Private ski guiding allows you to customize your day for up to 4 skiers and riders. Most interested in backcountry education? Or are you looking to ski fresh tracks on steep slopes all day? Give us a call to start planning your dream ski adventure in Lake Tahoe. Alpenglow Expeditions operates under a special use permit from the Tahoe, Inyo and Eldorado National Forests. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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Alpenglow Expeditions private trips will be run in accordance with your schedule and demands. If there is something that you wish to accomplish, we are excited and prepared to guide and organize nearly any adventure. Tell us your ideas and parameters, and let us organize your dream adventure!
Alpenglow Expeditions operates under a special use permit from the Tahoe, Inyo and Eldorado National Forests. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Excellent physical fitness is required. Skiers must be able to hike for many hours at a time while carrying a pack.
Skiers must be competent resort skiers able to link turns in a variety of terrain and snow conditions.
You tell us what your goals are and we'll build the ski experience that you'll never forget.
Simple, lightweight probe, 240-300cm. Must have an auto-locking feature.
Buy on Backcountry.comSimple, metal bladed avalanche shovel. Extendable handle recommended.
Buy on Backcountry.comThese skis should be relatively lightweight, 90-110mm underfoot, and have a shape that works well in a variety of snow conditions. "Tech" style bindings strongly recommended. Make sure your skins are trimmed to your ski.
Read moreNo problem, just head back to our expedition page and select “ski” under activities. There you’ll see all of our available ski trips.
Skiers must be confident on a variety of terrain, including black diamond-caliber descents. Prior ski touring experience is not required, although excellent physical fitness is important. If you can get down the mountain- we can get you up!
Yes, we rent backcountry ski gear as well as avalanche safety gear. This is on a first come, first serve basis so please reserve your gear early! All equipment is new for 2017 and available at $55/day.
Skiers and riders should be experienced and comfortable skiing advanced terrain. Skiers/riders must be competent in a variety of terrain and snow conditions. If you would like to discuss your suitability for this program further, please contact the office.
Avalanche gear is required for all of our skiing programs. If you don’t already own a beacon, probe and shovel, we can provide these for no additional charge on a first come, first serve basis.
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.
We usually start our days with fresh ground coffee in our office at 1590 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley, CA at 8:00AM. Once logistics are all set for the day, we head out into the field between 8:30-9:00AM.
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.
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 –
**Please give us a call if you have any questions about what to bring, or if your gear will be appropriate for the day.
If you’ll be skiing –
If you’ll be splitboarding –
For both skiers and riders –
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. Whether you want to go for maximum vert, focus on avalanche awareness, work on backcountry travel techniques, or just explore new terrain, it’s up to you!
From bushwhacking miles of Manzanita in ski boots to traversing huge glaciers in exotic ranges, adventure draws Zeb in. Originally from Vermont, Zeb has been hooked on big mountains since his first ski tour in Jackson Hole and has pursued skiing, climbing and exploring ever since. Zeb has climbed and guided in the Himalaya, Alaska, Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador and Asia among others and he’s working hard to keep that list growing. Working as a mountain guide allows Zeb to share his passion for human powered movement in the mountains and to pass along what he’s learned along the way.
Zeb has successfully guided Mt Everest [29,029′], Mt Cho Oyu [26,906′] including a ski descent from the summit, Lobuche East [20,075′], and four expeditions on Denali [20,320’], including a ski descent from the summit. He has completed 64 summits of Mount Rainier [14,410’]. Additional credentials include 12 summits of Mount Shasta [14,179’]; 5 summits of Mount Shuksan [9,100’]; 3 summits via Mount Baker [10,678’], including one ski descent from the summit, and two ski descents via the North Ridge; 2 summits of Aconcagua [22,841’]; 1 summit of Cotopaxi and 1 summit of Cayabme; 2 summits of Ixtacihuatl in Mexico; 3 summits of Orizaba in Mexico, including a ski descent from the summit; and numerous rock, alpine and ski summits from the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Coast ranges and Rockies.
Zeb is an AMGA certified ski guide.
Director of Operations / Guide
Logan has been guiding professionally for over 10 years in the disciplines of Rock, Alpine and Ski Mountaineering. When not out guiding, Logan keeps things running smoothly as the director of operations at Alpenglow Expeditions. From one day ascents of El Capitan to big Alpine climbs in the Himalaya, from ski descents on Denali to backyard ski tours in Lake Tahoe, he can’t help but smile when out running around the hills. Logan is an IFMGA aspirant mountain guide, a certified Ski and Rock Guide through the AMGA, an Avalanche course leader through AIARE, as well as a wilderness EMT. In addition to guiding, Logan has extensive experience in mountain rescue, having worked for rescue teams in both Yosemite and Denali National Parks, and volunteering locally for Tahoe Nordic SAR. When not out in the hills, he lives in Truckee, CA with his lovely wife Lynette and spotted dog Arlo.
Ben has been in love with the mountains from a young age. He began hiking and skiing with his family and quickly decided he never wanted to stop. After finishing university in Portland, OR Ben moved back to Washington State and began guiding on Mt. Rainier and around the Cascades. For the next many years he followed the seasons, skiing, climbing and pursuing the art of human flight through out the world. He has made expeditions into both polar circles, skied first descents in Afghanistan and climbed throughout the Americas and Europe. When not looking forward to the next adventure he thoroughly enjoys roasting coffee, reading and taking his dog out for walks.
Ben is a fully certified IFMGA/AMGA mountain guide, Certified Level III Avalanche Professional, and Wilderness First Responder.
With notable first descents in the Alps, Tim Dobbins represents Alpenglow’s cutting edge guiding philosophy providing only the best guides for every trip and expedition.
Growing up in Oregon, Tim started out skiing at the young age of 4 years old. Tim grew up ski racing for 9 years before he moved on to backcountry skiing in Aspen, Colorado. He spent 4 years working as ski patrol at Snowmass Ski Resort.
Tim moved to Chamonix in the mid 90’s where he spent 6 seasons skiing and climbing while studying French. Tim says that Chamonix is where he really started leaning how to ski tour, rock climb, ice climb and eventually began skiing the steepest lines he could find.
Examples of those steep lines were the North East face of Les Courtes, Couloir Barbey from Aiguille D’Argentiere, Couloir Couturier from L’Aiguille Verte, Couloir du Diable on Mont Blanc du Tacul, East face of the Matterhorn and many, many others.
Tim has recently spent the last 8 years guiding and instructing in rock, ice, alpine and skiing as well as becoming an IFMGA aspirant mountain guide, an AMGA certified ski guide and AIARE level 1 course leader. He lives on Donner Lake in Truckee with his wife Gisele and sweet daughter Manu.
The Alpenglow Backcountry team are extremely professional and run an excellent operation. The equipment is new, the guides are very experienced and knowledgeable about the local Squaw/Alpine terrain. I would highly recommend any to use Alpenglow and we will certainly be back.
Tim Threlkeld
I was introduced to Alpenglow by a friend and worked with them to find an AIARE Level 1 Course that worked with my and my wife's schedule. I did a ton of online research, asked friends and everything kept pointing to Alpenglow. Logan Talbott was both our coordinator and instructor and he was professional on and off the mountain. On top of that, he made the course and our interactions fun! We had a great time, feel well educated (although there is a TON of learning still to do) and are already planning other expeditions we could do with Logan and Alpenglow. As a longtime mountain/alpine enthusiast, I can't believe I didn't take this course years ago. It's a must-do for anyone who wants to venture into the backcountry.
Jordan Kobert
