Page 15 - 2020 Altiora Vol 72

WILDERNESS EDUCATION | 15
TION
WILDERNESS EDUCA
| 15

COUNTRY SKIING EXPEDITION
YEAR 12 OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP BA
YEAR 12 OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP BACKCOUNTRY SKIING EXPEDITION
CK
In July, our Year 12 Outdoor Leadership The students are to be commended on all
students were also in the Snowy Mountains aspects of their expedition. They prepared
for their first experience of using backcountry their own meals and equipment thoroughly;
skiing equipment to access the snow managed themselves in a challenging
environment. environment; conducted ongoing risk
For some, this was their first time on any type assessments for themselves and others;
of ski. Even those seasoned Alpine skiers faced co-operated and empathised with others
a new and challenging experience when they constantly throughout the trip; and showed a
strapped telemark equipment to their boots. strong commitment to learning a new skill.
Backcountry skis are designed to allow users to Whilst our Year 12s had better weather than
ski both up and down hills. They have a ‘fish- their Year 11 counterparts, it takes a lot of
scale’ pattern on the base that allows the ski to courage and perseverance to continue trying
stick to the snow when walking up hills and the to master backcountry skiing when you are
heel of a skier’s boot that moves independently faced with challenging snow conditions and
of the ski itself. Whilst this makes walking a lot equipment that feels like it’s trying to trip you
easier, it also results in quite a few ‘face plants’ up. The amount of personal growth displayed
when learning to ski for the first time! by the students was outstanding.