet is served from 6 to 8 PM only. If you get lost, call the Lodge at 603-744-8011.
Friday Night
Arrive at Cardigan between 2 and 10 PM.
A buffet dinner is available 6 to 8 PM.
8:00 AM Breakfast
8:45 AM Welcome and Introductions
Preliminary Clothing/Gear Talk
9:00 AM Change for Skiing
9:30 AM Skills and Drills
12:00 PM Cold Lunch at Lodge
1:15 PM Afternoon Ski Tours
4:00 PM Return to Lodge/Shower
5:00 PM Happy Hour (BYO Wine/Beer)
6:00 PM Family-Style Dinner
7:15 PM Information Booths:
- Clothing and Pack Contents
- Equipment
- Frostbite/Hypothermia/Emergency Shelter
- Route Finding and Terrain
9:00 PM Free Time
8:00 AM Breakfast
8:45 AM Announcements
Pick Up Trail Lunches
8:45 AM Change for Skiing/Check Out of Lodge
9:30 AM All-Day Ski Tours
2:30 PM Return to Lodge
Complete Evaluation Forms
3:30 PM Depart