Backcountry 3.0

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Backcountry 3.0

$265 Mid-Week

Per Person

$325Weekends

Per Person

Advanced 8 hours / Full Day Lake Tahoe, CA

The third part in our three-part Intro to Backcountry course series, this course is designed to be your formal introduction to ski mountaineering principles and practices. This course can be taken as a stand-alone option, but is designed to be taken in conjunction with our Backcountry 1.0 and 2.0 courses. In this course, you’ll learn advanced backcountry skills on how to safely approach steep lines while adding non-standard tools like ice axe, crampons and harnesses to your touring tool kit. Both skiers and splitboarders are welcome in this course. This is an advanced level course. Please see the preparation section before reserving. This course takes place in North Lake Tahoe. We also offer this course in South Lake Tahoe.

Jan 20, 2024

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Backcountry 3.0 Intro

Overview

A deep dive into the world of Ski Mountaineering

Backcountry 3.0 is a day-long, in-depth introduction to ski mountaineering principles, techniques and skills. This course is designed for backcountry skiers and splitboarders who are interested in exploring steeper, higher and more exposed lines.

Ski mountaineering is the next step for backcountry enthusiasts who are looking to get farther out from the trailhead, while having the tool kit to tackle steeper slopes. This course is the third act in our three-part Intro to Backcountry series. Please see Backcountry 1.0 and Backcountry 2.0 for descriptions of the previous courses.

LOCATION

This course will take place on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. Operating in partnership with the Tahoe National Forest and the Truckee Donner Land Trust, our outdoor classroom contains some of the best terrain in the region to begin your avalanche education. For your day out, we have many trailhead options at our disposal and, with your input, your guide will pick the location with the best conditions for the day. Our permitted zones include Tahoe National Forest, Eldorado National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Truckee Donner Land Trust, Mt. Rose / Carson Pass, and Humboldt-Toiyabe. We also offer this course in South Lake Tahoe. See here for details.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Skiers and splitboarders in this intro to ski mountaineering course should expect to get approach, assess, and descent technical terrain with various hazards present. Your guide will be hands-on, teaching and coaching you through lessons on rope technique, ski cramponing, and self arrest scenarios.

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 shape the day depending on your goals.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

Advanced skiers or riders who have taken both our Backcountry 1.0 course, Backcountry 2.0 course and also have 5-10 days of backcountry experience are welcome to join. Skiers and riders who have not taken our courses but have 25+ days of backcountry experience are also welcome. Course participants must be expert level skiers/riders, competent in a variety of terrain and snow conditions, and able to link turns on ungroomed runs while maintaining control. This is comparable to confidence skiing or riding all ungroomed black diamond runs at the resort confidently and in variable conditions.

Skiers or riders 12-16 years old can join us with a parent. 16 years and over are able to join without accompaniment.

SKILLS COVERED:

Steep skiing techniques
Basic snow climbing, using ice axe and crampons
Basic rope techniques for steep ground and glacial travel
Use of ski crampons

THE ALPENGLOW APPROACH

Alpenglow was founded based on a single vision: to facilitate powerful mountain experiences at the absolute highest standard. We wanted to create a guide service where guests would be treated like partners, where team sizes would remain small and tight-knit, and where we’d never compromise quality in favor of the bottom line.

We’re proud to say we’ve never wavered in that approach. We are committed to innovating and updating our techniques to make mountain travel safer and more efficient with each passing year. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of instruction for every course, trip, and expedition. All our lead guides are AMGA- or IFMGA-certified or aspirant guides, and all of our staff members are highly experienced and carefully vetted. Both at home and abroad, we do our utmost to take care of our people, uplift local mountain communities, and protect the environments we explore.

Preparation

Prerequisite

Advanced skiers or riders who have taken our BC 1.0 and BC 2.0, PLUS 5-10 days of backcountry experience OR those that have 25+ days of individual touring experience are welcome to join.

Fitness

Excellent physical fitness is required. Skiers and splitboarders must be able to hike for many hours at a time while carrying a pack.

Technical Experience

Participants must be expert backcountry travelers, and expert level skiers/riders that are confident on all black diamond runs at a resort in all conditions. You don’t need to have prior rope skills or climbing skills.

