Ski touring and mountaineering

Ski touring is a core AAA activity which provides a fantastic introduction to life within the alpine environment, without the risks associated with mountaineering activities.

Ski touring can essentially be conducted anywhere there is snow, and trips of any length can be undertaken. Whilst ski-touring is typically accomplished using skis, the use of snow shoes has become more popular, thus allowing anyone with basic bushwalking skills to access the alpine environment relatively easily.

One of the few fine days ski touring the Patagonian ice cap

The AAA often undertakes basic mountaineering courses within the Australian Alps which typically incorporate some ski touring for access, and longer ski tours are also often undertaken in the Sierra Nevada ranges of the United States. AAA members have ski toured around the world in locations including the Himalayas, Karakoram, Arctic, Antarctic, and Patagonia.

It is a great introduction to the alpine world in which most AAA activities are conducted, and provides a good skills basis for future expeditioning.