Backcountry Semester with Samsara Experience

Here is the straight talk in a few bullet points to start your Wednesday off. 

• We don’t want to waste your time or tempt you with things like proven bad-for-your-mental-health IG posts like “Here is our teaser for a new (read: sick!) product we are going to drop in a week.”
• We really do want you to have appropriate-for-you adventures (with a capital A).
• We won’t promote products or services we don’t believe in.
• A full ride scholarship is available: you can apply here. (Applications close this Sunday 09/13.)

Which is to say, what follows adheres to the four bullet points above.

Zahan Billimoria and his cohort of instructors at Samsara Experience will open enrollment for their Backcountry Semester next week. The course runs from Sep 29 – Dec 8 and includes 11 instructional modules delivered live on Zoom, and they’re also recorded and available for those who can not make the sessions. Each module includes a downloadable PDF and a community platform where you can ask the instructors questions. 

The course covers three larger topics: snow science, decision-making, and technical skills. We’ll include the full course info below, but here’s the course outline.   

1	Sep 29	Learn the Stability Framework
2	Oct 6	Making better backcountry decisions: Observe, interpret, decide
3	Oct 13	Know your dragon: Identify avalanche problems
4	Oct 20	Fundamentals of Big Mountain rope systems
5	Oct 27	Advanced Big Mountain rope systems
6	Nov 3	Understanding metamorphism: How snow changes over time
7	Nov 10	The Evolution of Stability After a Storm: Understanding Settlement
8	Nov 17	Dealing with deep slabs
9	Nov 24	How to choose the right window to ride the big lines
10	Dec 1	Deciding how to take risk: The terrain between my ears
11	Dec 8	How to survive an avalanche

Ok. Let’s get the tough part over with. The course costs $990.00, but there is an early-bird coupon (ends on 9/17) for 20% off. At one time in my life, maybe not too long ago, I may have balked at the cost. But I have seen how the marketplace and instructional delivery have evolved. Excellent online learning opportunities exist (for example, I took a great course on avalanche forecasting last season with the Mountain Training Center). I also know that paying to hear and learn from experts can often boost my touring fun quotient and help me come back at the end of the day. 

While I assume this class is a great “virtual” stepping stone for those seeking to “take their skiing/riding to the next level,” it’s also likely a great fit for tourers with a few years of experience who want reasonable (read: not-extreme) goals like a multi-day traverse or a slightly more committing line. Personally, I am eager to learn about The Evolution of Stability After a Storm: Understanding Settlement and Dealing with Deep Slabs. As someone who has toured primarily in the PNW for the past few decades, I’m often a bit sheepish in places where persistent weak layers are the norm.  

Finally, if the course looks great but is way beyond your means, apply for the scholarship. That is a win-win. 

As for me, I will be enrolling in the class and writing about it on the site this season. 

More info below…