8:00: Meet Your Guide

Meet your guide and get an overview of the day. You’ll most likely be meeting your guide at a trailhead designated in advance. You’ll spend the first few minutes of the morning reviewing gear, and making a plan with goals and objectives for the day.
8:30 – 12: Morning Skills Session

Starting with the basics, we gradually add new skills and techniques to the table. Some tools you’ll be introduced to are harness and belay device, ski crampons, ropes, boot crampons and ice axes.
12 – 12:30: Lunch

In between the morning and afternoon sessions, we’ll take a break for some much needed calories.This is a great moment to reflect on the lessons from the morning, and pick your guide’s brain about topics that you want to learn more about.
12:30 – 4: Afternoon Skills Session

Building on the skills of the morning, we will enter demanding terrain and get some hands-on practice.

Your Guides

Alpenglow’s Backcountry 3.0 Guides

Meet some of the guides who you might be skiing/riding with.

FAQ’s

Here’s what you need to know:

: This intro to mountaineering course is an entry level program, designed to teach you all the skills you need to begin your mountain climbing career. While you do need excellent general fitness, no climbing experience is necessary.
: Skiers must be confident on a variety of terrain, including off-piste black diamond-caliber descents. 25+ days of prior ski touring experience is required, and excellent physical fitness is important.
: At Alpenglow, we have only the highest standards of safety and guide qualifications. All of our local backcountry tours are led by AMGA trained/certified guides. Our guides assess the snow conditions and avalanche hazards every morning to mitigate risk, and are supervised by fully certified IFMGA guides.
: We have an excellent selection of backcountry ski gear available to rent. We offer top of the line equipment from Black Diamond Skis, Technica Boots, and Jones Snowboards. Many of our guides use the same gear available in our demo fleet. If you have any gear or sizing questions, we would be more than happy to get you situated to ensure you get the most out of your day in the mountains.

A/T Skis

We can offer touring specific skis from Blizzard, a personal favorite for our mountain guides. We have skis available for both females and males. We have sizes available in 164cm, 171cm, 178cm, and 185cm.

Splitboards

We have Jones Splitboards available to rent in sizes 145cm, 152cm, 160cm, 161cm, 162cm, and 164cm) Please let us know your stance/binding angle preferences if you are planning to rent a splitboard setup.

A/T Ski Boots

Alpine touring ski boots from Technica Boots are available to rent. Sizes range from 23.5 to 29.5 in both genders.

Avalanche Equipment

Avalanche gear is mandatory for all peoples traveling in alpine terrain. If you do not already own gear, we rent an avalanche kit (incl. beacon/shovel/probe) for a small daily fee.
: In general, your gear for the day will be very similar to a day of skiing in the resort, but here are a few key pieces that are unique to the backcountry and crucial for the day –

A hat and pair of sunglasses (These come in handy on the hike up)

Sunscreen

Water and snacks (Our guides recommend between 1-2L of water depending on your intake)

Lighter, more breathable layer options than a typical resort layering system. An additional light pair of gloves is preferred for uphill travel

Ski poles with powder baskets, or a pair of collapsable poles for splitboarding. (We have these available at no extra charge if you need them)

A backpack, and any avalanche rescue gear you may own. (Our guides recommend packs around 20-30L)
**Please give us a call if you have any questions about what to bring, or if your gear will be appropriate for the day.
: Location and timing vary depending on the conditions and objectives of the group.
: The amount of hiking during the day varies largely on the size, pace, and motivation of the group. On a light day, you can expect about 1-2 hours of hiking, and on a larger day some groups may surpass 4 hours of hiking throughout the course of the day.
: Advanced intermediate skiers/riders that are competent on and off-piste in a variety of conditions are welcome. You should be confident skiing all blue runs and most black diamond runs at a ski resort (including ungroomed terrain). Here is a good example of intermediate skiers and riders.
: You will receive a welcome email shortly with more information about your day. Please be sure to fill out our waivers, and let us know if you have any rental needs. Verify you have all your personal gear that you’ll need, and give us a call if you have questions about any aspect of your Alpenglow adventure.
: Operating in partnership with the Tahoe National Forest and the Truckee Donner Land Trust, our outdoor classroom contains some of the best terrain in the region to begin your avalanche education. For your day out, we have many trailhead options at our disposal and with your input, your guide will pick the location with the best conditions for the day. Our permitted zones include Tahoe National Forest, Eldorado National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Truckee Donner Land Trust, Mt. Rose / Carson Pass, and Humboldt-Toiyabe.
This course is also available in South Lake Tahoe. See here for details.
: While no outdoor adventure can be completely free of risk without losing the essence of the activity, hiring a professional guide is a fantastic way to manage and mitigate this risk. Activities like skiing and climbing have what we call “inherent risk”, which can be defined as a risk that cannot be completely mitigated by a professional. That is part of playing in the mountains. We encourage you to reach out to the office if you would like to discuss this in more detail.
: Lunch is not included. We recommend bringing a sack lunch and plenty of water.
: Yes! We rent beacons, probes, and shovels for a small daily fee.
: We have an excellent selection of backcountry ski gear available to rent. We offer top of the line equipment from Black Diamond Skis, Tecnica Boots, and Jones Snowboards. Many of our guides use the same gear available in our demo fleet. If you have any gear or sizing questions, we would be more than happy to get you situated to ensure you get the most out of your day in the mountains.

