Backcountry skiers/splitboarders with moderate touring experience who are hoping to push their skills to the next level and prepare for bigger mountain objectives

Fitness, clothing, and equipment to ski or hike up to 8 miles round trip with a 10-pound pack. If skiing or riding, you should be advanced enough to ski ungroomed intermediate terrain at major northeast ski resorts safely.

We will utilize the terrain of Saddleback Ski Area in order to quickly and effectively execute rescue scenarios while traveling on skis or boards.

Acadia Mountain Guides is Maine’s only full-service climbing school, owned and operated by IFMGA mountain guide Jon Tierney. AMG has been teaching and guiding throughout the world for over 20 years with a passion for creating well-prepared alumni of courses so that they can go out and travel with confidence in the mountains. AMG is an AMGA accredited climbing school and all AMG guides are AMGA trained/certified.

Participants receive a 20% discount on any avalanche related purchases made between registration and seven days after the course (15% thereafter for lifetime). Avalanche gear will be available for purchase at the course as well. (online at AlpenglowGear.com) 

Ski Clothing; (your normal backcountry skiing kit w/ added insulation for standing around and learning)

• Softshell jacket
• Softshell pants
• 1 mid-weight layer (regulator fleece)
• 1 light top or similar base layer
• Base layers
• 2 prs of ski socks
• Heavy gloves
• light gloves (soft shell, wind stopper or wool)
• Ski hat/helmet
• Down coat/puffy/insulation layer
• Goggles
• Sunglasses
• Balaclava 

Lunch Food, Snacks, and Drinks (as desired);

• Cliff bars/energy bars/energy gels
• Jerky
• Mixed nuts
• Chocolate
• Hot chocolate/tea/coffee/etc.

In the field

• Touring skis, poles, boots, split board, or snowshoes.
• Mountaineering Axe*
• Boot Crampons*
• Ski Crampons (if you have them)
• Ski or splitboard Skins*
• Ski pack (30 L or bigger)
• Thermos
• Compass with baseplate
• Sunscreen/lip balm

TO BE ADDED

TO BE ADDED

Each day we will choose appropriate ski objectives based on weather, snow and avalanche conditions, and personal interest. 

• Day 1 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM); Introductions, complete registration paperwork. Brief presentation/orientation to technical equipment, explore contents of our backcountry skiing packs, and a brief discussion of layering. From there we will head out on the snow to explore new skills pieces of technical equipment and understanding when it is appropriate to use each tool and technique.

Please complete the following as pre-course work and be prepared to discuss in class.

Tour Planning:

• Tour planning is how you prepare to go into the backcountry.
• A tour plan is generated by using the avalanche bulletin, combined with maps (both hard copy and electronic versions) and a weather forecast to understand how the weather will influence your plan.
• It is easy to create reliable computer/phone-based tour plans to bring to the backcountry. You should always have a hard map and compass.
• Your tour plan should give you an idea of the vertical gain, the distance, compass bearings, run options, areas to be careful of. Attached is a sample tour plan template.
• Electronic tour planning is great, but you need to understand some basics as well. We will review tour planning basics in class but keep in mind it is not a navigation class. Please bring a compass, ideally with a base plate.
• We will be doing some sample tour planning during the course. It is helpful if you are able to bring a laptop computer.
• We suggest downloading the following programs and apps which are useful for digital mapping:

         To your laptop: Caltopo
          To your smartphone: the mapping apps Avensa, Caltopo, Gaia, and the Windy app for weather.

         Tour planning resources:

• https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=38.8,-98.4&z=5&b=mbt
• https://www.google.com/earth/
• https://www.gaiagps.com/
• https://www.stockalpine.com/posts/google-earth-gaia-gps.html
• http://www.mountainschoolnews.com/2010/04/route-planning-how-to.html

Please visit the website of Saddleback Maine to find information on local lodging and dining. 

Lodging

Dining

No one starts the day expecting to get hurt in the backcountry. However, despite all we know and all we do, accidents can still happen. At AMG, we take your medical care seriously. Like many guide services, our leaders are trained as Wilderness First Responders; many are WEMTs. Additionally, all our regular employees participate in periodic medical skills review with our owner Jon, a flight paramedic and lead instructor in wilderness medicine. Additionally, on courses traveling to remote areas such as Katahdin, Chic-Chocs, or Mount Washington, you can expect our guides to have pain and sedation medications available if needed.

As we all look for ways to get outside it’s important do so in a responsible manner that promotes the health and safety of both participants and guides. Since opening in 1994, Acadia Mountain Guides has had a strong reputation for leading the way with regard to safety quality assurance and has now established Covid-19 pandemic guidelines that meet and exceed those recommended by the CDC, the state of Maine, the American Camping Association and professional guide associations. We are committed to maintaining a healthy educational environment. As best practices continue to evolve and the nature of the pandemic changes we will continue to adapt our guidelines. We ask for your patience, flexibility and cooperation and we work through this together. If you If you do not pass our COVID screening or we are forced to cancel your program due to COVID, you will be given the option to reschedule or receive a full refund. 

During your avalanche training course you can expect the following COVID guidelines to be followed:

• AMG will limit the size of courses and travel groups to reduce exposure and to meet spacing requirements.
• Guides will record health status and temperature at start of day will not report to work if symptomatic.
• Clients are expected to honestly answer the following health related questions regarding COVID – 19 signs and symptoms and understand that you may not be allowed to participate if certain conditions are present:
  • Known close contact with a + COVID person within last 14 days?
  • Onset of non-productive cough within last 14 days?
  • Onset of new shortness of breath within last 14 days?
  • If any of the above, you may not participate until having a COVID test or have been symptom free for 14 days.

• Any additional signs / symptoms Fever (>100.4 F), recent chills, body aches/muscle pain, headache, sore throat, nausea/vomiting, new loss of taste or smell.
• If 2 or more of above you may not participate until having a COVID test or have been symptom free for 14 days. If your participation in the outing is not allowed, you will be given the option to reschedule, or to receive a refund.

• Surfaces, instruments and equipment in which we anticipate your contact will be disinfected prior to your arrival.
• Hand sanitizer will be readily available throughout the course.
• Whenever possible we will meet and prepare for tours outside in the fresh air.
• We will not share food, drink or clothing.
• We will not greet you with a hand shake but with a big, friendly smile hidden by our face covering.
• Physical distancing will be maintained when possible and face coverings will be utilized when distancing can’t be maintained.
• You will be issued a cleaned transceiver, shovel and probe for your own use during course. Any additional shared gear will be sanitized or quarantined between use.
• Clients and guide should ride in separate vehicles. Carpooling with those outside of your family is discouraged.
• Medical care: In addition to standard medical supplies, guides will carry an HME filter and mask to safely provide airway and breathing management.

You may view our complete COVID guidelines here. These guidelines have been reviewed by risk management experts and our Medical Advisor, Dr. Jonnathan Busko, M.D.

Parking at Saddleback is free, students will required to purchase an uphill travel ticket for the day of the course. These can be purchased at the ticket window at Saddleback.

Students with a Saddleback season pass need not purchase an uphill pass.

TO BE ADDED