A late season conditions report from Mt Shuksan's Fisher Chimneys as our team reached the summit of this classic climb of the North Cascades.

Blackbird teams reached the top of the Matterhorn with perfect weather and Route conditions on Friday!  

The Gonella Hut, center of the photo, is the starting point for the Pope Route Climb.  Photo: Zeb Blais   Mont Blanc Summit by the Pope Route July 3, 2025 Mont Blanc 4,810m Our team...

The last push to the summit of Gran Paradiso in the Italian Alps. Photo: Zeb Blais   Gran Paradiso Summit!  July 1, 2025 Gran Paradiso 4,061m   Blackbird Mountain Guides reached the true summit of 4,061...

The sun rising behind the Swiss and French Alps.  In the foreground, climbers ascend the north face of Mont Maudit (4,465m / 14,645') on their way to the summit of Mont Blanc via the Trois Monts...

Blackbird teams made the summit of Gran Paradiso again this week, summiting with clear skies and firm snow conditions!

Above the clouds on a Cascade volcano! Inversion layers like this are common this time of year. Note the sky island of Mt Shuksan behind this stoked Blackbird client! Photo taken from near the summit...

Chris Cloyd dropping into one of the Ellery Bowl Chutes. Skiing to the car on Memorial Day! - May 26, 2025     Photo: Lexie Gritlefeld South Lake, Rock Creek, and Tioga Pass Areas  | California...

The Northeast Face of Lassen Peak in Lassen National Park with glorious corn skiing on May 10, 2025! Photo: Zeb Blais.  Lassen Peak Backcountry Ski Conditions Lassen Peak Devastated Area  |  2025-05-10   The Devastated...

Current ski conditions in Chamonix Mont Blanc, including the Valley Blanche, the Geant Glacier, the Cosmiques Couloir and the Grand Montets.

Eastern Sierra Backcountry Skiing Conditions Update | April 16, 2025

2025-04-16 | Virginia Lakes, Lundy Canyon, Tioga Pass, and June Lake Areas | California

Glacier des Periades in Rhône Alps of Chamonix, France 4/02/2025.  Photo by Zeb Blais.  Chamonix Mont Blanc Ski Conditions 2025-04-08  The First Week of April  | Conditions in Chamonix April started with some unsettled and...

Eastern Sierra Backcountry Skiing Conditions 

2025-04-08 |  Lee Vining, June Lake, and Pine Creek Areas | California

Conditions went from warm and sunny spring skiing to a snowy winter wonderland overnight - while we were out at the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts in Truckee!

A recent 3 day trip to the Frog Lake Huts was one for the books. Fresh snow, good weather, and better company contributed to day after day of excellent skiing. 

The Frog Lake Huts sit at 7650 feet and the snow has been stacking up all season out there. Touring out to the huts was easy from both the Castle Peak Sno Park and from Johnson Canyon, with good coverage starting right at both trailheads. Recent storms dropped over 2 feet of fresh snow after a bit of rain, and the skiing is excellent right now. 

Blackbird Mountain Guides is the #1 Provider of AIARE Avalanche Education in North America  This week AIARE released data from the 2023/2024 season showing Blackbird Mountain Guides was the top provider of AIARE avalanche courses.  The data revealed...

The Eiger rendered with satellite imagery and a Swiss Topo overlay in CalTopo.  Caltopo is one of the mobile apps with 3D mapping features that rivaled FATMAP.   FATMAP, a go-to 3D mapping app for...

Topping out on the Maudit Shoulder on Mont Blanc.  Photo: Zeb Blais Mont Blanc Summit via Trois Monts Traverse 2024-06-27  |  Mont Blanc du Tacul, Mont Maudit, Mont Blanc Blackbird teams reached the summit of Mont Blanc via the...

Camp on the Coleman Deming Route of Mount Baker.  Photo: Doug Bernard ~ North Cascades Backcountry Skiing Conditions Update 2024-06-11  |  Mt Shuksan & Mt Baker Lead Blackbird Mountain Guide and AMGA Ski Guide, Doug Bernard, just...

Our guides on Lassen Peak have been finding excellent snow on all aspects. Photo: Jason Smith.   Lassen Peak Backcountry Skiing Conditions Update 2024-05-19  |  Lassen Peak / Devastated Area Lassen Peak is holding excellent snow on...

Eastern Sierra Backcountry Skiing Conditions Update 2024-05-21  |  Tioga Pass / Mt Dana  The Eastern Sierra is firing on all cylinders.  The snow quality is excellent, and the access just gained a massive boost with Tioga Pass opening...

Skiers skinning up Mt Baker in Coleman Glacier.  Photo: Brandon Seymore.   Mt Baker / North Cascades Access & Backcountry Skiing Conditions Update 2024-05-21  |  Mt Baker / Cascade River Road / HWY 20 The North Cascades and Mt...

Here's a report from IFMGA Guide Brandon Seymore on our latest ski mountaineering trip to Eldorado Peak

The road to the devastated area is clear and open to vehicles in Lassen National Park! Photo: Lassen National Park Lassen National Park Road Status 2024-05-12  |  Lassen National Park The road has opened to the Devastated...

The Judah Ridgeline, looking uncharacteristically devoid of ski tracks.  Donner Summit Backcountry Ski Conditions 2023-12-23 Blackbird Guide Zeb Blais toured up on Donner Summit up to Mt Judah today.  Getting into the backcountry definitely poses a...

We cannot complain about yesterday's storm in North Lake Tahoe!  We got close to a foot of new snow out of it, dramatically improving the coverage and surface conditions in the Tahoe Backcountry.  Before you celebrate too much, remember that overall, the coverage is still thin.  

Lassen from just below tree line in the Devastated Area.  Photo: Zeb Blais.  On Friday we skied the North Side of Lassen Peak from the Devastated Area.  The trip began with a bang, or rather...

Guide Ian Peterson recently did back-to-back single day summit and ski descents with Blackbird Guests on Mt Baker.  Conditions were surprisingly good given the recent hot conditions. Here's what he had to say about ski conditions on Mt Baker this week.

Huge snowfall, high winds and extreme cold have been the most defining characteristics recently on California’s Fifth tallest mountain. What has all this stormy weather meant for current skiing and climbing conditions on Mount Shasta? Find out in our Mount Shasta Current Conditions report!