Splitboards

We have Jones Splitboards available to rent in sizes 145cm, 152cm, 160cm, 161cm, 162cm, and 164cm) Please let us know your stance/binding angle preferences if you are planning to rent a splitboard setup.

A/T Ski Boots

Alpine touring ski boots from Technica Boots are available to rent. Sizes range from 23.5 to 29.5 in both genders.

Avalanche Equipment

Avalanche gear is mandatory for all peoples traveling in alpine terrain. If you do not already own gear, we rent an avalanche kit (incl. beacon/shovel/probe) for a small daily fee.
: In general, your gear for the day will be very similar to a day of skiing in the resort, but here are a few key pieces that are unique to the backcountry and crucial for the day –
A hat and pair of sunglasses (These come in handy on the hike up)
Sunscreen
Water and snacks (Our guides recommend between 1-2L of water depending on your intake)
Lighter, more breathable layer options than a typical resort layering system. An additional light pair of gloves is preferred for uphill travel
Ski poles with powder baskets, or a pair of collapsable poles for splitboarding. (We have these available at no extra charge if you need them)
A backpack, and any avalanche rescue gear you may own. (Our guides recommend packs around 20-30L)
**Please give us a call if you have any questions about what to bring, or if your gear will be appropriate for the day.
: Location and time is variable for this trip, but we will typically meet at our office at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort.
: The amount of hiking during the day varies somewhat on the zone and motivation of the group. The shortest day you can expect contains about 2 hours of skinning, and the longer days may have upwards of 4 hours of skinning.
: Skiers/Riders must have our Backcountry 1.0 plus 5-10 tours, OR 10+ days of individual touring experience, and be competent in variable terrain and conditions. This is comparable to confidence on and off-piste on all blue runs and most black diamond runs at the resort, in variable weather.
: Yes! A large portion of our business is designed around custom adventures. Booking a private day gives you the freedom to tailor the day around your goals, pace, and group size.
: Please click here to review our domestic cancellation policy
: Yes, you should bring a sack lunch and water bottle for this course.

Equipment

Here’s what you’ll need.

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Avalanche Transceiver
A digital transceiver that is simple to use or that you are extremely comfortable using.

Recommended: Black Diamond Recon Avalanche X Beacon
Climbing Skins
Many options are available, and are often comparable. Most important is to ensure your skins are trimmed properly for the ski you will be touring with. Skins with a secure tail clip are preferred.

Recommended for Skis: Black Diamond Ascension Nylon STS

Recommended for Splitboards: Black Diamond Ascension Splitboard STS
Liner Gloves
These gloves keep the inside of your mitts or other gloves from accumulating sweat on the inside and turning inside out when you take them off, as well as provide additional insulation.

Recommended: Black Diamond Lightweight Wooltech Gloves
Long Sleeve Base Layer
A long sleeve base layer that is fitted, lightweight and quick drying. Make sure it is long enough to tuck in.

Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Coefficient Crew

Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Solution Crew
Mid-Weight Warm Layer
A polar guard or fleece jacket. This mid-layer will be worn over your base layer most of the trip.

Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Coefficient LT Quarter Zip

Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Solution Quarter Zip
Probe
A strong, lightweight avalanche probe, 260-300cm.

