Ski the Eastern Sierra with Daron Rahlves

Join Olympic / World Cup Champion Ski Racer Daron Rahlves and IFMGA Mountain Guide Zeb Blais for a ski mountaineering adventure of a lifetime in California's Eastern Sierra. We’ll build on your backcountry skill set and tick off classic lines in the Range of Light.
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear

We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:

  • Push Your Limits - Join Olympic ski racer and World Cup Champion Daron Rahlves and IFMGA Mountain Guide Zeb Blais for the ski mountaineering adventure of a lifetime in California's Eastern Sierra!

  • Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel

  • Objective Attempt - These will be long days, gaining between 3,000-4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.

  • Ski Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the variations holding the best snow, racking up 3,000-4,000' of vertical!

Here's the schedule for your trip:

  • Day 1 - Touring & Ski Mountaineering Skills Review
    6:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. Your guide will discuss the plan for the trip and we'll make any final adjustments before we caravan to the trailhead. The rest of the day will be spent ski touring and then either: (i) returning to vehicles or (ii) setting up basecamp and learning about camp craft.

  • Day 2 - Objective Attempt
    6:00am quick breakfast followed by an early start. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining 3,000-4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the zones holding the best snow! If needed, we’ll break down camp, pack up our bags, and descend to the trailhead.

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

  • Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.

  • Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.

  • Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing and skiing.

  • Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week.

  • Ski/Split Touring, Avalanche, & Ski Mountaineering 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 trip:

  • Experienced IFMGA Trained Guide, Former World Cup Ski Racer
  • Ropes & Gear - for ski mountaineering training
  • Tent
  • Stove & Fuel
  • Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
  • Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
Not Included
  • Meals
  • Ski/Splitboard Gear
  • Avalanche Gear
  • Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
  • 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
Ski/Split Mountaineering Gear
  • Ice Axe
  • Crampons
  • Ski/SplitCrampons
  • Climbing Harness
Overnight Gear
  • Headlamp
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Sleeping Pad
Clothing & Accessories
  • Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Goggles
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks

  • Know Before you go

    SKILL LEVELAdvanced Expert
    ELEVATION6,000’-14,000’
    LocationEastern Sierra

    Price $900.00
    Private Programs
    Duration: 2 Days
    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

    6:00 am Meet your guide at the designated trailhead

    Our start times are governed by the weather and avalanche conditions and may be MUCH earlier.  Meet your guide at the trailhead 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.

     

    6:30 am Ski Tour 

    Tour into our objective for the day and ski as many laps as time will allow on the best snow available.

     

    5:30 pm Arrive back at the trailhead. 

    Return to the trailhead with enough daylight to have a margin to get back safely. These days can be long and variables with conditions and pacing can make them longer.  Many spring days we head out early and return early to avoid the heat of the day.  5:30 would be on the later side for return times on spring tours.

     

     

    We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:

    • Push Your Limits - Join Olympic ski racer and World Cup Champion Daron Rahlves and IFMGA Mountain Guide Zeb Blais for the ski mountaineering adventure of a lifetime in California's Eastern Sierra!

    • Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel

    • Objective Attempt - These will be long days, gaining between 3,000-4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.

    • Ski Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the variations holding the best snow, racking up 3,000-4,000' of vertical!

    Here's the schedule for your trip:

    • Day 1 - Touring & Ski Mountaineering Skills Review
      6:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. Your guide will discuss the plan for the trip and we'll make any final adjustments before we caravan to the trailhead. The rest of the day will be spent ski touring and then either: (i) returning to vehicles or (ii) setting up basecamp and learning about camp craft.

    • Day 2 - Objective Attempt
      6:00am quick breakfast followed by an early start. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining 3,000-4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the zones holding the best snow! If needed, we’ll break down camp, pack up our bags, and descend to the trailhead.

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

    • Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.

    • Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.

    • Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing and skiing.

    • Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week.

    • Ski/Split Touring, Avalanche, & Ski Mountaineering 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 trip:

    • Experienced IFMGA Trained Guide, Former World Cup Ski Racer
    • Ropes & Gear - for ski mountaineering training
    • Tent
    • Stove & Fuel
    • Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
    • Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
    Not Included
    • Meals
    • Ski/Splitboard Gear
    • Avalanche Gear
    • Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
    • 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
    Ski/Split Mountaineering Gear
    • Ice Axe
    • Crampons
    • Ski/SplitCrampons
    • Climbing Harness
    Overnight Gear
    • Headlamp
    • Sleeping Bag
    • Sleeping Pad
    Clothing & Accessories
  • Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Goggles
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
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