Trip Summary – NOLS WOE Tetons Ski Mountaineering Expedition, January 2012

Trip Summary – NOLS WOE Tetons Ski Mountaineering Expedition, January 2012

I’ve returned safely from the backountry after completing the National Outdoor Leadership Schools Winter Outdoor Educator course. Overall it was a great trip, filled with adventure. Here’s course leader Roger Yim’s summary, links to my photos and videos from the course, and my daily summaries.
Course Summary, by Course Leader Roger Yim:

Instructors: Roger Yim, Emily Ledingham, Lindsay Yost

The Winter Outdoor Educator course was held in the Arizona Creek area outside of Grand Teton National Park. This was a 15 day self-sufficient expedition with 2 days of resort skiing at Grand Targhe Resort, a one day terrain tour and 2 days of classes and preparation. There were 13 students initially and 3 instructors. One student was evacuated in the first several days of the expedition due to an illness. The course was challenged with 120 cm of new snowfall, wet snow conditions and down to -18 C air temperatures. The curriculum focused on ski touring skills, winter camping, avalanche assessment/rescue and leave no trace. Students taught minin classes to improve their teaching skills and worked on self-leadership, peet leadership and some limited designated roles. Some of course highlights were improvement in skiing, avalanche and the impressive scenery of the Tetons. The students have developed a good foundation of backcountry ski skills.

Daily Summaries:

Photo slideshow.