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Ski Laps in and around Elk Mountain Saturday Feb 28th (C2-3)

Published by schedule on

Date: Feb 28, 2026

Time: 6:30 am - 5:00 pm

Category: Ski Mountaineering

Trip leader/ contact:

John McMechan <>
250-954-7905
Ski Laps in and around Elk Mountain Saturday Feb 28th 
Make the most of the this last weekends snow and hopefully a top up of potential new snow with some laps on Elk Mountain on Saturday. Looking for someone with strong fitness (able to ski 1500m vertical) at a reasonable pace and share potential trail breaking.
Meet in Campbell River Saturday and carpool from there to the Elk Mountain Main. Drive as high as reasonable and then skin (or skin from the highway). The highway is approx. 300m and the skiing we are looking at is about 1000-1400m. To ski a couple of laps will involve significant vertical gains.
Head up logging roads and find our way to the cutblocks and above on Elk. Enjoy some views of Buttle lake and ideally grab some turns above 1100m
Note trip will not run if Avy conditions are High 
Reference Elk Mountain in in Phil Stones T&T Pg .  As usual Trip Subject to change based on ground conditions and group.
Time: 630am – 5pm
Category: ski
Max participants: 3
Difficultly: C2-3
Plan to meet in Campbell 630 location tbd and carpool up return back to Campbell by supper time
ATES 1-2
I will connect with participants a few days before via email to confirm the trip and our shared expectations
Required:
AST 2 preferred, AST 1 mandatory
At least 10 days of back country skiing experience
Comfortably Ski Black gladed runs
Physical fitness to handle the rigours of breaking trail for the ski tour
Full avalanche kit  – Modern digital transceiver, probe, shovel, skis, skins, HELMET
Fun attitude. Be Safe. Make Friends. Have Fun.
If I haven’t skied with Please send me a short introduction to my email at  including:
– member information with your ACC member number (so I can confirm waiver),
– your emergency contacts name and phone
– your relevant experience (fitness, recent trips etc.)
– Any relevant medical conditions
– Carpool willingness
– what set up you use (AT preferred, splitboard, tele)
 Thank you,
Risks:

Avalanche

What are the Risks

  • Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering and can be caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (skiing/snowboarding)
  • Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.

Communication and Rescue

What are the Risks

  • Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be available
  • Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field
  • If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow

Terrain

What are the Risks

  • Cornices
  • Crevasses
  • Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps
  • Cliffs
  • Creeks
  • Rocks and Boulders
  • Holes and depressions below the snow surface
  • Variable and difficult snow conditions
  • Snowcat roads and road ranks
  • Fences and other man-made structures
  • Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects
  • Encounters with domestic or wild animals
  • Loss of balance or control
  • Becoming lost or separated from the group
  • Slips, trips, and falls

General Hazards

What are the Risks

  • Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor
  • Equipment failure.
  • Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact.
  • Negligence of other persons, including other guests.
  • Negligent first aid.

Boots and Binding Systems

What are the Risks

  • Even when set up correctly, a ski binding might not release during every fall or may release unexpectedly. The ski boot/binding system is no guarantee that the skier will not be injured. Non-DIN-certified bindings, such as pin/tech bindings, present a higher risk of pre-release and/or injury as they are not designed to the same safety standards as a DIN-certified alpine binding.

  • Unlike alpine ski boot/binding systems, snowboard and some telemark boot/binding systems are not designed or intended to release and will not release under normal circumstances. Using such a system increases the risk of injury and/or death when caught in an avalanche.