Interested in gaining more experience in the backcountry but already know the basics?
This course is designed for those who have basic backcountry skills, but may not have a super knowledgeable adventure buddy to explore with. In this group ski tour, you’ll be able to gain more experience traveling in the backcountry with a professional guide who is there to answer any questions you may have before venturing out on your own. This trip is also a great opportunity to meet people with a similar skill set and find a backcountry partner for future adventures.
You must be an advanced intermediate skier/rider for this course and be competent on and off-piste in a variety of conditions. Skiers/riders should be comfortable on all blue runs and most black diamond runs at a ski resort. Here is a good example of advanced intermediate skiers and riders.
Location
This course will take place on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, within the Tahoe National Forest. We have many trailhead options at our disposal and your guide will pick the location with the best conditions for the day. Alpenglow operates in partnership with the Tahoe National Forest and Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort.
What To Expect
Depending on fitness level of the group, technical ability and daily conditions skiers and riders can expect to get multiple laps of fresh tracks while expanding upon techniques and skills learned on past tours. Terrain varies from wide open bowls to widely spaced trees.
Each morning starts off with a safety meeting with your guide and a gear check to make sure everyone has what they need for the day. Depending on the zone, we’ll either tour right out of our offices, or take a short drive to a trailhead.
Your guide will come prepared with a defined itinerary for the day, but you’ll have the opportunity to stop and ask questions along the way.
Who Can Participate
Advanced intermediate skiers or riders who have taken our Backcountry 1.0 and have spent 5-10 days out touring since, OR those who have 10+ tours under their belt. Participants must be competent on and off-piste in a variety of terrain and snow conditions. This is comparable to being confident on all blue runs and most black diamond runs in the resort (including ungroomed terrain). This video gives a good example of advanced intermediate skiers and riders.
Skiers or riders 12-16 years old can join us with a parent. 16 years and over are able to join without accompaniment.
Rentals
A complete backcountry touring setup is required. We have a small demo fleet that we rent to our clients at competitive prices. We rent beacons, probes, shovels, touring skis, touring boots and splitboards.
THE ALPENGLOW DIFFERENCE
With countless expeditions to high-altitude peaks around the world over the last 15 years, we bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our beloved “home mountain”. Our teaching and guiding philosophy has been honed from the flanks of the Himalayan giants to the technical peaks of Peru, and we are beyond excited to be able to bring our program to this fantastic mountain. In addition to our international expedition roots, we are accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), being one of the very few guide services in the region to hold such a high standard. Each of our guides is trained by the AMGA in the terrain in which they operate, and the program is supervised by internationally licensed IFMGA mountain guides. This high standard, along with our many years of experience, translates to a fantastic mountain adventure!
Alpenglow Expeditions operates under special use permit with the Tahoe, Eldorado, Inyo, Humboldt-Toiyable and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
