Backcountry Skiing Washington - Private

Come enjoy the Washington backcountry - just you, your crew and our guides! Let us know what type of terrain and how big you want your day to be and we'll plan a perfect private tour for your group. We'll manage the hazards & logistics & you can focus on having a great day of skiing! We offer tours at Mt Baker and Snoqualmie Pass.
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear

We'll cover the following topics and skills:

  • Ski the best zone in the area that day, based on weather and snow conditions

  • Refresh gear and technique skills

  • Avalanche safety skills review throughout the day

  • 8:00am - Meet your guide in the field at the designated trailhead

  • 8:15am - Review avalanche hazard rating, gear check, trailhead departure check

  • 8:45am - Begin the course / tour - with lessons and teachable moments along the way

  • 12pm - Lunch on the go

  • 3:30 - Finish tour at the trailhead. Debrief of the day and discuss strengths, areas for improvement, goals, and next steps in your backcountry progression.

Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:

  • Advanced Resort Riding skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions

  • Basic Backcountry Touring Skills - Including familiarity with equipment and avalanche gear

  • Moderate Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 4-6 miles and climb 1,500-2,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.

  • Ski/Split Touring & Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

Here's what's included with your course:

  • Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
  • Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Permit
  • Group Safety Gear - Snow Science, First Aid Kits
  • Wag Bags - for human waste disposal, in compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
Not Included
  • Ski/Splitboard Gear
  • Avalanche Gear
  • Transportation
  • Meals
  • Winter Parking Passes
  • Guide Gratuities

Ski/Split Touring Gear

  • Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
  • Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
  • Climbing Skins
  • Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
  • Adjustable Touring Poles
Avalanche Safety Gear
  • Avalanche Beacon
  • Avalanche Shovel
  • Avalanche Probe
Clothing & Accessories
  • Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Goggles
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Lunch and Snacks

  • Know Before you go

    SKILL LEVELBeginner Intermediate Advanced
    ELEVATION3,000'-6,000'
    LocationSnoqualmie Pass Mt Baker

    Price $205.00
    Private Programs
    Duration: 1 Day
    View Full Itinerary
    Private Programs

    Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.

    Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.

    SCHEDULED PROGRAMS

    Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.

    Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.

    PRIVATE PROGRAMS

    Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.

    Contact us
    Full Itinerary

    This program begins with email correspondence between you and your guide.  Your guide will begin by sending you an objective with a trip plan, including where and when to meet, the proposed route, weather, avalanche and snowpack concerns and the ideal time to be back at the cars.  These plans depend a lot on conditions and the fitness of the group, so they will vary.  

     

    8:00 am*  Meet your guide and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the avalanche problem for the day, the proposed route up and options for the ascent and descent.  The guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure Check/Beacon Check.

    *This is a typical meeting time, but you and your guide may set different logistics based on your objective.

    8:30am-3:00pm  Begin your tour, tackling the objectives you’ve set for the day.  Our guides will manage the hazards of the field and we will try to close the program with a margin of daylight remaining when we hit the trailhead.  When we’re safely back at the cars, we’ll debrief the day and close out the tour. 


     

    We'll cover the following topics and skills:

    • Ski the best zone in the area that day, based on weather and snow conditions

    • Refresh gear and technique skills

    • Avalanche safety skills review throughout the day

    • 8:00am - Meet your guide in the field at the designated trailhead

    • 8:15am - Review avalanche hazard rating, gear check, trailhead departure check

    • 8:45am - Begin the course / tour - with lessons and teachable moments along the way

    • 12pm - Lunch on the go

    • 3:30 - Finish tour at the trailhead. Debrief of the day and discuss strengths, areas for improvement, goals, and next steps in your backcountry progression.

    Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:

    • Advanced Resort Riding skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions

    • Basic Backcountry Touring Skills - Including familiarity with equipment and avalanche gear

    • Moderate Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 4-6 miles and climb 1,500-2,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.

    • Ski/Split Touring & Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
    Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

    Here's what's included with your course:

    • Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
    • Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Permit
    • Group Safety Gear - Snow Science, First Aid Kits
    • Wag Bags - for human waste disposal, in compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
    Not Included
    • Ski/Splitboard Gear
    • Avalanche Gear
    • Transportation
    • Meals
    • Winter Parking Passes
    • Guide Gratuities

    Ski/Split Touring Gear

    • Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
    • Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
    • Climbing Skins
    • Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
    • Adjustable Touring Poles
    Avalanche Safety Gear
    • Avalanche Beacon
    • Avalanche Shovel
    • Avalanche Probe
    Clothing & Accessories
  • Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Goggles
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Lunch and Snacks
  • Book Now
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