Ex DRAGON SAMURAI 2026 was an AMA Ski Touring Expedition. It brought together a group 14 Service Personnel: both Regular and Reserve, from across a large variety of regiments. All with one thing in common… a passion for skiing!
The Exercise was designed to facilitate progression through the JSAT ski scheme. Individuals holding their SF2 qualification completed SF3 and those already with this qualification gained valuable logbook days; necessary for advancing as a ski leader. But qualifications only tell part of the story…
For many in the group, this was to be their first time skiing outside of Europe. BC promised something bigger; deeper snow, bigger terrain, and the chance to push well beyond familiar limits. For most of us, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Then we arrived and reality hit. Avalanche conditions across the region were serious. A persistent weak layer sat buried deep in the snowpack, aggravated by fluctuating spring temperatures. The slab problem not only plagued Revelstoke, but much of the surrounding area. In short: the mountains were unstable.
These conditions forced us to adapt our course of action for the next 10 days. But no matter. We were in Revelstoke!!!
Our first day delivered what we had all been quietly hoping for: that legendary Canadian powder.
The original plan had always been simple; spend the first day on the resort shaking down rented kit and reminding our legs how to ski, before heading into the backcountry for the rest of the trip. Avalanche risk, however, had other ideas.
Instead, we found ourselves spending a couple of extra days on the resort while conditions stabilised.
But this was hardly a hardship.
