CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING POLICY OF THE RENSSELAER OUTING CLUB
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CLASSIFICATION OF TRIPS:

Class D

-Beginner trips are open to anyone; no prior experience necessary. Trips will provide an 
 introduction to skiing in the conditions listed below: 
	-Day trips 
	-Flatland ski touring
	-Little or no climbing

Examples include the following: A tour of campus, Saratoga Springs State Park, 
Grafton State Park, parts of Thatcher Park


Class C 
	
-Intermediate trips are open to anyone with prior skiing experience; it is at the leader’s 
 discretion to decide if participants are eligible. These trips may be more physically demanding, 
 and may cover the following types of ski trips: 
	-Flatland ski tours covering considerable distance
	-Climbs utilizing skis
	-Skiing with heavy pack
	-Skate skiing 

Examples include the following: Thatcher Park, the lower areas of the Berkshires, Pineridge
	

Class B 

-Advanced trips are open to anyone with extensive skiing experience, and it is at the leader’s 
 discretion to decide who is eligible.  Trips may require ability in telemark style of skiing.  
 Participants must be familiar with their capabilities as well as the capabilities of their equipment.  
 These trips may be of the following nature:
	-Telemark skiing trips with negligible avalanche danger or at a ski area 
	-Alpine touring (AT, randonee, snowboarding) *
	-Climbs that require skins
	-Mountaineering trips using skis as a means of travel

Examples include the following: Petersburg Pass, Mt. Greylock, the Adirondacks, Gore and other ski areas 

* The club will only provide backcountry ski gear; however, if participants have their own ski 
or snowboard equipment and are considered eligible by leader they may come along on alpine touring trips.


Class A:  

-Class A trips require very advanced backcountry skiing skills and extensive mountaineering experience.  
 Participants must be able to acknowledge the dangers of these trips and it is up to the leader’s 
 discretion to decide who is eligible.  Types of class A trips are listed below: 
	-Telemark trips in conditions of avalanche danger
	-Higher altitude alpine touring 
	-Ascents requiring crampons and ice axes   
	-Extensive vertical terrain  

Examples include the following: Tuckerman’s Ravine, the Rocky Mountains, Alaskan Peaks, and High Peaks Worldwide 

	
CLASSIFICATION OF LEADERS:
All leaders must meet the general leadership requirements for a leader.  

Class D:
	Leads class D trips
	Familiar with proper trail etiquette
	Must know how to work different bindings 
	Must know the correct way to use pole straps
	Able to demonstrate proper diagonal (classical) stride and pole placements
	Possess a basic knowledge of kick waxing techniques including knowledge of 	
		the temperature range of waxes and corking in wax
	 	
Class C: 
	Leads class C and D trips
	Meets Class D requirements
	Familiar with hot waxing and p-tex repair
	Must be able to demonstrate different climbing techniques such as herringbone 	
		and sidestepping
	Must be familiar with different skating strides and proper poling technique, 		
		including V1,V2, and double poling	 

Class B: 
	Leads class B, C, and D trips
	Meets the class D and C requirements
	Familiar with care and use of climbing skins
	Experience carrying heavy pack on skis
	Recommend awareness of avalanche avoidance and rescue
	Must know how to self arrest using ski equipment
	Experience with telemark style of skiing 

Class A: 
	Leads class A, B, C, and D trips 
	Meets class B, C, and D requirements
	Must have training in avalanche safety and rescue
	Must be at least class C, preferably B winter mountaineering leaders or have 	
		knowledge of winter survival techniques 
	Familiar with at least one type of ski toboggan

-Overnight trips and some more advanced ski trips will require the use of mountaineering skills.  
-If the trip will encounter conditions that would require mountaineering skills, the leader must 
 be equivalently qualified for the conditions that will be encountered. 
-If a leader wishes to take an overnight trip, the trip leader must have winter mountaineering 
 leadership that is equivalent to winter mountaineering classifications and skiing classifications.
 	 



RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT:

Class D: Water, first aid kit, wax kit: cork, wax of the day, skis, boots, poles extra hat, map

Class C: Duct tape, bailing wire, 

Class B:  Climbing skins, extra food and water, spare basket, spare ski tip
			
Class A: shovel, avalanche beacons, magnifier, avalanche probes, stove, fuel, matches, pot, tent 
		
See mountaineering equipment list for overnight trips and extended day trips that could be 
categorized as mountaineering.


Modified by Cynthia Cacy and Greg Wallace 10/9/2002