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Start your backcountry journey with our AIARE 1 + Rescue Course

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South Lake Tahoe backcountry skiing and splitboarding

North Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe

Intermediate Advanced

Tahoe Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding

Select an objective based on your experience and then explore the best backcountry zones in Lake Tahoe with our expert guides

Mt Rose Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding

Intermediate Advanced

Mt Rose Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding

Mt Rose offers large amounts of dry snow and an incredible retreat from storms with high snowlines

Skier on a ridge above Lake Tahoe during a Blackbird Guides Sugarbowl to Squaw Ski Tour

Intermediate Advanced

Sugar Bowl to Palisades Ski Tour

A 13 mile traverse along the Pacific Crest Trail with plenty of climbing and skiing between two of Tahoe's great ski resorts.

Backcountry Skiing Tahoe - Private

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Backcountry Skiing Tahoe - Private

We'll select an objective based on your experience and then explore the best backcountry zones Tahoe with our expert guides

A backcountry skier enjoying the view from the deck of the Morgan Hut, one of the new huts at the Frog Lake Backcountry Hut system. The amenities make these huts the best huts in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee area.

Intermediate Advanced Expert

Frog Lake Huts

Explore Incredible terrain and enjoy plush accommodations with the finest hut-based skiing experience outside of BC.

Frog Lake Huts - Private Guiding

Intermediate Advanced

Frog Lake Huts - Private Guiding

Book our guides to make your Frog Lake Huts Trip a huge success!

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

North Lake Tahoe, California South Lake Tahoe, California

Intermediate Advanced

Tahoe Backcountry Pass

The Tahoe Backcountry Pass is a great way to meet new touring partners and enjoy new zones in the Tahoe area!

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

Students during an AIARE 1 Avalanche course in Lake Tahoe, digging snow pits to inspect the snowpack and layering.

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.

Skiers skinning through the backcountry in the Eastern Sierra

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.

AIARE 1 participants discussing terrain near Snow Lake Divide in Snoqualmie Pass

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course at Snoqualmie Pass

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

AIARE 1 participants working through terrain in Snoqualmie Pass

Mt Baker, Washington

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 Avalanche Course at Mt Baker

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

Students practicing rescue drills during an AIARE 1 +Rescue Avalanche course. A beacon is buried to simulate a burial victim.

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.

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 + Rescue Avalanche Course in Mammoth

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

Participants in an AIARE 1 Avalanche course digging snow pits to inspect the snowpack and learn about layering processes.

Snoqualmie Pass, WA

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche Course at Snoqualmie Pass

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

Blackbird instructor demonstrating snow pit shear test during an AIARE 1 Avalanche course

Touring Experience

AIARE 1 + Rescue Avalanche Course at Mt Baker

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

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.

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.

Avalanche Rescue Course in Washington

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Touring Experience

AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course at Snoqualmie Pass

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

Rescuers performing an avalanche rescue during the Blackbird Lift Accessed AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course at Donner Ski Ranch

Mt Baker, Washington

Touring Experience

AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course at Mt Baker

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

Skier touring toward Pyramid Peak in South Lake Tahoe

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

Students during an AIARE 2 Avalanche course, examining snow pits to identify snow pack layers.

AIARE 1, Rescue, Extensive Touring

AIARE 2 Avalanche Course at Snoqualmie Pass

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

Blackbird instructor demonstrating snow pit shear test during an AIARE 1 Avalanche course

Touring Experience

AIARE Avalanche Courses in California - Private

A private AIARE course just for your and your friends & backcountry partners.

Students learning to perform snow pit shear test during an AIARE 1 Avalanche course.

Touring Experience

AIARE Avalanche Courses in Washington - Private

A private AIARE course just for your and your friends & backcountry partners.

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.

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

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.

Climbers high on the Emmons Glacier route on Mount Rainier

Intermediate Advanced

Mt Rainier Summit & Skills Expedition 5 Day

5 days of big mountain skills & a summit attempt of 14,411' Mt Rainier.

Tent on a ridge overlooking Mt Baker during Blackbird Guides True North - Baker & Shuksan Alpinism Week

True North - Mt Baker & Mt Shuksan Alpinism

The True North Alpine Climbing week pairs the best climbing route on Mt Baker with one of Mt Shuksan's classic routes.

