Refine your skill-set and expand your abilities in technical, high alpine terrain with our AMGA Certified Guides!
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 in the area surrounding South Lake Tahoe, within the Carson Ranger District of the Humbodlt-Toiyabe National Forest. Your 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
Skiers and splitboarders in this intro to ski mountaineering course should expect to get approach, assess, and descend 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 coursemate’s 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 must be 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, 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 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.
