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Shasta Season is here! Check out our climbing & ski programs!

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Mountain Skills Courses

A student practicing during a crevasse rescue course in Tahoe

Crevasse Rescue Course in Tahoe

Expand your rope skills and develop the advanced ski mountaineering skills needed to push into bigger terrain and rescue a partner.

Climbers on the Boston Glacier Traverse in the North Cascades during a Blackbird Guides Mountaineering Basics course

Intro to Mountaineering in Tahoe

Make the leap from hiker to climber with this introduction to mountaineering skills!

Anchor building while rock climbing

Rock Climbing Anchor Building Course

Learn to build a variety of different rock climbing anchors that will allow you to climb safely and efficiently outdoors.

Students treating a wound during a wilderness first responder course in Tahoe

Truckee, California (North Lake Tahoe)

5 Days + Pre-Course Work

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Wilderness First Responder is an essential course for outdoor professionals and serious recreationalists who spend significant time in environments with limited access to medical care and that have unreliable means of communication.

A Climber rescuing a climber during a crevasse rescue course on Mt Baker

Crevasse Rescue Course in Washington

Expand your rope skills and develop the advanced ski mountaineering skills needed to push into bigger terrain and rescue a partner.

Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques

Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques

Learn how to properly place gear (cams, nuts), how to clean gear, how to trust your gear, and how to build trad anchors.

Climbers on the Sahale Summit Ridge in the North Cascades, Washington

Intro to Mountaineering in Washington

Make the leap from hiker to climber with this introduction to mountaineering skills!

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) in Tahoe

Truckee, California (North Lake Tahoe)

Beginner Intermediate

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) in Tahoe

Learn the fundamental first aid skills that every backcountry adventurer should have to be a great partner.

A WFR assessing an injured person on a wilderness First Responder Course

Truckee, California (North Lake Tahoe)

2 Days (16 hours)

Wilderness First Responder Recertification (WFR Recert)

Wilderness First Responder is an essential course for outdoor professionals and serious recreationalists who spend significant time in environments with limited access to medical care and that have unreliable means of communication.

Backcountry Navigation 1

Backcountry Navigation 1

If you are an aspiring mountaineer, backcountry skier or just love to recreate outdoors, knowing how to use a map and compass is an essential skill.

Intro to Alpine Rock Climbing - Crystal Crag

Beginner Intermediate

Intro to Alpine Rock Climbing - Crystal Crag

Crystal Crag is the perfect intro to Alpine Climbing for climbers with sport and trad experience.

Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing

Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing

Learn the foundational skills you'll need to climb the famous granite rock of Donner Summit and beyond!

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) in Tahoe

Truckee, California (North Lake Tahoe)

Beginner Intermediate

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) in Tahoe

Learn the fundamental first aid skills that every backcountry adventurer should have to be a great partner.

Students treating a wound during a wilderness first responder course in Tahoe

Truckee, California (North Lake Tahoe)

5 Days + Pre-Course Work

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Wilderness First Responder is an essential course for outdoor professionals and serious recreationalists who spend significant time in environments with limited access to medical care and that have unreliable means of communication.

A WFR assessing an injured person on a wilderness First Responder Course

Truckee, California (North Lake Tahoe)

2 Days (16 hours)

Wilderness First Responder Recertification (WFR Recert)

Wilderness First Responder is an essential course for outdoor professionals and serious recreationalists who spend significant time in environments with limited access to medical care and that have unreliable means of communication.

Backcountry Navigation 1

Backcountry Navigation 1

If you are an aspiring mountaineer, backcountry skier or just love to recreate outdoors, knowing how to use a map and compass is an essential skill.

A skier rips a turn on deep day in the Tahoe backcountry.

North Lake Tahoe, California South Lake Tahoe, California

Beginner - Intermediate

Avy Pass

A series of courses throughout the season to develop skills to understand risks and make smart decisions in the backcountry.

Snowboarders hiking a ridge during an AIARE 1 avalanche course with Blackbird Guides in North Lake Tahoe

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course in Tahoe

Our AIARE 1 Avalanche Course features two full days in the field and an online course built by Blackbird Mountain Guides.

AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche Course in Tahoe

North Lake Tahoe

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche Course in Tahoe

Maximize your time and gain all of the fundamental avalanche awareness and rescue skills in our innovative three days course.

Skiers setting a skin track in the Italian Alps

North Lake Tahoe, California

AIARE 1, Rescue, Extensive Touring

AIARE 2 Avalanche Course in Tahoe

Dive deeper into weather, snow, route planning, human dynamics, and avalanche terrain with the Blackbird AIARE 2

Lift Accessed Avalanche Rescue Course Participants performing a mock avalanche rescue at donner ski ranch

North Lake Tahoe, California

Touring Experience

Lift-Accessed AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course in Tahoe

Our innovative lift-accessed course gives you more practice in more realistic avalanche terrain, making you a better backcountry partner.

Intro to Backcountry in California - Private

Intro to Backcountry in California - Private

A fun, fast way to learn all of the skills and techniques you need to start exploring in the backcountry.

A D3 sized avalanche in the Mt Baker backcountry triggered by an explosive.

Mt Baker & Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course in Washington

Our AIARE 1 Avalanche Course features two full days in the field and an online course built by Blackbird Mountain Guides.

A backcountry skier in Avalanche Terrain in the Mt Baker backcountry

Mt Baker & Snoqualmie Pass, WA

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche Course Washington

Maximize your time and gain all of the fundamental avalanche awareness and rescue skills in our innovative three days course.

