Page 49 - RADC Bulletin 2021

SPORT & AT
Exercise Tiger
Medicine Yeti
Capt O Jest
While posted at BATUS I had the opportunity to complete the course Ski Foundation 2 in March 2021. Military run facilities, with appropriate control measures in place, made it possible for the course to go ahead despite the COVID19 Pandemic. Along with the usual social distancing and mask wearing, we had to get tested and receive a negative result for COVID19 within three days prior to the start of the course.
We were based at Trails End Camp (TEC) in Southern Alberta between Calgary and Canmore. TEC is a fantastic military facility. Amongst other things, there are all the essentials for AT such as accommodation, dining facilities, a briefing room and kit drying room. The food was superb, all provided by military chefs. Breakfast and dinner were eaten at TEC and packed lunches given to us each morning to take with us.
The course itself was excellent. Including myself there were six students in our group. Our instructor was a highly qualified civilian mountain guide from a local company
in Canmore called Yamnuska Mountain Adventures. Each morning we drove from TEC to meet our instructor in Canmore. We talked through the plan for that day including routes, weather, hazards and how to reduce risks. We then drove to wherever we would be skiing that day.
We spent the first three days of the week at Ski Resorts (Sunshine, Nakiska and Lake Louise). During this time, we focused on improving our technique through drills and practice. Before going into the back country, we conducted avalanche and rescue training. The first part was in the classroom learning the theory of how avalanches occur and how to rescue someone caught in an avalanche. The second part was practical training at a resort, in an avalanche training area. Using transmitters that we each wore,
we practiced locating wooden targets buried in the snow. The transmitter guides you
to within about one metre from the target and then you use a probe to locate the target more accurately. We also practiced shovelling snow to simulate uncovering someone that was trapped. Having completed this training, we were prepared to go into areas with avalanche risk (albeit very low where we were going). The final two days of the week included back country skiing.
We were using touring skis all week which are much wider than regular skis. This provides a larger surface area helping you stay on top of the snowpack, making both going uphill and downhill easier. The ski bindings can be converted into ‘walk mode.’ This results in being clipped in only at the toes and not at the heels and a lot more flex in the boot. Your boots pivot around your toes which are anchored by pins to the ski. Skins are attached to the skis which prevent you from slipping backwards and provide grip to be able to ‘walk’ uphill.
For me the Ski Touring was the highlight of the course. It was incredible to be able to access untouched areas and slopes away from the resorts, knowing that so few people get to go and experience those places in the winter.
After
reaching the
top of the climb, you
take the skins off, convert
your bindings back to ski mode
and you are ready to ski down with nothing but powder in all directions. I found skiing through powder to be harder than it looks, and it feels so different
from normal skiing on piste. The floating sensation while skiing powder is incredible. Although you reach the bottom quickly compared to the hike uphill, it is definitely worth the time and effort. Overall, it was
a thoroughly enjoyable week that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in taking their skiing to the next level.
RADC BULLETIN 2021 47