Skip to content

Baldy Alpine Club touts backcountry safety

Baldy ski resort supports avalanche skills training course
9552045_web1_171127_PWN_Mount-Baldy-credit--Chris-Perra
An avalanche skills training course will be offered at the Baldy Mountain Resort, organized by the Mt. Baldy Alpine Club, on Dec. 28 and 29. Photo credit: Chris Perra/Contributor

As backcountry travel becomes more popular for skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers, the Baldy Mountain Resort is doing its part to help keep people safe.

The ski resort will host an avalance skills training course Dec. 28 and 29 put on by the Mt. Baldy Alpine Club.

The course teaches the basics of both travel in avalanche terrain and avalanche rescue.

Local accredited backcountry expert Finbar O’Sullivan will instruct the course, following a curriculum set by Avalanche Canada. Participants who successfully complete the course will be issued a formal certificate and qualification.

“The Baldy operations team puts a lot of time and effort into ensuring the area within the resort boundary is as safe as possible,” said Baldy Mountain Resort general manager Andy Foster.

“We don’t recommend people access the uncontrolled backcountry from the resort but those who do should have sufficient training and confidence in their skills.”

Apex Mountain Resort also holds similar seminars throughout the ski season, noted Apex general manager James Shalman.

“We don’t publicize it a lot but it’s something we do throughout the season,” Shalman said.

Commonly known as the ‘side-country’ the area located outside of the managed resort area carries the same risks as the backcountry areas located many miles into the wilderness.

Initially offering one course, the resort and the Mt. Baldy Alpine Club are open to providing more, if demand exists, and hope to make this an annual offering.

The current course is available for $270/person, with a $50 deposit required to reserve your spot.

For more information or to make a booking please contact Paul Rauhala, with the Mt. Baldy Alpine Club, at paul@okaped.com or call 250-808-9352.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

<>

@BarryGerding
barry.gerding@blackpress.ca

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.



Barry Gerding

About the Author: Barry Gerding

Senior regional reporter for Black Press Media in the Okanagan. I have been a journalist in the B.C. community newspaper field for 37 years...
Read more