Winter trail descent clinic (advanced-beginner tour)

Becoming an intermediate-level skier on winter trails requires becoming comfortable with trail descents, which can be challenging and intimidating. This "clinic" is intended to help skiers become more comfortable with them, both by skiing descents appropriate to the group skill level, and proving some tips and guidance. There will be a lot of fresh snow at Brainard over this weekend, which will make the trails very forgiving. We will do about 8 different, relatively short trail descents on both the Sourdough on Waldrop trails. We will do each one twice, allowing us to ski each section before and after we have tracked it up. The total travel distance will be about 2-3 miles. You must bring metal-edged nordic touring skis (ideally with a bit of sidecut to them) or you will not be allowed to participate; information on rentals is available here. Also please note that folks who are not in the "beginner range" will be removed from the event, in the interest of allowing beginners to attend.

In order to participate in an organized group ski tour, requiring the efforts of multiple volunteers, and that is provided to you for free, there are obligations that are required of you. Please understand that the following is based on repeated experience and is meant to make the tour better for everybody.

You must carefully read the following in its entirety, read all posts in the comments below, and reply promptly to all direct messages from the event organizer.

You must complete the club’s activity waiver. This only needs to be done once. The waiver requires your real first name, your real last name, a valid email address, an online signature, and then a click on a confirmation link sent to that email address. This should take only a couple minutes. There are good reasons for asking you to perform this basic task, which is to protect the club and its volunteers. If you do not complete the waiver you will be removed from the list of attendees.

Given Meetup has effectively broken its meeting location feature, we will be meeting here, at the Brainard Lake winter lot.

You must have a basic level of aerobic/physical fitness (see “Aerobic / physical fitness levels”), and you must be an advanced beginner level nordic skier, or a very confident experienced beginner (see “Nordic ski skill levels”).

If you have any doubts or questions about your ability to participate in the event please raise them with the organizer beforehand. Getting in way over your head can be seriously impactful to your own safety, and to others' enjoyment of the tour.

You must agree to a basic guideline regarding your role, and that of the tour organizer: that you are not the leader of the tour, and you accept that the organizer is the leader of the tour. Again, please understand that this is based on repeated experience and is meant to make the tour better for everybody. In addition:

1. If you are faced with a decision regarding where to go next (due to e.g. a junction, or an obstacle, or the disappearance of the trail), you must always, without exception, stop, wait, and consult with the organizer before proceeding.
2. The organizer will decide when we "move out" after any stop.
3. The organizer will be in the lead and set the pace at the start of the tour.

(There is more detail on the reasons for these guidelines here:
“3 guidelines regarding the role of the tour organizer”)

You must bring a warm, insulated (e.g. "puffy") jacket with you. There are several circumstances in which this item will be useful if not essential:

• during lunch or other stops, to stay warm once you stop moving;
• while skiing, if conditions are colder than you anticipate;
• if you have an immobilizing injury far from the trailhead, to reduce the risk of hypothermia (which can kill you).

More generally you must know how to dress properly for the weather and your level of activity, remain hydrated, eat enough food, have working equipment, and other such basics. A complete list can't be provided here. This ain't Denali of course, but you should know how to care for yourself on the trail.

We will be ascending to an altitude of over 10,000 feet; if you are unfamiliar with the potential effects of recreating at altitude you need to familiarize yourself with this before the tour.

Expected weather and snow conditions will be shared in the comments thread. Please do not post your opinion on conditions or the terrain unless you have recent facts specific to our route. If you decide not to come there is no need to tell the rest of us why you don't think it's going to be fun.

To attend the event you must be on the list of attendees here. Attendees cannot bring an unregistered guest. There are no exceptions. No-shows to the event will contacted directly to obtain assurance they will not no-show again; absent an affirmative response they will be removed from the group.

Do not expect any messages sent the morning of the event to be seen.

Dogs or any other pets are not permitted on the tour.

And lastly please be sure to read:

• “Be on time and don't be a flake”
• “Have a good attitude”