- Intermediate
- Ages 18+
Traveling in a winter environment has inherent risk. Snow conditions dramatically change throughout the winter, affecting snow stability. Learn to recognize avalanche terrain and more.
Quick Details
Backcountry Skiing and Splitboarding
Step away from the resort and into the freedom provided by backcountry travel. This guided tour will bring you to fun, new, and adventurous places in the mountains while your group hunts for secret stashes of powder. This day can help build your education and confidence through experience, and have fun in a beautiful mountain setting!
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This is a one-day course, lasting about 8 hours.
Most days start early and could meet as early 8:00am at the trailhead. These locations vary based on snow levels, but could be as far away as 2.5 hours.
After meeting up, instructors will spend some time reviewing equipment and the plan for the day, then lead group into the backcountry. The group will spend the rest of the day traveling, ascedning, and skiing.
Trips usually get back to the trailhead around 4:00 or 4:30pm.
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18+ for adult courses, 16+ with a parent or guardian.
Custom courses can be set up for younger groups.
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- Backcountry Skiing and Splitboarding Beginner Course or equivalent
- AIARE 1 and AIARE Rescue are recommended
- Advanced skiing or snowboarding ability (ability to ski or ride various snow conditions on black diamond runs)
- Physical ability to hike for 4-5 hours, ascending about 2000′, with a 30lb pack
- For snowboards; a splitboard with the ability to go into “tour mode”
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This day is all about experience, and each student will learn something different. Students can expect to come away from this day as more efficient, more proficient backcountry travelers.
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- Full day of professional instruction
- Emergency response equipment
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- Transportation to and from the course location
- Food for the day
- Ski or snowboard equipment
- Personal layers of clothing
- Personal avalanche safety gear: beacon, probe, and shovel
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Students must provide their own personal travel gear and clothing. Please come with some sort of familiarity with how your personal system works. if you’re renting, please get a brief tutorial from the rental staff, and please practice transitioning at home before the course.
- Skis, boots, and bindings (Metal edge skis, plastic boots, and Randonee/alpine touring bindings). Telemark boots and bindings will work. Cross-country skis will not work for this course.
- Or, a Splitboard with adjustable bindings, with a system that transitions into “tour” mode efficiently (Soft boots are okay, and hard boots are preferred.)
- Personal avalanche safety gear: beacon, probe, and shovel.
- Personal layers
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Driving times vary based on the course location, which be communicated via email before the course. Please add a time buffer to any predicted driving time to account for traffic and poor driving conditions in bad weather.
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After this course, students will be ready to dive into our avalanche education courses, like our AIARE Level 1, AIARE Rescue Course, or AIARE Level 2
