BC Season Primer

Fall 2024 BC Primer!  Sunday, November 10 (completed)

MRVBC has partnered again with Kel Rossiter of Adventure Spirit to offer a 1-day workshop on backcountry fundamentals. The BC Primer will be an all-day workshop held at the Mad River Glen @ the Cricket Club and on the mountain on Sunday, November 10th. The course topics will help those who are newer to backcountry skiing/riding feel more comfortable going out into the deep woods of our region in search of untracked snow. More experienced skiers/riders will gain useful insights, information, tools, and techniques for exploring mountains further afield.  And all will certainly enjoy meeting and connecting with other BC enthusiasts in our community!

Date: Sunday, November 10th, 2024

Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location: Mad River Glen, @ the Cricket Club, first on left on Schuss Pass, park in the MRG main lot and walk over the bridge please.

Cost: CTA + MRVBC members $55 | Non-members $95

Tip: Become a CTA/MRVBC member for $40 and receive the member discount and many other benefits!

Pre-registration is required and is limited. <REGISTER HERE>

Workshop Topics

Fundamentals (layering, food & drink, what's in your pack, BC equipment options)

First Aid Considerations (handling common injuries, looking at a sample first aid kit, and considerations for improvised evacuations)

Repair Kit (ideas for fixing your gear if it fails miles into the BC) 

Useful Techniques&Skills (techniques for everything from putting on skins, to kick turns, to transitioning efficiently from uphill to downhill)

Avalanche Considerations & Rescue Fundamentals (snowpack, terrain, triggers, weather, Northeast condition specifics, forecasting, beacon rescue basics)

Northeastern-Specific Considerations (how to be a responsible BC skier and make the most out of your skiing days in our unique region)

Tour Planning (terrain types, map usage, backup plans)

Putting it all together

Participant Feedback From 2023 Course

"Thanks Kel! Great session for a new BC skier! Loved the gear and planning discussions. Great  confidence builder."

"Fantastic course. Fast pace. Interactive. Kept interest. No ego. Funny. Thanks!

"Overall a great day. Highly recommend to anyone looking to explore past the boundary of resorts. Thank you!"

"Great focus on regional issues. Fun atmosphere. Well organized."

"Excellent presentation—interesting and informative."

"I found the program really informative. Highlights: --First info I've received about avalanches –Appreciated the NE focus –Like the comprehensive nature. Instruction (Kel) was great. Thanks."

"Great course! Really enjoyed the instructors energy & knowledge. Covered a lot, but definitely feels like a beginning to my backcountry adventures..."

"Kel is extremely engaging in his pedagogical approach to the subject. He covers so much on approaching the backcountry in bit size topics and sections. Whether a review or brand new on the information, he makes it fun and easy to learn and glean new adventure."

"Kel is an excellent instructor with great energy. I appreciated the pace of the workshop. There was a lot of information shared and he kept my attention the whole time. I would love a more in depth training on route planning. For example, we could have a day training where we mapped a route and then went to that area on a group tour the next day. Thank you!"

"The class & Kel were SUPER informative. Kel is an engaging presenter, incredibly knowledgeable and passionate. I learned a ton and am excited about the upcoming season!"

"Mad River's Backcountry Primer with Kel of Adventure Spirit was a great refresher! It got my excited about the upcoming season and where I'm going in my BC learning. Thank you!"