Application Instructions

All applications must be completed and submitted by 12am (midnight) on December 1st.   We are a small team reviewing applications and are unfortunately unable to make exceptions for submissions after this date. 

Payment for the class (Step 3) is only made after acceptance.   You do not need to join the WAC or renew your WAC membership until you are accepted. WAC membership is not a selection criteria for the course.  We value having a community with diverse experiences in the course, and are able to offer an access scholarship.   You can learn more about this program here: Access Scholarship 

All incoming students are required to have taken an AIARE Level 1, or a formally recognized introductory avalanche course such as AST Level 1 or ISTA Level 1, within the last 5 years.  

If you have not taken AIARE 1 yet, you may still apply to this year's class, however, you must have registered in an AIARE 1 course that completes before the first class presentation on January 23rd.   Please note that you will need to register for the AIARE 1 course without a guarantee that you will be accepted into this year's WAC backcountry travel class.

Application Steps

1. Fill out the student application.

2. Wait to hear from us.  Watch your email.  Rolling notifications will be sent  over the first two to three weeks of December. 

   • If you receive an acceptance email from us, you must complete steps 3, 4, and 5 by the date specified in your acceptance email, or your spot may be given to someone else.  If you will be offline during the notification period, please let us know in advance.

   • If you are not accepted this year, keep up your front country game this winter and apply again next year.   If you registered to take an AIARE 1 course this winter, it will provide a great base of avalanche fundamentals that will begin opening up opportunities to tour, regardless of whether you take the WAC's Backcountry travel class.

3. Provide payment.   If you have been accepted, you will have a couple of days to pay for the class and your WAC membership.  Payment is done online through the WAC website.  A link will be provided in your acceptance email.

4. Ensure that your WAC membership is good through the end of 2024. 

   • If you are not a current member: Join the WAC. (Register on website, sign waiver, and pay for membership.)

   • If you are a current member: Renew your WAC membership if your membership has expired or if it will expires before the end of 2024

5. Register for the class.  We will need additional information about you once we know you'll be in the class. A link will be provided in acceptance email.

Admittance

Admittance is based on a review of applications by the course co-chairs.  If we have additional questions we may occasionally reach out to set up a phone conversation applicants to ensure prior experience is sufficient to ensure a safe and enjoyable participation. All applications are reviewed at one time after December 1, and there is no priority given to applications submitted early.  Submission of a prior year application, or volunteering as an instructor in other WAC courses are considered as positive selection criteria.  Should there be vacancies before class begins, they will be filled on a rolling basis.

Thanks for applying!   If you have problems or questions, contact the class co-chairs at wac-bc-chairs@googlegroups.com.