Hikers on the Boston Glacier Traverse in the North Cascades, Washington

Intermediate Advanced

Forbidden Peak North Ridge

The North Ridge of Forbidden Peak is wild alpine climb in Boston Basin.

Temple Crag Climbing

Intermediate Advanced

Temple Crag Climbing

Climb the famed Celestial Aretes that make up one of our favorite rock-climbing areas in the Eastern Sierra- Temple Crag!

Exposure while rock climbing bear creek spire above little lakes valley in the eastern sierra of california

Intermediate Advanced

Bear Creek Spire Climbing

Bear Creek Spire is a gem of the High Sierra, with steep faces of white granite that the Sierra is renowned for

Near the summit of Forbidden Peak in the North Cascades

Intermediate Advanced

Forbidden Peak West Ridge

The West Ridge of Forbidden Peak is an outstanding alpine route and one of the 50 Classic Climbs of North America

A climber being guided during an alpine climb of Mount Baker’s North Ridge

Mt Baker North Ridge Summit Climb

Massive relief, expansive glaciers, pitched ice climbing and incredible exposure make this climb simply exhilarating.

Forbidden Peak North Ridge Camp in the North Cascades, Washington

The Torment Forbidden Traverse

Navigate glaciers and knife-edge rock ridges with over a mile of traversing before summiting Forbidden Peak via the West Ridge.

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.

Sunset on Cordillera Blanca in Peru

Advanced Expert

Peru Cordillera Blanca Alpine Climbing - Private

Build the perfect itinerary to suit your desires and abilities in the Cordillera Blanca.

Climber on Pumice Ridge, Mt Baker

Intermediate
Advanced
Expert

Mt Baker Summit Climb - Private

Build a custom itinerary for your group based on your objectives, skills, and preferred trip length!

North Cascades Alpine Climbing - Private

Intermediate Advanced Expert

North Cascades Alpine Climbing - Private

We'll an objective based on your experience and then explore the best climbing zones around Washington with our expert guides

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.

Climber climbing with crampons on Mt Shasta in California

Intermediate
Advanced
Expert

Mt Shasta Summit Climb - Private

Build a custom itinerary for your group based on your objectives, skills, and preferred trip length!

Climber in Mount Emerson Gully in California

Intermediate Advanced Expert

Eastern Sierra Climbing - Private

Build a custom itinerary for your group in the Range of Light based on your objectives, skills, and preferred trip length!

Fisher Chimneys climbing route on Mt Shuksan in Washington

Intermediate Advanced Expert

Alpine Skills Course - Private

Build the skills you need to accomplish your mountain objectives, from Mt Baker to Mt Everest, or anything in between.

Climbing Harness Rental

Climbing Harness Rental

Climbing Helmet Rental

Climbing Helmet Rental

Petzl Irvis Crampons

Crampon Rental

Crampons, Ice Axe, & Harness Rental

Crampons, Ice Axe, & Harness Rental

Ice Axe Rental

Pack Rental for Alpine Climbs

Pack Rental for Alpine Climbs

Alps Climbing Private

Alps Climbing Private

The Alps are the origin of alpinism and are the perfect place to build alpine climbing skills and tackle breathtaking climbs with our IFMGA Mountain Guides. Our private Alps Climbs are for small teams of climbers with similar skills sets and goals.

Blackbird Mountain Guides on Urus Este in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Custom Alpine Climbing in Washington

This is a private alpine climbing program for you and your team. We tailor the program for your team to help you accomplish your specific goals.

Three climbers on Coleman Glacier, Mt Baker

Intermediate Advanced

Mt Baker Summit Climb

A mountaineering expedition to summit one of the most glaciated peaks in the lower 48.

Skier hiking on the summit of Mt Shasta during a Blackbird Guides Summit Climb 2 Day trip

Intermediate Advanced

Mt Shasta Summit Climb

Climb one of California’s biggest mountains while pushing your boundaries and gaining mountaineering skills.

Crevasses in front of Mt Baker in Washington during a Blackbird Guides 4 day mountaineering skills seminar

Intermediate Advanced

Mt Baker Summit & Skills Seminar 4 Day

Massive relief, expansive glaciers, and moderate to steep slopes make for an excellent training ground and incredible climbing.

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.

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.

