Recognizing the need for heightened avalanche awareness in a country that’s making a name for itself as a destination for heli skiing, resort skiing, and backcountry touring, 40 Tribes is proud to offer the only certifed Level I Avalanche Courses available in the region. We are additionally committed to educating our local partners, helping them to develop their skills as guides, and empowering them to teach the hunters and lumberers in their villages who travel through avalanche terrain all winter long.
Level I Course Goals
- Provide a basic understanding of avalanches (types, characteristics) and avalanche terrain
- Address and practice decision making and risk management in avalanche terrain
- Gain experience with trip planning and preparation
- Practice avalanche response and rescue
- Upon completion of the course, participants will feel confident preparing for and safely carrying out an independent trip in the backcountry
Details
3-Day Level I Courses – Taught at the Karakol Mountain Ski Base.
- December 16-18
- December 23-25
- January 2-4
7-Day Combined Yurt-Stay/Level I Course – Hosted at the Jalpak Tash Yurt. Participants can choose to join us as an “Independent Traveler” or a “40 Tribes Traveler.” Independent Travelers are responsible for coordinating their own travel to Karakol from Bishkek and back. The 40 Tribes Traveler package includes airport pickup, drop-off, and most everything in between.
- January 13-20: Independent Traveler
- January 12-21: 40 Tribes Traveler
3-Day – Does not require previous backcountry experience. Participants must be confident skiers or riders (high-intermediate to advanced level) and comfortable spending extended periods of time each day on the mountain engaging in field-based lessons and scenarios.
7-Day – Participants must be familiar with backcountry skiing/riding, prepared with a full touring setup (AT, telemark, or splitboard), confident in their skiing/riding ability (high-intermediate to advanced level), in good physical condition, capable of touring for long distances, and comfortable carrying their own backcountry packs and spending extended periods of time each day on the mountain engaging in field-based lessons and scenarios. Participants are not required to have any previous experience with glacier travel and/or mountaineering (harness, ropes, etc).
Participation in either course requires a good command of the English language.
Use of BCA avalanche safety gear (Tracker DTS Beacon, Shovel, Probe) is included. Learn more about BCA gear at www.backcountryaccess.com.
Bookings
3-Day Level I
USD $300 / Person
Karakol Mountain Ski Base
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Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides/educators; Certified Avalanche Level I edcuation; Course supplies; Use of BCA Tracker DTS, shovel, probe
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare/transport to Karakol; Lodging or meals in Karakol; Transport to/from Ski Base; Ski Base lift tickets; Equipment rental; Lunches and dinners; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks, snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides/educators
Begins and ends in: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Day 1 – Morning freeskiing – warm up, address gear issues, and get into the flow of riding both on and off-piste; first formal discussion/training follows in the afternoon
Days 2-3 - Morning lectures followed by field-based lessons and scenarios in the Karakol Ski Base sidecountry, where we will drill new skills, practice snowpack analysis, perform rescue scenarios, and sample the early season powder!
7-Day Yurt-Stay/Level I
USD $1,300 / Person
Independent Traveler
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides/educators; Certified Avalanche Level I edcuation; Course supplies; Use of BCA Tracker DTS, shovel, probe; Ground transfers to/from Ichke Jergez village; Lodging in the village (home-stay, one night); Drinks and meals in the village; Lodging in the Jalpak Tash Yurt; Drinks and meals during stay
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare; Baggage and visa fees; Transport to Karakol; Meals in Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks, snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides/educators; Porter/animal support; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Day 1 – Meet at Yak Tours Guesthouse, Karakol; Discuss course plan and goals over a traditional Russian breakfast; transit from Karakol to Ichke Jergez village in the morning (~30km, 30 mins); tea with village host family; strap on skins and tour to the yurt, to arrive by early afternoon; afternoon touring/skiing – warm up, address gear issues, and get into the flow of riding off-piste
Days 2-4 – Level I Avalanche Safety Course: Morning lectures followed by field-based lessons and scenarios – drill new skills, practice snowpack analysis, perform rescue scenarios, and explore the amazing terrain surrounding the Jalpak Tash Yurt
Days 5-7 – 3 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out for an overnight in the village on Day 7
Day 8 – Return to Karakol after breakfast with village host family
7-Day Yurt-Stay/Level I
USD $1,450 / Person
40 Tribes Traveler
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides/educators; Certified Avalanche Level I edcuation; Course supplies; Use of BCA Tracker DTS, shovel, probe; Airport pickup and drop off; Ground transfers to/from Karakol; Lodging in Karakol; Ground transfers to/from Ichke Jergez village; Lodging in the village (home-stay, one night); Drinks and meals in the village; Lodging in the Jalpak Tash Yurt; Drinks and meals during stay
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare; Baggage and visa fees; Meals in Bishkek and Karakol; Transport to Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks, snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides/educators; Porter/animal support; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Bishkek, Kyrgyztsan
Day 1 – Early morning arrival in Bishkek; overland transfer to Karakol – road follows the north shore of the 2nd largest alpine lake in the world, Lake Issyk Kul (~400km, 6 hrs); overnight in Kyrgyzstan’s most comfortable guesthouse
Day 2 – Discuss course plan and goals over a traditional Russian breakfast; transit from Karakol to Ichke Jergez village in the morning (~30km, 30 mins); tea with village host family; strap on skins and tour to the yurt, to arrive by early afternoon; afternoon touring/skiing – warm up, address gear issues, and get into the flow of riding off-piste
Days 3-5 – Level I Avalanche Safety Course: Morning lectures followed by field-based lessons and scenarios – drill new skills, practice snowpack analysis, perform rescue scenarios, and explore the amazing terrain surrounding the Jalpak Tash Yurt
Days 6-8 – 3 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out for an overnight in the village on Day 8
Day 9 – Return to Karakol after breakfast with village host family; return transfer to Bishkek
Day 10 – Late night/early morning international departure
Discounts
Early Bird
Register before Sept 1 and receive 10% off
5+
Groups of 5 or more always receive 10% off
*Only one discount may be applied per reservation
