Backcountry 1.0 In South Lake Tahoe

Backcountry 1.0 is the first part in our three-part intro to backcountry series taught by our South Lake Tahoe ski guides. We highly recommend reserving a spot on our popular Backcountry 2.0 course after going out touring for 5+ days to continue working on skills and techniques learned on day 1. Once you build a solid foundation, you’ll be ready to join our Backcountry 3.0 course to add a few more tools to your kit.

INTRO TO BACKCOUNTRY COURSE LOCATION:
This course will take place in the area surrounding South Lake Tahoe, within the Carson Ranger District of the  Humbodlt-Toiyabe National Forest. Your ski guide will pick the location with the best conditions for the day. Alpenglow operates in partnership with the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest .

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR BACKCOUNTRY TOURING COURSE:
Depending on the fitness level of the group, technical ability and daily conditions, skiers and riders can expect multiple laps of fresh tracks while learning various tips and tricks from your ski guide during both the uphill and downhill portions of the day. Terrain varies from wide open bowls to widely spaced trees.

Each morning starts off with a safety meeting with your ski guide and a gear check to make sure everyone has what they need for the day. All participants are required to carry an Avalanche Safety Kit including beacon, shovel, and probe, which can be rented from the Alpenglow office. Backcountry specific packs are highly recommended, and also for rent. Guides will cover how to use these items during the course.

Depending on the zone, we’ll either tour right out of our offices in the Village at Palisades Tahoe Resort, or take a short drive to a trailhead. Your ski 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/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.
Skiers or riders 12-16 years old can join us with a parent. 16 years and over are able to join without accompaniment.

INTRO TO BACKCOUNTRY LEARNING OUTCOMES
Touring equipment options
Clothing layering and techniques
Use of Beacon, Probe and Shovel
How to interpret an Avalanche Bulletin
Uphill travel techniques using climbing skins
Avalanche hazard recognition and avoidance
Downhill travel techniques and group management
Difficulty: Strong intermediate to advanced skiing/riding level required.

This course prepares you for our Backcountry 2.0 course, as well as our AIARE 1 course.

BACKCOUNTRY RENTALS
A complete backcountry touring setup is required. Tahoe Sports LTD in South Lake Tahoe has alpine touring and splitboard setups, along with beacons, probes, and shovels for rent.

THE ALPENGLOW DIFFERENCE

As a Tahoe based guide company 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.