timberline SGT
Big Sand Cabin Exped: Logistics

Hey Team, The following logistical information will assist you in preparing for our upcoming Big Sand Cabin Exped. Please review the following information carefully.

The following will include details on accommodation, required equipment, transportation logistics, timings and meeting locations, emergency response and other important details to help create expectations for your 4 days, and to support you in a successful expedition. 

Please read carefully, and touch base with either Mike or James with questions you may have ahead of departure from Banff.

 

Objectives & Purpose: 

So, we have 2 main priorities with this exped team; firstly is to provide you with the opportunity to engage in an essential but often downplayed aspect of any Guided experience, and that is our client care, and management of the shared spaces we often use on Guided excursions. 

The second priority is to keep the focus light with a big focus on having a lot of fun, together as a team. With respect to field plans, our aim is not to have gigantic days in the skin track, be more to focus on chasing good snow, and just plain enjoying each others company in a spectacular little corner of our Canadian mountains. 

This will be a nice reprieve for all, and an opportunity to enjoy all the aspects that some peace, quiet, solitude, good company and deep snow can offer.

So with that in mind, our two main objectives: 

  • To develop our client care, soft skills, and ability to safely provide our guests with enjoyable and safe experiences in backcountry, hut style accommodation. 
  • To have fun, enjoy the break from the usual routine, find some good snow, and recharge.
Big Sand Cabin
Dates:

The 2022 Expedition will span from February 28th th to March 3rd, 2022.

  • February 28th – Inbound CAT ride to Cabin in the AM (arriving at the drop off point for 9.00am) 
  • March 1st - soft skills / daily ski objective
  • March 2nd - soft skills / daily ski objective
  • March 3rd – Outbound CAT journey back (Mid - Day)
Staff & Guiding Team:

James will be joining us at the helm, and Mike & Carla who you both know, will be along to manage this programming by way of our usual supporting roles in Timberline Programming; providing SGT Guiding and Instruction in both the field, and back home in the cabin.

 

General Division of Tasks, Meal Prep For Students

As you know, a significant focus of this trip will be a primer for our Mons Expedition in early April. As you have provided your own groups for cooking and hut chores, this will form the basis of responsibilities around the cabin during different periods of the program. A print out of the groups will be transported to the hut and posted for your reference.

During the field days, there will not be a clear cut division of tasks that include seperate leads, up or down. We are going to allow this to evolve organically, with the intent of relaxing the typical rigourousness of the SGT Prep, in favour of promoting a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for all. 

(we'll back you up on the route planning and risk management side of things as staff)

Route Plans

As mentioned in a previous message on the FB group, some simple route plans have been provided prior to your departure. Please have these uploaded to your GPS / Gaia device.  This will allow a seamless transition whilst changing over leads during each touring objective. 

Grid Reference for the hut is:

49°26’27.45″ N 115°08’52.12″ W

Elevation 1139m

 

Required Gear & Equipment:

The following is a list of essential and required gear and equipment. The consequences of forgetting or misplaced items may be that you’re confined to the hut for 3 days. 

The group will undertake a packing session with your Guide(s) in the evening prior to departure from Banff to Fernie to ensure essential items aren’t forgotten. 

Please ensure you have the following equipment at a minimum:

Clothing

  • Toque 
  • Sunhat 
  • Buff/ neck gaiter 
  • Goggles - changeable lens
  • Sunglasses 
  • Headlamp - Headlamp including spare batteries 
  • GoreTex Jacket 
  • GoreTex Pants
  • Softshell Jacket
  • Softshell Pants
  • Large Down Puff Jacket  
  • Fleece/ Synthetic down Mid-weight Jacket 
  • Synthetic Base layers x2 
  • Synthetic Pants x2 
  • Synthetic Underwear x2 
  • Ski Socks - wool or synthetic blend
  • Heavy Duty Ski Glove - recommend Leather gloves
  • Light Ski Glove 
  • Duffel Bag to bring items (50L) 
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Fitted Sheet
  • Pillow Case 
  • Battery Pack 
  • Hut attire (for evening purposes)
  • GPS (phone with Gaia installed) 
  • Camera - spare batteries & memory cards
  • Casual Clothing for Hut Wear
  • Swim Suit for Sauna

Equipment

  • Helmet
  • Touring Skis or Splitboard 
  • Boots
  • Poles
  • Touring Skins  
  • Daypack - Minimum 32L 
  • Avalanche Beacon 
  • Avalanche Probe 
  • Avalanche Shovel
  • First Aid Kit  
  • 1L Water Bottle 
  • Pit kit
  • Saw
  • Rubberized Ski Straps x2 
  • Field Repair Kit
The Big Sand Hut Experience - Your Accommodation:

