Stories: Ski
Mountain adventures create the best stories, and we want to share some of ours with you. Dive into Alpenglow Stories to stay up to date on expeditions in the field, read blogs, and get tips and tricks from guides.
Women’s Intro to Backcountry Clinic
Are you ready to step into the world of backcountry skiing, build new skills, and connect with like-minded women? Alpenglow Expeditions is hosting its Women’s Intro to Backcountry Clinic March 1-2. This is the perfect opportunity to learn from our experienced, badass female guides in a supportive, all-women environment. This two-day clinic will give you the tools and confidence to explore beyond the resort boundaries, all while fostering friendships and creating unforgettable memories in the mountains.
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How Andermatt Delivers Thousands of Feet of Backcountry Terrain—Fast
When it comes to backcountry skiing, few places on Earth deliver the perfect blend of massive terrain, deep snow, and effortless access like Andermatt, Switzerland. Tucked into the heart of the Swiss Alps, Andermatt has become legendary among skiers who crave big lines without the exhausting approach missions. Thanks to its ultra-efficient lift system, you can transition from village espresso to untouched powder in record time. But what truly elevates the experience? Exploring this iconic landscape with Alpenglow Expeditions.
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Gear Junkie: Palisades Tahoe Avi Rescue Training: Resort to Offer Lift-Accessed AIARE Course, In-Bounds
Avalanche rescue skills are useful whether you’re in-bounds or skiing in the backcountry. For the first time, Palisades Tahoe is partnering with a local guide company to offer AIARE rescue courses at the resort.
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Wall Street Journal: The Tiny Western Town That’s Quietly Become the Coolest Place to Ski
Once a frontier town for loggers and cowboys, Truckee, near Lake Tahoe, has quickly grown into a hub of winter adventure—not to mention hip coffee shops and new restaurants.
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Episode 21 with Nick Russell: A Splitboarder’s Soul with an Alpinist’s Drive
Nick Russell has been exploring the world by snowboard for more than a decade now. What started as a career competing has transitioned to strictly human powered exploration to some of the worlds highest peaks. Nick’s drive comes from being truly passionate about riding his snowboard, and loves travel and exploration just as much as a day in Truckee riding with friends.
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Episode 20 with Michelle Parker: Not Your Average Professional Skier
Michelle Parker has been a professional skier since she was 15 years old. Now, more than 2 decades later, Michelle is so much more than your every day professional skier (or athlete for that matter). From mentoring younger athletes to excelling at other off-season sports, Michelle’s impact on the sport and the people around her is admirable.
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Level Up Your Backcountry Skills: Why Alpenglow Expeditions’ AIARE Level 2 is a Must!
Traditionally, the AIARE 2 has been the entry-level professional course for ski guides, patrollers, and forecasters. Recently, it has been restructured to cater to advanced recreational users who want to enhance their decision-making abilities in more challenging avalanche terrain and scenarios.
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Big Mountain Dreams? Start on Shasta!
Alpenglow Expeditions’ owner and founder, Adrian Ballinger, recently went on a flight around Northern California on a scoping mission. He was met with sweeping panoramic (and snowy!) views of one of the more impressive volcanoes in the Cascade Range: Mt. Shasta. With over 7,000 feet of vertical relief from trailhead to summit, this peak is a phenomenal location for climbers of all experience levels. Whether this is your first glaciated peak or a party lap you take with your friends on skis every year, the mountain’s beauty–and challenge–is undeniable.
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All Hail the Atmospheric River!
Let’s be real, it’s been weeks and weeks of religiously checking the weather, and waiting for “the big nuke”. But it seems our luck might be changing for the better, as an atmospheric river is forecasted to flow our way starting Friday. Hold your excited horses for one more minute though, because as of now the forecast calls for higher temps, potentially meaning rain at lower elevations. Moving through the weekend, we see fluctuating snow levels from 8,900 ft all the way down to 6,500 on Monday. Wind is also in the mix.
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Breaking Trail: Interviewing Alpenglow Expeditions’ Outdoor Representation Scholarship Recipients
In 2024, Alpenglow Expeditions proudly awarded the Outdoor Representation Scholarship to two recipients, Gabriel and Jennah. Both took AIARE 1 Avalanche Courses and share their thoughts on the scholarship, backcountry skiing, and accessibility and representation in the outdoors in an interview below:
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