BACKCOUNTRY SKI & SPLITBOARD

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What's in Your Ski Guide's Pack?

Want to know what's in an IFMGA Ski Guide's pack for a British Columbia Lodge trip?  Head Blackbird Guide, Zeb Blais, spills the beans...and the contents of his pack for guiding each day in Canada's Columbia mountains. 

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    Early Season Backcountry Skiing - Gear & Safety Checklist and Terrain Tips

    As the backcountry ski season lunges forward with some quality skiing in early November, here are some tips to stay safe while exploring the backcountry in the early season!
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      5 Essential Bodyweight Exercises for Backcountry Skiers and Snowboarders

      Looking to get fit for backcountry ski season?  In this video article, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach and Certified Cross-Country Ski Coach, Martin Benes walks us through 5 Essential Bodyweight Exercises for Backcountry skiers and snowboarders to help you prepare for backcountry skiing this season.  
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      South America Backcountry Skiing Guide: Top Zones in Chile & Argentina

      South America Backcountry Skiing Guide: Top Zones in Chile & Argentina Powder skiing in La Parva. Photo: Mountain Capital Partners/La Parva Where Winter Never Ends When summer ends in the north, winter begins in the...

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        LQ Outpost Backcountry Ski Lodge in British Columbia

        If you know, you know.  And those who've been to LQ Outpost in British Columbia know that it is one of the most spectacular lodges in the province.  While the name might imply a rough-around-the-edges, rustic and primitive hut, the LQ Outpost is nothing of the sort.

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          The Best 3D Mapping Apps for Backcountry Skiing

          Monte Rosa, the highest peak in Switzerland, rendered with satellite imagery and a Swiss Topo overlay in CalTopo. What's the Best 3D Mapping App for Backcountry Skiing? Backcountry Skiing and Splitboarding require keen navigation skills to...

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            How to Layer for Backcountry Skiing

            Ski touring on a cold day on Mt Shasta.  Proper layering is critical in cold, stormy conditions!  Photo: Zeb Blais.   What is Layering?  Layering is a critical skill that helps us stay comfortable and...

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              Winter Calendar 2025

              Guided Backcountry Ski & Splitboard Trips  |  Winter 2025 Blackbird COO Eric Lee O'Brien shredding Powder in Hokkaido Japan. Photo: Taiyo Nakanishi We've got a ton of great adventures happening with your favorite guides this winter! From...

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                Lodge Profile: Snowfall Lodge, BC

                In the midst of the glaciers, winding rivers, and thick forests of the Battle Range, there's an unexpected refuge from the wilderness.  A luxurious respite from the elements in the middle of this wild landscape, Snowfall Lodge is the perfect spot for backcountry skiers to stage for a long list of secluded backcountry ski runs.
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                  British Columbia Backcountry Ski Lodges

                  British Columbia has something that no other place in the world has: incredible, remote lodges that provide unique access to wild backcountry terrain.  Sure, Europe has plenty of refuges that provide access to the mountains, and Colorado has an array of pretty plush huts, and now there are even some pretty incredible huts in California as well, but none of these options provide the remote feel of British Columbia.
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                  Backcountry Weather & Planning Resources

                  This page contains critical information on:

                  • Backcountry Skiing Conditions
                  • Alpine Climbing Conditions
                  • Avalanche Forecasts
                  • Avalanche Observations
                  • Avalanche Accidents
                  • Weather Forecasts
                  • Weather Telemetry (Data from Weather Stations)
                  • Webcams

                  Bookmark these pages for each zone we cover, and they can act as your “dashboard” for quickly understanding the conditions, hazards and weather for your skiing and climbing objectives. 

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                    Hardboots vs Softboots: Splitboard Setup Advice

                    Splitboarding has seen wild growth over the last ten years as riders seek out remote lines, the crowds at resorts grow, and technology makes the sport more approachable. A microcosm within the realm of splitboarding...

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                    What to Pack for a Frog Lake Huts Trip

                    So you're headed into the Frog Lake Backcountry Ski Huts in Truckee and you want to know "what do I need to bring?!" The Frog Lake Huts are unlike any other backcountry huts - here's the lowdown!
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                      First Aid in the Wilderness: What to Pack in Your Kit

                      A Wilderness First Aid Kit is a piece of gear that should come on every backcountry trip. Whether you're backcountry skiing, splitboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking or any outdoor activity with potential for injury, a wilderness first aid kit is an essential component of any outdoor enthusiasts' gear list.
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                        4 Reasons a BC Ski Lodge Should be Your Next Ski Trip

                        Spending a week at a backcountry ski lodge in British Columbia should be high on every backcountry skier's tick list.  These remote lodges offer a Canadian take on experiencing the backcountry, allowing guests to get deep in the mountains without embarking on a grueling winter mountaineering expedition.  This post explores our top reasons why backcountry lodges in BC are so awesome!
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                          Frog Lake Huts - Video Tour

                          The Frog Lake Backcountry Ski Huts in Truckee are a paradigm shift for backcountry hut skiing in California. They're the first remote, backcountry huts with running water, flush toilets, propane stoves & a commercial kitchen for backcountry skiers & riders in California. This video tour shows you inside the huts!
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                            Frog Lake Backcountry Skiing Huts - Grand Opening!

                            This week marks the Grand Opening of the Frog Lake Backcountry Skiing Huts in Truckee. We've got new photos of the terrain and layout of Truckee's incredible new backcountry ski huts. Get a preview of this awesome new backcountry lodge option and book a trip to the huts with Blackbird Mountain Guides!
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                              Find Your Line! Live Backcountry Ski Trip Planning Webinar

                              We're looking forward to powder skiing in the Lake Tahoe backcountry with the stormy forecast and we want to help you make the most of your backcountry shredding!  We're hosting a live webinar to get you dialed in on using digital mapping tools like Caltopo to plan backcountry ski and snowboard trips!
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                                Trip Planning: Ski Tour Basics

                                Understanding how long a ski tour or mountaineering trip will take is really important. Timing of the day with avalanche concerns, understanding calories needed for a trip, and deciding start times are all great reasons to estimate the travel time for your ski tour. Here we explore a few great ways to calculate the time your tour will take.  

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                                The New Frog Lake Backcountry Huts in Truckee

                                The Frog Lake Huts are a complex of backcountry-skier-designed, European alps influenced huts that have significantly raised the bar for backcountry lodging in Tahoe. Situated on the east side of Castle Peak, the Frog Lake huts provide easy access to some of the best skiing in the Tahoe backcountry. You’ll ski untracked runs in some of our favorite terrain including Red Mountain, Carpenter Ridge, and Frog Lake Cliffs.
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                                  How to Become a Backcountry Skier

                                  How do I start Backcountry skiing? This is a common question for many seasoned resort riders.  Lucky, the answer is not as daunting as it might seem.
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