Backcountry Community Day
K7 × Protect Our Winters Australia │ Adventure with Intention
A Day in the Backcountry
with Protect Our Winters.
The K7 x POW Backcountry Community Day is a full-day gathering for people who are already getting themselves out into the backcountry. Run by a K7 guide alongside Protect Our Winters Australia and an NPWS ranger, the day climbs from Dead Horse Gap through the snow gums to into the alpine, enjoying time in the environment before skiing back down. Along the way we cover what sits under the snowpack, why winter is the best season to explore the sub-alpine, and the respectful approach to moving through this terrain. Small group, interesting chats, and a genuinely good day out amongst the snowgums.
Intermediate Backcountry Day
K7 x POW Community Day
A full day out for people who already tour, run with Protect Our Winters Australia and a National Parks ranger alongside your K7 guides.
We start at Dead Horse Gap on the valley floor, climb through the snow gum forest to the treeline, move into the alpine, then enjoy a lap or two back down. You'll get your turns on the descent, but the turns aren't the main focus.
The point is what's underneath you. Creeks, alpine soils, and plant life that takes decades to establish. Snow cover is the reason we can move through this landscape in winter, when in summer the ground beneath is too fragile to walk on. This day makes the most of that window.
Cruisy pace, and a day out amongst the landscape.
How the day runs
Meet and coffee
Acknowledgement of Country, then introductions.
Morning brief
Gear check and transitions
Ascent
From the valley floor up through the snow gums, with three or four stops on the way. Cruisy pace.
Lunch and the POW session
Descent
Route choice, finding the best turns, and moving carefully through the sub-alpine.
Debrief
Timings shift with the forecast. If the snowline or depth is too low at Dead Horse Gap, we move to an alternative start point rather than cancel.
What's included
- Qualified K7 backcountry guides
- Protect Our Winters Australia education and awareness
- Insights from a Park Ranger
- Safety gear: beacon, shovel, probe
- Pre-trip briefing pack, kit list and forecast links
- Touring gear: hire recs available on request
- Lunch, snacks and water
Is this day right for you?
Before you come: grab a PLB
NPWS hires Personal Locator Beacons free of charge. Pick one up ahead of the day and bring it with you.
Nearest pickup points to Dead Horse Gap are the Snowy Region Visitor Centre in Jindabyne and the Perisher Valley Office. There's no pickup at Thredbo, so sort it before you drive up.
Book your place
Secure booking via Explore Origin.
Questions? Send an enquiry →
Backcountry FAQs
Am I actually intermediate?
Our working benchmark is three or more self-directed days in the backcountry. You can skin, transition and descend ungroomed terrain without being talked through it, and you own or reliably hire your own setup. If you've done an intro course and been out a handful of times with mates who know what they're doing, you're in the right place. If you're not sure, contact us.
What gear do I need to bring?
Your own touring or splitboard setup: skis or splitboard, skins, poles, and boots compatible with your bindings. Helmet, layers, spare warm layer, two pairs of gloves, sunglasses and goggles. A 30 to 40 litre pack, lunch, and at least two litres of water. We send a full kit list once you book. Touring gear hire is available on request.
How fit do I need to be?
Low to moderate. The pace is deliberately unhurried, which is the point rather than a concession. But it is a full day out and there's a sustained climb from the valley floor, so you want to be comfortable moving uphill with a pack on.
Weather considerations:
The sub-alpine is holds up in high wind and poor visibility. If the snowline or depth is too low we move to an alternative start point rather than cancel. If conditions make the day genuinely unworkable, we'll be in touch to reschedule.
How much will we actually ski?
A lap or two on the descent. This isn't a ski focused day and route choice prioritises what we can show you over vertical metres. If you're measuring the day in metres, one of our other backcountry tours will suit you better.
Is this a skills course?
No. This isn’t a day for learning about how to better use your backcountry equipment. But it will be an educational day, with insightful conversations about how to move through the terrain with care and respect. Safe practice runs through the whole day because that's how we operate.
Unsure which route to take?
Speak with a guide directly to begin your backcountry adventure.