Anna Keeling Guiding/Chill Course Progressions
Chill and Anna Keeling Guiding have put together our programs and journeys as both stand-alone and for progressional development in your backcountry ski/splitboard skills.
Our most basic course is theIntroduction to Ski Touring one day course, which is designed for first time ski tourers. We can assist with gear rental. We cover how to use touring skis and bindings, skins, boots, pack your pack, clothing layers. Skinning techniques
Our most affordable course that can stand alone is the2-day Snow Safety Course. This dives into the avalanche phenomenon - identifying avalanche terrain, and studying how weather and snowpack structure contribute to avalanches, as well as rescue. This course is great as both a first time course and as a refresher.
TheMini Missions (3 night/3 day or 2 night/2 day options) are ski/split tours designed for groups of friends or folks of similar ability levels. The trip can be tailored for beginner tourers through advanced skiers.
Our signature4-day Craigieburn Haute Route is a journey to each club ski area in the range for people who have attended either the Intro to Touring plus Snow Safety course, have joined a Mini Mission previously or have previous ski touring experience. The combination of packs, rope tows and variable snow can be strenuous - thus we like to ensure that people have previous experience and show up on form for the best and safest experience.
TheAvalanche Skills course 2(ASC2) is a 4-day residential course which takes the 2-day Snow Safety further - we spend more time studying the avalanche phenomena, looking at snow profiles, learning how to do snowpack tests on the go, planning trips, terrain analysis, route finding, leading both ascents and descents and companion rescue.
Our4-week Alpine Classic runs early season and includes one day in the field each week and a 60-90 minute lecture on Tuesday nights. This is fundamentally the ASC2 for people who can’t take off 4 days and would prefer a comprehensive avalanche and touring class early in the season.
New for 2023: Alpine Skills for Skiers is a 2-day early season course focusing on skills such as crampon and ice axe use, picking ski mountaineering lines, timing, abseiling, building snow anchors and basic crevasse rescue. This course is great for those thinking of going to the glaciers and want an upgrade in technical skills.