Monday 15th - Sunday 21st March
A community event providing advanced skills to enjoy the Spearhead Range & fundraising for the Spearhead huts
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What is the Spearhead Stoke Week?
The Spearhead Stoke Week is a celebration of this amazing local backcountry asset.
It is a collaboration of local organizations aiming to highlight, encourage and support safe outings into this incredible range while also acting as a community event to raise money for the Spearhead Huts project.
The intent is to encourage and support safe Spearhead Range outings including continued fundraising for the Spearhead Huts project, important resources such as guidebook of the local terrain, courses and clinics
How will it work?
10% of all proceeds from MSAA and Spearhead Backcountry Atlas sales during the Spearhead Stoke Week will be donated to the SHS. Any private donations will be facilitated and recognized with value added appreciation.
MSAA will provide all the skills and resources needed to prepare those wanting to complete a major objective in the Spearhead Range, including the Spearhead Traverse.
Use the Spearhead Backcountry Atlas (as an amazing reference) to inspire, plan and achieve your goals.
What is the Spearhead Hut Society?
The Spearhead Huts project aims to provide an inspiring and accessible hut-to-hut experience on the West Coast. Located at Russet Lake, the Kees and Claire Hut has already been completed. The remaining two locations have been chosen so that travel time is equal between the three, and they are accessible without having to cross a glacier in summer. Each location will offer dramatic views and excellent recreation opportunities year-round.
Spearhead Backcountry Atlas
The comprehensive photographic guide to terrain in the Whistler Blackcomb backcountry, one of Canada’s most popular and most accessible touring destinations.
Purchase the Backcountry Atlas between February 15th - March 14th and 10% of all proceeds to the Spearhead Hut Society.
The Spearhead Traverse
This traverse through the Spearhead and Fitzsimmons Ranges is comparable to the famous “Haute Route” in Europe. The route offers spectacular scenery and excellent skiing. Glacier route finding and navigation, avalanche and hazard assessment and terrain evaluation will all be practiced along the way: a perfect trip to hone your winter skills in a challenging environment. Participants must be strong intermediate or above skier/riders with previous touring experience and good physical condition.
Book the Spearhead Traverse tour with MSAA between during the Spearhead Stoke week and Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures will donate 10% of all proceeds to the Spearhead Hut Society.
Credit: Arc'teryx
Schedule
This year there will be the following events:
“Spearhead Experts Panel” In the comfort of your home grab a beer and snacks and join experts on the Spearhead in a live Zoom meeting that will outlining some of the ranges must do’s for all ski/ride levels and a Q & A info session at the end.
Spearhead focused clinics to “Level-Up” your skills designed specifically to provide advanced skills:
Click on an event to find out more:
Monday 15th March
Tuesday 16th March
Wednesday 17th March
Thursday 18th March
Friday 19th March
Sunday 21st March
Sign up now for exclusive access to clinics/tours/courses. Bookings open 22nd February!
Advanced Backcountry Clinic
Monday March 15th
Ability: Intermediate
Fitness: Good
Prerequisites: AST 1 & Ski Touring
This one-day clinic allows participants adequate time to develop autonomous leadership through learning and implementing critical strategies and techniques.
Sign up opens soon...
Crevasse Rescue + Glacier Travel
Tuesday 16th & Wednesday 17th March
Ability: Intermediate
Fitness: Good
Prerequisites: Ski touring & knot tying
Learn to be self-sufficient with our Winter Crevasse Rescue and Glacier Travel course. Backcountry skiers and alpine climbers learn the three all-important skills: rope ascension, crevasse rescue and glacier travel. This is a great next step to start getting into more complex terrain.
Sign up opens soon...
Mountain Navigation Clinic
Thursday March 18th
Ability: Intermediate
Fitness: Good
Prerequisites: None
In this course, you will learn to recognize changing hazards, navigate with a map and compass, and build a travel and safety plan for diverse alpine terrain regardless of conditions and visibility.
Sign up opens soon...
Companion Rescue Clinic
Friday 19th March
Ability: Intermediate
Fitness: Average
Prerequisites: Ski touring
Practice your companion rescue skills and advance beyond the scope of AST1 by learning how to deal with multiple burials, close-proximity multiple burials, deep burials, coordinate group rescues, and search without transceivers.
Sign up opens soon...
Ski Mountaineering Clinic
Saturday March 20th
Ability: Advanced
Fitness: Very Good
Prerequisites: AST1, Backcountry Experience
This is a fast-paced course that takes backcountry skiers and snowboarders to the next level – winter ski mountaineering. With acres of complex terrain and big peaks easily accessible from the highway, the Coast Mountains are an ideal location to learn about ski mountaineering.
Sign up opens soon...
Steeps + Couloirs Clinic
Sunday 21st March
Ability: Expert
Fitness: Very Good
Prerequisites: ??
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Spearhead Backcountry Tour
16th, 18th & 20th March
Ability: Advanced
Fitness: Good
Prerequisites: Intermediate Ski/Ride
Join one of Whistler’s leading backcountry provider and enjoy awesome backcountry skiing and splitboarding around the Whistler Blackcomb ski area. The big-mountain backcountry outside of the ski area offers a multitude of bowls, glaciers and gladed runs to choose from.
Sign up opens soon...
Avalanche Skills Training 2
Thursday 18th - Sunday 21st March
Ability: Advanced
Fitness: Good
Prerequisites: AST1 & backcountry experience
Our Avalanche Skills Training Level 2 course teaches managing and mitigating avalanche and mountain hazards. Learn how to formulate a logical, concise and dependable safety plan for backcountry skiing or splitboarding.