Sol Mountain Touring offers four courses:

• Introduction to Backcountry Skiing or Snowboarding

• AST Avalanche Skills Training

• Comprehensive Backcountry Skiing Skills

• Yoga Clinic

At Sol Mountain we offer courses for visitors who are interested in improving important backcountry skills. Taking a course is a great starting point to gain necessary snow and backcountry experience. Here you can gain the foundation of knowledge and expertise to make your own decisions in the mountains. Our popular courses range from backcountry skills workshops to multi-day CAC approved Avalanche Skills Training workshops in both levels 1 and 2. Taking an avalanche safety course at Sol means we wake up in the terrain and don’t waste time getting to the mountains each day. Classroom material is covered in the evenings, which means days are devoted to discussion of terrain, route finding, decision making in avalanche terrain, and skiing. All courses are instructed by certified ACMG guides well versed in the local terrain and snowpack. AST courses use the Canadian Avalanche Center curriculum, widely believed to be superior to those offered in the United States. Not to be missed, we also offer a yoga skills clinic that runs in conjunction with ski days.

Intro Day to Backcountry Skiing

If you have not tried backcountry skiing yet, we offer a class for you called introduction to backcountry skiing or snowboarding. This course is in partnership with Silver Star Mountain Resort [link] and will prepare you for your first backcountry ski trip to the Monashees. Courses provide instruction and insight about gear, clothing and packing, and tips and techniques for efficient uphill ski touring. Backcountry skiing is a sport of details and this course gets the basic learning stage behind you so you can make the most of your days in the backcountry at Sol Mountain. Please book directly with Denys Lawrence (silverdale(at)shaw.ca or 250.545.1375). The cost is $65 per person.

Avalanche Skills Training (AST)

During the month of December we offer the option to book a four-night trip as an AST Level 1 or Level 2 course (see below for specific dates) or on any other regular season trips for groups of 4 or more. We offer a comprehensive backcountry skiing course in addition to the standard Level 1 or Level 2 Avalanche Skills Training course developed by the Canadian Avalanche Centre. Classroom material is covered in the evenings, which allows us to devote full days to skiing, discussion of terrain and route finding, and decision making in avalanche terrain. Instructional materials and student handbooks are provided by the CAC and certificates are issued at course end. The CAC avalanche training courses are a prerequisite for more advanced CAC courses. Cost for the December four-night course is $890 per person with self-catering. Catering is also available for those groups that are interested, please contact us for more details. Cost includes ACMG guiding and instruction, lodging, all course materials, and helicopter transfer to and from the Sol Mountain. Click here for more information about Avalanche Skills Training Courses.

Comprehensive Backcountry Skiing

: Photo by Steve Ogle

We also offer comprehensive backcountry skiing courses, available on any trip to groups of four or more people. Course content covers trip planning, terrain selection and route finding, and includes the Level 1 or Level 2 Avalanche Skills Training course syllabus developed by the Canadian Avalanche Centre. Instructional materials and student handbooks are provided by the CAC and certificates are issued at course end. Classroom sessions are covered in the evenings and emphasis is on terrain skills and full days of skiing. Click here for more information about Avalanche Skills Training Courses.

Yoga Clinic

: Photo by Steve Ogle

New this year we offer beginner and intermediate yoga classes on specific trips, instructed by our own yogi Sabine Cooperman. Days begin with early morning pranayama (breathing) class before we head out skiing. The ski day is shortened to leave time for an ashtanga flow yoga class in the afternoon when our muscles are warm and relaxed. With daily yoga practice, you'll see daily improvement in your skiing as your body and mind becomes more flexible, strong, and balanced.