Baldy Mountain Resort to offer Avalanche Skills training

As backcountry travel becomes more popular for skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers the ski area of Baldy Mountain Resort is doing its part to help keep people safe. Along with the Mt Baldy Alpine Club, the resort will host an Avalanche Skills Training course (AST1) on December 28th and 29th. 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 and follow a curriculum set by Avalanche Canada. Participants who successfully complete the course will be issued a formal certificate and qualification.

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

Commonly known as the ‘side-country’ the area located outside of the managed resort area carries the same risks as the back-country areas located many miles into the wilderness. “Travelling outside of the resort boundary is done so at your own risk” said Foster “We are working together with groups like the Mt Baldy Alpine Club to spread the word of the dangers of accessing the backcountry and assisting in education for those that would like to learn more.”