Lake with Mt Shuksan in the background during the summer

Mt Shuksan Fisher Chimneys

Complex glacier travel, moderate and exposed rock climbing and often a bit of easy ice climbing later in the season.

Climber on the North Face of Mt Shuksan above a lake

Mt Shuksan North Face

Exciting exposure and panoramic views of Mt Baker set the stage for this adventurous big mountain climb.

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!

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!

Skier camping at Helen Lake on Mt Shasta in California

Intermediate Advanced

Mt Shasta Summit Climb & Skills Seminar 5 Day

Learn mountaineering skills needed for any big mountain climb, from Denali to Mt Everest, on California's most massive volcano!

High on Mont Blanc with a guide on the Trois Monts Route

Mont Blanc Summit Climb

The Trois Monts route is an excellent option for climbing Mont Blanc. It avoids the hazards of the Grand Couloir and puts the team in an amazing position on the highest peak in Western Europe!

Mont Blanc Guides working on a Gran Paradiso Acclimitization climb

Gran Paradiso Summit Climb

Climb the highest peak in Italy with us! 4,061m Gran Paradiso is an excellent glaciated alpine climb for intermediate to advanced climbers.

Matterhorn Hornli Ridge Climb

Advanced-Expert

Matterhorn Hornli Ridge Climb

Continuous exposure and engaging climbing are the hallmarks of the Hornli Ridge Route on the Matterhorn.

climbing on Donner summit with an AMGA Rock climbing guide

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Full Day / Half Day

Rock Climbing in Tahoe - Private

The perfect day climbing, from fun single pitch or multi-pitch rock climbing or geared toward learning and improving skills.

Lover's Leap Rock Climbing

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Lover's Leap Rock Climbing

The perfect day rock climbing on Sierra granite - we'll tackle fun single-pitch or multi-pitch rock climbing or can focus on improving trad and multi-pitch climbing skills.

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.

Exposure while rock climbing bear creek spire above little lakes valley in the eastern sierra of california

Intermediate Advanced

Bear Creek Spire Climbing

Bear Creek Spire is a gem of the High Sierra, with steep faces of white granite that the Sierra is renowned for

Temple Crag Climbing

Intermediate Advanced

Temple Crag Climbing

Climb the famed Celestial Aretes that make up one of our favorite rock-climbing areas in the Eastern Sierra- Temple Crag!

Rock climbing guides in Index Washington

Intermediate Advanced

Rock Climbing at Index - Private

The perfect day climbing, from fun single pitch or multi-pitch rock climbing or geared toward learning and improving skills.

Sunset on Cordillera Blanca in Peru

Advanced Expert

Peru Cordillera Blanca Alpine Climbing - Private

Build the perfect itinerary to suit your desires and abilities in the Cordillera Blanca.

Near the summit of Forbidden Peak in the North Cascades

Intermediate Advanced

Forbidden Peak West Ridge

The West Ridge of Forbidden Peak is an outstanding alpine route and one of the 50 Classic Climbs of North America

Climber in Mount Emerson Gully in California

Intermediate Advanced Expert

Eastern Sierra Climbing - Private

Build a custom itinerary for your group in the Range of Light based on your objectives, skills, and preferred trip length!

Anchor building while rock climbing

Rock Climbing Anchor Building Course in Tahoe

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

Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques in Tahoe

Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques in Tahoe

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

A Rock Guide in Tahoe working on a group rock climbing program at Donner Summit

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Group Rock Climbing in Tahoe

Group and Family Rock climbing on Donner Summit. This program is a fun single pitch rock climbing session or skills development course for your group.

A climber on the cliffs with a rock guide at Mt Erie in Washington

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Rock Climbing at Mt Erie - Private

The perfect day climbing, from fun single pitch or multi-pitch rock climbing or geared toward learning and improving skills.

Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing in Tahoe

Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing in Tahoe

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

North Cascades Alpine Climbing - Private

Intermediate Advanced Expert

North Cascades Alpine Climbing - Private

We'll an objective based on your experience and then explore the best climbing zones around Washington with our expert guides

Calaveras Dome Rock Climbing

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Calaveras Dome Rock Climbing

The perfect day rock climbing on Sierra granite - we'll tackle fun multi-pitch rock climbing or can focus on improving multi-pitch efficiency and climbing skills.