The Hut Will Include: 

  • Propane Heat
  • Stove with Oven
  • Fridge
  • Solar Lights w/12V charger
  • Full Kitchen Ammenities
  • BBQ
  • Snow Cat Transportation from Staging to Cabin
  • Both students and staff will reside in the same cabin. 
  • Effort will be made to increase ventilation in the hut by allowing windows and doors to remain open periodically, during cooking, for air exchange frequently.
  • 2X Daily Sanitization of Surfaces – A schedule of hut chores will be created for the group to complete during the week. Included in that will be a requirement to sanitize common surfaces at minimum twice daily.
  • Water will be produced from snow melt
Food & Meal Preparation:
  • Students will be responsible for all meal preparation, as has been directed by your Timberline staffing and support team.
  • Meals will be provided for all students and staff, and be prepared with assistance where required by your student groups.
Maintaining Health and Wellness in a Remote Hut:

Communal living in a hut space takes additional steps over and above your living space at home to ensure proper personal and group hygiene, and to ensure that we're working to remain respectful of the fact that these small accommodations are group spaces. The following will be expected:

  • Keep your personal gear and clothing confined to a small area in the communal space or near your sleeping quarter.
  • Use wet wipes daily to keep body odour to a minimum
  • When collecting water (if required) use only dedicated water buckets for gathering. Nothing goes inside these buckets, other than snow/water, and they do not get stacked together. 
  • When water buckets come back into the hut, do not set these on the floor - carry them directly to the kitchen and place on a clean, sanitized counter space for use.
  • Water buckets should be cleaned and sanitized upon arrival.
  • Bring a pair of indoor hut shoes with you for use exclusively inside the hut.
  • Do not wear your hut shoes to the outhouse, and then wear them back into the hut.
  • When returning from the outhouse, hand washing, and then the use of hand sanitizer is REQUIRED.
  • If your team of 3 is on HUT CHORES, it will be your responsibility to place a wash basin out for hand washing, this should be a 2 step process with a bleach water solution in the first basin, and clean rinse water in the second. This system needs to be replaced before each meal time at minimum.
  • Everyone must wash hands prior to handling or preparing any food, or prior to meal times for the entire group. 
  • If your team of 3 is on HUT CHORES, at minimum the hut will have all communal surfaces wiped down and sanitized with a bleach solution before and after each meal.
  • The hut will be swept 1X per day.
  • The fridge will remain clean and organized.
  • Other measures may be provided upon arrival.
  • All garbage is to be placed in designated bin, and separated from recyclables - it is not to be left laying around the hut.
Leave No Trace Principles - To Be Applied

Review the principles of winter LEAVE NO TRACE - HERE.

Snowcat Transport and Safety:

When riding in a snowcat there are a few simple rules we need to follow to ensure everyone's safety. 

  • When entering and exiting the passenger cabin of the cat, use the stairs, your body always facing inward.
  • Do not jump in, out of or off the stair deck into the snow below - EVER.
  • Do not stick anything out the windows of the snowcat. 
  • Snowcats are blind in the back - never position yourself in the rear of the snowcat while it is in motion. 
  • Only approach the snow cat if it is parked, the driver has given the Guides the ok, and the Guides have given you the ok. ASK FIRST, if unsure.
  • Motion sickness can be a challenge for some in the passenger cabin. If you are finding this to be the case, the two best seats are in the rearmost position of the cabin. Open the windows, ventilate, and focus on stationary objects outside the window of the snowcat.
Emergency Communication & Incident Response: 

Primarily, Cloud Nine staff will be responsible for the initiation and management of any outside emergency assistance we are required to activate. However, if the Guiding Staff is unable to do so, you as students will be briefed and understand your obligations in such an emergency:

Emergency Response Resources if required:

  • ASCENT Helicopters - Fernie
  • Fernie Search and Rescue
  • The PEP Program, as initiated by the RCMP
  • Timberline Office
  • Cloud Nine Guides Office
  • Big Sand Cabin Office

You will be provided contact instructions for each of the above and expected to transfer these contact details into your field books. You will be given a briefing on the usage of both VHF/UHF Radios as well as 2 Satellite Phones which will accompany us on the trip prior to departure.

Fernie Search and Rescue will likely be our main emergency response resource, in tandem with ASCENT Helicopters based in Fernie.

The RCMP Dispatch should be contacted, and a rescue initiated through the PEP (Provincial Emergency Program in British Columbia). Obtaining a “PEP Number” ensures that all costs are carried by the BC Provincial Government, however in a circumstance where there is an immediate threat to life, we will generally bypass the extensive procedures required, and submit a request for response directly from Fernie SAR and ASCENT Helicopters.