Seattle MAC Backcountry Ski Trip - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

TBD - more to come once the snow starts flying and it is safe to travel into the backcountry without scraping vegetation. 

Trip sheet coming soon. 

This activity page is a placeholder until MAC students and Backcountry ski leader(s) have decided on location. The date is set in stone!

This is an advanced trip. Please read the requirements carefully before signing up!

Students will either need to have their own alpine touring kit or rent one. Rentals are typically available from Pro Ski & Mountain Sports or Evo. Staff will not be able to assist with rentals and acquiring the gear is the responsibility of participants. MAC has a single transceiver and probe, along with a few shovels, available on first come first served basis (ordering more soon). Alvaro has an extra beacon he can loan out as well. 

If you are renting equipment, we suggest using rental gear ski at least once on that gear before the trip. It would not be fun to learn your climbing skins are in poor condition at the trailhead. 

Snowboarders: Please no snowshoes. If you own or rent a splitboard, please make sure you're familiar with how it works. You should have experience sidehilling in touring mode. 

Prerequisites:

At least 2 years of in-bounds skiing experience and ability to ski black diamond runs (not necessarily in good style) in any conditions. You must be able to get down the hill and "survival ski".   

Completion of an AIARE L1 course OR completion of the NIKO course / NIKO badge. The NIKO course is typically offered by NWAC and hosted by MAC/The Mountaineers each winter and has a limited number of spaces and is offered as an adjunct to MAC for an additional fee. Graduating from NWAC's Youth Ambassador program will also give you equivalency and eligibility to participate in MAC backcountry skiing trips.