Recommended: Black Diamond QuickDraw Pro Probe 280
Shovel
A lightweight metal avalanche rescue shovel. Extendable handle is recommended.

Recommended: Black Diamond Evac 7
Ski Crampons
While ski crampons are strongly recommended on our domestic backcountry ski programs, they are required on all of our International Ski Expeditions. These are typically used on early spring days when the snow is often icy on the way up before the conditions transition. Many bindings accept a compatible crampon made by the manufacturer.

Recommended: Black Diamond ATK Ski Crampons
Ski Helmet
A ski specific helmet that is less than 10 years old.

Recommended: Scott Track Plus Helmet
Ski Touring Bindings
Alpine Touring bindings are designed to allow up-hill travel and down-hill descent. We recommend a lightweight binding with heel risers to assist on steeper terrain.

Recommended: Black Diamond ATK Crest 10 Touring Bindings
Ski Touring Boots
These need to be a touring specific boot with walk mode, and a rubber sole. Typically sized a bit larger than your regular alpine boot, and light weight is a huge plus. Be sure to try many pairs on to find the right fit; it can make or break a day in the mountains!

Recommended: Fischer Transalp Pro or Transalp Tour WS
Ski/Splitboard Poles
Adjustable ski poles with powder baskets. Note: Splitboarders, be sure to use 3 section poles so they collapse small enough to reasonably attach to your pack while in riding mode.

Recommended: Black Diamond Expedition 2 or Expedition 3 Poles
Touring Backpack
Internal frame pack that is between 25 and 35 liters. Either purchase a matching pack cover, or use garbage bags as liners to protect from precipitation. Make sure the pack is fitted to YOUR body.

Recommended: Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32L
Technical Kit
While the technical equipment needed for a specific objective and season varies, this basic kit is a great baseline. Your guide will bring gear for you to use during your course, but participants are encouraged to bring some or all of this if you own it or are interested in purchasing it.

1 Cordalette (6mm x 5m/16.4′)
4 locking carabiners
2 non-locking carabiners
1 double-length Dyneema sling
Small prusik loop (6mm x 112cm/44″)
Auto-blocking belay device (eg. ATC guide)
Micro Traxion or similar
Synthetic Top
A simple, lightweight synthetic jacket. This item is good for layering systems to stay warm in cold, wet conditions.

Recommended: Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoodie
Splitboard Crampons
While splitboard crampons are strongly recommended on our domestic backcountry splitboard programs, they are required on all of our International Splitboard Expeditions. These are typically used on early spring days when the snow is often icy on the way up before the conditions transition. Many bindings accept a compatible crampon made by the manufacturer.

Recommended: Spark R&D Ibex ST Splitboard Crampons
Splitboard
A splitboard that you are comfortable riding in a variety of conditions.

Recommended: Jones Solution Splitboard
Snowboard Boots
The same boots you wear at the resort are great for your splitboard. Be sure they’re comfortable, backcountry touring means long days in your boots!

Recommended: Burton Tourist Snowboard Boots
Skis w/ Touring Bindings
A lightweight touring ski with touring bindings. Our guides suggest something between 95mm and 110mm underfoot. Keep in mind that extremely lightweight boards are great on the uphill, but can prove challenging in variable conditions.

Recommended Skis: Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 Skis

Recommended Bindings: Black Diamond ATK Crest 10 Bindings

Testimonials

The most memorable experiences on skis
“My Backcountry 1.0 ski trip with Alpenglow was the best decision I made before attempting to ski in the backcountry. My guide, instructor Ben W, not only gave me the most memorable experiences on skis but he also educated me on the importance of safety and the fundamentals of skiing in the backcountry. His professional certifications, avalanche training, and personalized instruction assured me that I was learning from a qualified and professional instructor. I learned new skills, hiked on my skis, had some awesome descents and enjoyed the beautiful views of Lake Tahoe. Although trying new skills can feel challenging and overwhelming, Ben was always patient and happy to answer any questions and guide me throughout the day. He always reinforced the importance of having fun and returning back safely to enjoy another day of skiing. I am excited to go to the next level with Alpenglow’s Backcountry 2.0 class and a basic avalanche safety class.
Thank you Ben and the staff of Alpenglow!”

Jenna M.