2 Spaces Available
Ski Tour Course and Exam
$ 2475
Mar 31, 2025 – Apr 06, 2025
Blue River, BC
GOAL: To have candidates apply their knowledge of terrain and group management in a self propelled environment as a guide. The candidates will build upon previously gained skills as a CSGI level 2 while becoming proficient at new technical travel and management skills needed to work as a ski touring guide under the supervision of a lead guide.
Prerequisites
- Summer Glacier Skills Course or equivalent
- Canadian Ski Guide Level 2
- Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 (CAA Level 2 preferred)
- Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance Level 2 or equivalent
- *New - Alpine Rope & Travel Skills Course
- Employment in a Helicopter or Cat Ski Operation for 2 years and minimum 60 days experience
- Current 80 Hour First Aid Certificate
- Back country ski touring resume or trip log documenting experience
CSGI Level 1 Ski Tour Course and Assessment
The CSGI Ski Touring Module focuses on developing the guiding skills previously certified to the CSGI Level 2 certification with a focus on self propelled travel in challenging and complex terrain. The CSGI Ski Touring Module certifies guides to take clients on long multi day tours and guide clients up easy snow climbs to summits and mountain peaks, with the goal of skiing off the top, or just summiting easy snow climbs. A CSGI Ski Touring Module teaches the skills to set highly efficient up tracks for long days of ski touring, rope skills to enable client management up short pitches and ridgelines and roped up glaciated travel and rescue.as well as exposed terrain that is technically easy to move through but consequential, requiring a rope to eliminate hazard. A CSGA member with the CSGI Level 1 Ski Tour Course and Assessment is not expected to be a rock climber or ice climber. If the terrain gets to a point where ice, snow or rock protection is required, it is NOT ski guiding. Long vertical pitches of climbing with consequence is also not considered ski guiding. This is alpine climbing or mountaineering. To successfully complete the CSGI Level 1 Ski Tour Course and Assessment, the following skills need to be demonstrated and examined over a 6 day course and exam, to the level as outlined in the DACUM:
• Setting precise efficient up tracks ski touring
• Excellent navigation skills
• Tech rope skills: (6mm small diameter, Petzl, Edelrid or similar) Lowering, raise, raise to a lower, lower to raise, glacier travel on tech ropes, roped and unroped crevasse rescue
• Short pitching/belays
• Short roping
• Client Management and Care
• Safe travel and hazard management
• Situational Assessment and Management Skills
Upon completion of the Ski Touring Level 1, a CSGA member is able to guide ski touring clients with Direct or Indirect Supervision from a CSGA Level 3 with Ski Touring Endorsement or Equivalent (ACMG Ski Guide, IFMGA). Candidates are eligible for the Ski Touring Endorsement following successful completion of CSGI Level 3 Endorsement.
Ski Touring Log Requirements
• 15 backcountry tours 1-2 days in high alpine terrain
• 2 backcountry tours 3-5 days or longer – non hut based
• 2 backcountry tours 3-5 days or longer – may be hut based
• Description of days worked as mechanized or ski touring guide
• Any relevant summer mountaineering experience
• Experience in a variety of mountain ranges
• References that can vouch for your backcountry ski touring resume
• Include names and contact