Thanks to the generosity of our backcountry community for the huge volunteer turnout to lead group tours, we can gladly offer tours on all 3 days of the festival weekend. Please thank your tour group leaders and tail volunteers for donating their generous time and sharing their backcountry skills with the community.

All tours require booking. Booking links provided upon successful festival registration where you will be emailed a registrant’s only program with booking links to all workshops. Please only book 1 tour over the weekend, so we can share the love to as many people as possible!

Tour FAQs

What to expect on tour….

The driving force behind running the tours is to bring likeminded backcountry skiers and snowboarders together to create a community spirit and share knowledge. Our superstar volunteers are not qualified guides, so please do not expect a full guide service. All terrain you will access is easy going, ow angle with the intention to give you an introduction to backcountry areas beyond the ski area at Mt Hotham. Our awesome volunteers will be showing you around with their knowledge of the different areas available (depending on weather and conditions) so you know where to head to with your crew next season! Skill sharing and discussion is an important part of these tours.

What do I need to bring on tour?

You will need to be self sufficient for tours, this includes food and water. All the backcountry essentials are listed in the what to bring page. List of gear hire operators are also listed on the same page.

Where do we meet?

8am sharp at The General Hotel (The Genny) for the days COMPULSORY safety briefing conducted by VBCF, Hotham Ski Patrol and Mountain Safety Collective. NO SHOW NO TOUR!

Before you go on tour…..

Your group leader must get from you:

• Signed waiver form (please print, fill out and bring with you on the day)

• Full list of compulsory equipment and gear including food and water

How long are the tours?

Half day tours (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) run for approx 3 hours

Full day tours (Saturday and Sunday) run for approx 5.5 hours

Where do I get to go?

Final tour areas will be selected closer to the festival weekend once we know what volunteers are rostered on, weather and snow/avalanche conditions. If all goes well, here are the Hotham areas we hope to take people touring on:

• Dipper area (Razorback)

• Hotham summit (Dargo/Pink Hamburg)

• Eagle Ridge

• Higgi Area

• Mt Loch

• Cobungra / Spargos

Participants won't be able to nominate what areas they tour on. Think of it like ski school. You don't know where you're going or who your teacher is until day of lesson. At most, we can try keep you and your friends together in the same group.

Can I go on tour with my friend?

Tours get assigned on the day. If you have a request approach one our friendly volunteers to let them know. We will do our best, but make no promises!

What is the difference between Introductory and Intermediate tour?

The introduction ski tour is made to get you started in the backcountry. No such thing as stupid questions. Just open ears and an aptitude to learn more. We will be accessing gentle backcountry glades surrounded by impressive alpine terrain to set your sights for future adventures. The guiding will be elementary and we will travel with a view to learning and really nailing new travel techniques.

The intermediate ski tour is really about exploring new terrain with a local. The tour will be based on the conditions of the day, choosing the best available terrain to get out on. We'll be practising safe terrain management and working together to ensure that everyone gets to lay down some fat tracks and return safely.

For more information about tour levels, check out Victorian Backcountry Companion

Why am I paying for tours?

The festival is all about volunteering and the BC community. But unfortunately there are necessary costs that the committee and volunteers cannot absorb themselves.

Tours contributes the most to festival insurance costs so it’s only fair tour participants contribute a bit more compared to other festival registrants.

We have done our best to keep costs down so people who normally cannot afford a tour can go out with VBCF. Full day is $45 and half day $30 per person.

A typical backcountry tour from the commercial operators typically cost $150-$200/person.

Where are the Advanced and Expert backcountry tours?

Safety is the #1 concern for the festival. Therefore, Introductory and Intermediate terrain tours are on offer to keep everyone’s risk low and festival insurance costs down.

Even if you are an advanced backcountry skier, the tours are perfect for a social outing to meet other folks and get a lay of the Hotham backcountry land, especially if you are new to the Vic Alps. While the tours are graded intermediate and introductory, the group leaders can still point out to you where all the gnarly advanced terrain are from the introductory and intermediate zones - for your future visit to Hotham.

There will be no advanced or expert terrain tours offered by the festival. If you are seeking a more advanced experience, you are welcome to drop a message in the backcountry festival Facebook group looking for touring partners that are more aligned to your adventure needs.

How do I self assess my backcountry skill level

Please refer to the Skills and Experience infographic on the Victorian Backcountry Companion

https://www.victorianbackcountry.com/start-here