Thredbo’s Backcountry Tours Make Their Season Debut
Mountainwatch | Press Release
Thredbo, August 5: Break free! Explore new frontiers! Once you are au fait with inbound slopes, you may become curious for a little more piste and quiet, and while scanning the Australian Main Range from the top of Karels T-Bar, those untracked slopes and limitless space start calling your name. If you’ve been thinking about exploring ‘out there’, but just don’t know how, then a Backcountry Tour is your invitation to an entirely new snow experience.
Whether on skis, snowboard or snow shoes, there are a variety of tours all featuring the backdrop of the raw beauty of gnarled eucalyptus trees, empty mountains and wildlife cameos. In groups of two to five, learn backcountry skills from experienced guides (first aid trained, with avalanche certification, appropriate emergency equipment and mountains of off-piste experience). Tours range from introductory to advanced, so adventures abound whether this is your first uphill step, or you’re a backcountry bandit.
Get Your Skins On – The Introduction To Backcountry Tour
Skins? Huh? They’re the sticky things attached to skis or boards to help you grip the snow while up-hilling. The Introduction to Backcountry Tour is for those taking their first foray into alpine touring. This is touring 101 on steroids, your guide will introduce you to the specialist equipment, safety aspects and skills required to negotiate simple backcountry terrain.
You’ll plan an achievable objective and wrap your head around skinning, basic navigation, awareness and safety. Bring the questions, all the questions! The full day, six-hour course is for intermediate to advanced riders and includes Volk ski or Burton split board rental from Thredbo Sports. The cost is $199 and is also a pre-requisite before joining the other more demanding tours.
Beyond The Boundaries Tour
If you’ve completed the introductory course it’s time to step it up, literally! This adventure will take you out of the resort boundaries to all our secret spots whether it be for stashes or scenery. Find some of the best and most unique terrain Australia has to offer from Bogong to Mt Kosciuszko or choose your own adventure with a custom combination. Whatever your destination, the mission is to find the perfect line and score fresh snow.
You’ll score not only new knowledge of the area, but experience terrain variety and further develop your backcountry and alpine touring skills. Tours from $299.
Advanced Adventurer Tour
You’re a backcountry bandit and there’s no holding you back! You eat fresh tracks for breakfast, get excited about things like outerwear vent zips and always wonder what’s around the next corner. This tour is for you. This can be highly customised, with all day destinations including Leatherbarrel, Twin Valleys and Etheridge.
Previous backcounty and touring skills essential and advanced ability must be in your bag of tricks as you become more familiar with riding more technical terrain. The bonus? There’s also the chance to summit and ride some of Australia’s highest peaks. Tours are $299.
The Mt Koscciuszko Summit Tour – New For 2020
This is the Big Kahuna, a ski or snowboard of Australia’s highest peak, sitting at 2,228 metres and one of the iconic seven summits (the highest on each continent in the world). If after breaking ground adventure this is the tick-all-the-boxes tour; you’ll leave the resort boundaries, experience the majestic Main Range and stand at the very top of Australia. The ultimate bucket list tour and it will be a must-do for snow lovers.
Backcountry Access Pass
Are you OK to head out independently? If experienced in backcountry, before heading out don’t forget to fill in an online Trip Intention Form with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service as a safety basic. Load up a Backcountry Access Pass ($42 adults, $10 child 5 – 17 years) onto a MyThredbo card from Guest Services Valley Terminal for a way one trip up Kosciuszko Express Chairlift.