Avalanche Rescue Course in Washington

Mt Baker & Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Touring Experience

AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course in Washington

Our innovative course gives you more practice in more realistic avalanche terrain, making you a better backcountry partner.

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course in California - Private

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course in California - Private

Our AIARE 1 Avalanche Course features two full days in the field and an online course built by Blackbird Mountain Guides.

Intro to Backcountry in Washington

Snoqualmie Pass / Mt Baker

Intro to Backcountry in Washington

A fun, fast way to learn all of the skills and techniques you need to start exploring in the backcountry.

Women's Intro to Backcountry

Women's Intro to Backcountry

A fun, fast way to master all of the skills and techniques you need to start exploring in the backcountry.

Skiing Powder and slashing turns in British Columbia’s Monashee Range on a BC Lodge Ski touring Week at Sol Mountain Lodge

Intermediate Advanced

Avalanche Skills Tour

Refresh and sharpen your skills while learning from the decisions your guide is making at every turn

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course in Washington - Private

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course in Washington - Private

Our AIARE 1 Avalanche Course features two full days in the field and an online course built by Blackbird Mountain Guides.

Students from an AIARE 1 Avalanche course perform snowpack tests in the Truckee, Lake Tahoe area during their avalanche level 1 course.

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course in Mammoth

Our AIARE 1 Avalanche Course features two full days in the field and an online course built by Blackbird Mountain Guides.

Avalanche Rescue Course in Mammoth

Mammoth Lakes, California

Touring Experience

AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course in Mammoth

Our innovative course gives you more practice in more realistic avalanche terrain, making you a better backcountry partner.

Backcountry skiing in Bagley Lakes Area in the Mt Baker backcountry.

Intro to Backcountry in Washington - Private

A fun, fast way to learn all of the skills and techniques you need to start exploring in the backcountry.

AIARE 2 Avalanche Course in California - Private

AIARE 2 Avalanche Course in California - Private

Dive deeper into weather, snow, route planning, human dynamics, and avalanche terrain with the Blackbird AIARE 2

AIARE 2 Avalanche Course in Washington - Private

AIARE 2 Avalanche Course in Washington - Private

Dive deeper into weather, snow, route planning, human dynamics, and avalanche terrain with the Blackbird AIARE 2

A D3 sized avalanche in the Mt Baker backcountry triggered by an explosive.

Mt Baker & Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course in Washington

Our AIARE 1 Avalanche Course features two full days in the field and an online course built by Blackbird Mountain Guides.

A backcountry skier in Avalanche Terrain in the Mt Baker backcountry

Mt Baker & Snoqualmie Pass, WA

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche Course Washington

Maximize your time and gain all of the fundamental avalanche awareness and rescue skills in our innovative three days course.

Avalanche Rescue Course in Washington

Mt Baker & Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Touring Experience

AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course in Washington

Our innovative course gives you more practice in more realistic avalanche terrain, making you a better backcountry partner.

Intro to Backcountry in Washington

Snoqualmie Pass / Mt Baker

Intro to Backcountry in Washington

A fun, fast way to learn all of the skills and techniques you need to start exploring in the backcountry.

Skier using a rope to climb a steep face during a Blackbird Guides Rope Skills for Skiers and Riders course

Intermediate Advanced

Rope Skills for Skiers & Riders in Tahoe

Develop the fundamental rope skills necessary to access bigger ski mountaineering lines and terrain

Skier hiking with ice ax on the summit of Mt Shasta

Ski Mountaineering Skills in Washington

Take your backcountry skiing to the next level with the fundamental ski mountaineering skills that will unlock bigger lines and terrain.

Ski Mountaineering Skills in Tahoe

Ski Mountaineering Skills in Tahoe

Take your backcountry skiing to the next level with the fundamental ski mountaineering skills that will unlock bigger lines and terrain.

A student practicing during a crevasse rescue course in Tahoe

Crevasse Rescue Course in Tahoe

Expand your rope skills and develop the advanced ski mountaineering skills needed to push into bigger terrain and rescue a partner.

rappelling into the Cosmiques Couloir in Chamonix, French Alps

Intermediate Advanced

Rope Skills for Skiers & Riders in Washington

Develop the fundamental rope skills necessary to access bigger ski mountaineering lines and terrain

Women's Intro to Backcountry

Women's Intro to Backcountry

A fun, fast way to master all of the skills and techniques you need to start exploring in the backcountry.

Women's Ski Mountaineering Skills

Women's Ski Mountaineering Skills

All the skills you need to tackle any ski mountaineering objective in style

A Climber rescuing a climber during a crevasse rescue course on Mt Baker

Crevasse Rescue Course in Washington

Expand your rope skills and develop the advanced ski mountaineering skills needed to push into bigger terrain and rescue a partner.

Skiing Powder and slashing turns in British Columbia’s Monashee Range on a BC Lodge Ski touring Week at Sol Mountain Lodge

Intermediate Advanced

Avalanche Skills Tour

Refresh and sharpen your skills while learning from the decisions your guide is making at every turn

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) in Tahoe

Truckee, California (North Lake Tahoe)

Beginner Intermediate

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) in Tahoe

Learn the fundamental first aid skills that every backcountry adventurer should have to be a great partner.

Mt Shasta Ski Mountaineering Skills Expedition

Intermediate Advanced

Mt Shasta Ski Mountaineering Skills Expedition

Learn fundamental efficiency, safety skills & strategy to climb & ski challenging routes on big mountains.