Frequently Asked Questions.
Have a question? Search our detailed FAQ.
Can't find your answer? Reach out to our team!
California (530) 414-7778
Washington & Oregon (360) 392-5100
Our Policies
Please visit our Company Policies page to view all of our policies related to cancellations and rescheduling for both international and domestic programs.
General Program Questions
It depends on the program, but generally you’ll meet your guide at the trailhead, which will be shared in the logistics email sent ahead of the course.
For single day programs, you will receive an email with logistics 1-2 days before your program with meeting time, location, and guide contact information.
For multi day programs, you will receive logistics info one week prior to your program.
Ski & Splitboard Touring
If you’ve not had any formal backcountry skiing instruction our Intro to BC course could be a great option for you even though you've already been out a handful of times. On day one your guide will teach a variety of techniques used to become an efficient backcountry skier including the gear, the movement, transitions, the basics of avalanches (could be a good refresher for you AIARE 1 course you just took), etc. On day two you get a chance to go for a longer tour and incorporate all the skills you learned on day one. You'll also get a lot of feedback from your guide.
If you’ve taken an intro course, and completed an AIARE 1 and Rescue course, our Intermediate backcountry course would be the next step up. In this course you'll have an opportunity to focus on more advanced backcountry skiing techniques and will even get to practice leadership and decision making. Reinforcing these skills with an AIARE 2 will give the experience to lead a group and push into bigger mountains and ski mountaineering skills.
After you take that course and get out backcountry skiing a few more times after that, the next step would be the Ski Mountaineering course! If you want to ski peaks like Shasta or Lassen, this course is essential!
- No, you can join if you haven’t taken your AIARE 1! We do (of course) strongly recommend that you consider taking your AIARE 1 so that you can stay safe and be a great backcountry partner.
We need three people to run the program. If we don’t get three, we can offer a private tour at a discounted rate.
Ski mountaineering is a type of backcountry skiing done in bigger mountains with more complex terrain that requires an additional gear and skills including:
- Ice Axes
- Boot Crampons
- Ski Crampons
- Ropes
- Carabiners
- Mountaineering efficiency including the Rest Step
- Crampon Techniques
- Ice Axe Techniques including Self Arrest and Team Arrest (for Glacier Travel)
- Descending techniques for mountaineering
- Basics of rope team travel
The number of guides will affect the type of terrain you can get into. Anything that requires short roping will be a max of 3:1. If the terrain is particularly difficult/consequential, then the ratio would be 2:1. For many ski touring objectives, a ratio of 4:1 is fine. Please let us know what your ideal day would look like in terms of:
- Steepness of terrain (let me know degrees if you know that, or let us know what type of terrain at your local resort is what you're looking for)
- Elevation gain (how many vertical feet are you looking for each day?)
- Approach mileage (how many miles in/out do you feel is reasonable?)
Yes, we can provide a guide for your group at our private pricing.
Yes, our guides can pack your food and gear in for you. Book here.
You will need to bring a sleeping bag or you can buy a sleeping bag liner and use one of our Blackbird sleeping bags.
Our guides will pack in and prepare food for breakfast and dinner. Clients are responsible for bringing their own lunch and snacks.
Check-in after 1:00 p.m. (pacific time) on day of arrival.
Check-out before 10:00 a.m. (pacific time) on day of departure. Guests are expected to clean-up after themselves, do their dishes, clean, sweep and straighten up their hut before departing. Please be sure your unit is cleaned per room instructions.
As much as we love our 4-legged companions, dogs are not allowed.
In the winters, ski boots or snowboard boots are not allowed in the huts. In the summers, hiking boots or climbing shoes are not allowed in the huts. Slippers are available on site or you can bring your own.
There is internet service in the area. Cell phone use in the common Eschenbach Backcountry House is prohibited. The House is intended as the communal space where groups cook, dine, lounge and hang-out.
Hutmeisters are onsite to make your visit safe, enjoyable and make you feel at home. During storms, they move, blow, and shovel a ridiculous amount of snow.
There are no showers at the huts