NF-certified course · in English
Backcountry touring and avalanche safety
A hands-on introduction to human-powered skiing in the winter mountains of Northern Norway. Learn to plan and undertake ski tours safely, recognize hazardous terrain, and build confidence in your own decisions.
Duration2 days, both out on the mountain
SeasonFebruary to April, on request
LocationTromsø and Kvaløya
Experience neededNone, beyond skiing a groomed slope
Dates and price
We run this course on request between February and April. Send us a message with your dates and group size, and we’ll find something that fits the conditions.
Who is this course for?
Beginners who want to start ski touring, and anyone who’s tried it a few times on their own and wants the basics solidly in place.
No prior backcountry experience is required. You should be able to ski or snowboard down a groomed alpine slope under control. If you’re not sure, reach out and we’ll help you figure out whether it’s a fit.
What you will learn
The goal is for you to complete a simple ski tour safely in basic avalanche terrain. Both days are spent outside, not in a classroom.
- Getting familiar with ski touring equipment and how it works in practice
- Technique for ascending and descending the mountain
- Identifying and avoiding avalanche terrain
- Spotting the other hazards: terrain, weather, snowpack and the human factor
- Basic trip planning
- Where to find information on weather and avalanche risk, and basic navigation
Avalanche safety on the course
Our goal is to improve your understanding of avalanche risk, and to teach you how to avoid exposing yourself through trip planning and terrain choice. Specifically, you learn to identify avalanche terrain, recognize obvious hazards, and use basic travel routines in avalanche-prone areas.
We also practice companion rescue: transceiver search, probing and efficient shoveling.
Certified course
The course follows the syllabus for NF alpine touring and avalanche safety, part of the Norwegian national standard. We are an approved NF provider at level 2.
Equipment
Mandatory
- Avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel
- Skis or splitboard with climbing skins, suitable for descents. Snowshoes and nordic skis are not accepted
- Sleeping pad or windsack, at least one per group
- Winter clothing, including an insulating jacket for the breaks
- Food and drink for both days
Recommended
- Basic first aid kit
- Inclinometer, digital, on a compass or on your phone
- The Varsom Regobs app for avalanche maps and hazard descriptions
Need to rent?
Rent touring and avalanche gear from Tromsø Outdoor. Use the code tromsopowderguides when booking online for 10 % off. If you’re borrowing gear, test it before the course. See also our printable pack list.
Prepare before you come
You’ll get a lot more out of two days in the field if you’ve covered the basics beforehand. All three are free.
- Ortovox Safety Academy Lab: Snow — interactive, in English, the most practically oriented
- Avalanche Aware by AIARE — about an hour, in English, requires a free account
- Varsom interactive course — in Norwegian, but built around the Norwegian avalanche forecast you will actually be using here
Ready to get started?
Would you rather be shown the mountains than taught them? Check out our guided tours instead. Same guides, same mountains.