Blog

After heavy snows followed by scouring East winds, check out our state of the snowpack from Alpenglow Ski Guide Peter Terwilliger.

Right now, the snowpack is ranging from 1 to 3.5 meters deep. About 100 cm down, we have a substantial rain crust from recent storm cycles. On North-facing slopes, the skiing is still very good. Recently, we had gale force upslope winds coming from the N, NE, and E facing slopes. The avalanche danger has moved away from these general areas, however, and the wind slabs are variable and wide-ranging.

With cold nights, clear skies, and low winds,…

Alpenglow Expeditions Ski Guide Peter Terwilliger answer the question: What’s In My Ski Pack?

With so much outdoor gear on the scene, it can be hard to know what you need to carry for a day of ski touring and what you don’t. While learning through trial and error can be beneficial in finding out what works, below are the basics of what I carry for a day of skiing as a ski guide, as well as a few things I might bring for a multi-day outing. I like to think about what I carry into the backcountry as…

Alpenglow Expeditions Ski Guide Peter Terwilliger shares what he carries in his backcountry repair kit. 

A repair kit is an often overlooked piece of equipment that we should always carry on backcountry skiing and riding adventures. Imagine you are several miles out into the backcountry and your splitboard binding rattles a screw loose, or a toe piece rips off on your tech binding. A simple and specific ski touring repair kit can help you get back to the car before nightfall and, if you’re lucky, continue having fun on the way.

The Basics

Multi-Tool
Having a multi-tool with a…

Is your teen interested in getting into the backcountry? As a parent, it can be worrisome to think about sending your child out beyond the boundaries of the resort. As many of us are parents ourselves, at Alpenglow Expeditions we understand completely. Therefore, we strive to create winter learning environments that not only equip our clients with the knowledge and skills necessary to be safe and efficient in the backcountry, but do so in a way that they can reflect on these learning experiences positively and are thus encouraged to continue to grow their skillset. 

Our…

Alpenglow Expeditions strives to facilitate unique, exhilarating, educational, and responsible ski experiences for locals and visitors alike in the Lake Tahoe area. As such, we offer a diverse variety of programs and customizable excursions to accommodate virtually any skill level. Whether you’re brand new to the exciting world of backcountry ski and ride or you’ve long been dreaming of crafting a custom mission to earn the perfect turns, our world-class team of professionally-trained instructors are ready to help you realize your full potential.

We are incredibly stoked to be able to enjoy such an extensive variety of terrain at our…

Written by Sam Kieckhefer, Alpenglow Guide

When did you take your last avalanche course? Has it been a few years? Just like the snowpack, weather, and conditions are constantly changing, so is avalanche education. As a result, Alpenglow Expeditions has developed an Avalanche 1 Refresher course. Whether you’re fresh off your first level 1 course last season and are excited to practice new skills, or you’re a 20+ year veteran backcountry skier eager for an update, this refresher course is for you. Offered in both North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe, Alpenglow’s Avalanche 1 Refresher course is…

Written by Robert Kyte

Through November 1st, 2022, Alpenglow is excited to offer 15% off all AIARE courses with the code Spooky22. We recognize the potential for adventure to be had beyond the boundaries of Lake Tahoe’s many ski resorts, and we are here to ensure that skiers and splitboarders are getting the avalanche education they need to stay safe in the backcountry. This promotion is valid for all our AIARE programs in North and South Lake Tahoe. See below for a list of our available AIARE courses and determine which one is right…

As we transition into the spring skiing month’s here in Tahoe (with a few intermittent powder dumps, we hope!),  a few words of wisdom from a local legend and one of our favorite ski guides will surely enhance your day out touring!

Don’t know much about Glen? Learn a little about him in his bio on our Alpenglow Guides page! (I stress ‘little’- Glen is an elusive character with enough epic stories to last a lifetime of campfire sessions)

Gear Requirements: First off, your gear…

Written by Isaac Laredo

Friends don’t let friends teach each other how to backcountry ski because it’s an environment that can be unforgiving to the school of Knox style. We believe formal education is essential to build a responsible and safer backcountry community. One of our AMGA-trained guides is eager to teach you the necessary skills to prepare, plan, and execute a backcountry tour. These skills are taught in our Backcountry Series Courses and will set you up for memorable days in the backcountry while managing risk.

The Backcountry Series includes 3 courses Backcountry 1.0, Backcountry 2.0, and…

The time has come. You’re ready to leave the boundaries of the resort and venture out into the world of backcountry ski touring. We couldn’t be more stoked for you! Before you head out, you should make sure you’ve got the right bindings for an epic time touring. I hate to break it to you, but your downhill alpine bindings won’t cut in the backcountry. Below we’ll go through and explain alpine touring bindings and give you recommendations on what we use here at Alpenglow Expeditions in North Lake Tahoe, CA.

The…