Backcountry Skiing Mammoth & Eastern Sierra - Private
Join us for a day of ski touring in one of the most magical ranges in the United States: California’s Eastern Sierra. Renowned for incredible corn and powder skiing, it's a backcountry skier’s paradise. Let us know what type of terrain and how big you want your day to be and we'll plan a perfect tour for your group. We'll manage the hazards & logistics & you can focus on having a great day of skiing!
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear
Private Backcountry Skiing is all about you and your team. You bring the crew, we will:
- Find the best zone in the Mammoth area for you and your team based on your desires, fitness and riding skills.
- Manage the snowpack and conditions.
- Share helpful tips along the way
- Tailor the trip with any skills you'd like to cover during the day, including avalanche, technical skiing, layering, and gear
- 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
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Group Safety Gear - Snow Science, First Aid Kits
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal, in compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Ski/Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear - Beacon, Shovel, Probe
- Transportation
- Meals
- Winter Parking Passes
- Guide Gratuities
Eastern Sierra Backcountry Skiing Gear List
- Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski Touring Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Mammoth Mountaineering
Know Before you go
Price/Person
$205.00
Private Programs
Duration: 1 Day
View Full Itinerary
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
- Custom Scheduling: Choose your dates and plan around your availability.
- Tailored Experiences: Itineraries and objectives are adjusted to suit your goals, experience, and fitness.
- Cost-Effective for Most Large Groups: Private programs are typically more cost-effective for groups of 3 or more.
- Flexibility Comes at a Price: For groups of 1-2, private programs are generally more expensive.
- AIARE Courses: AIARE course pricing is based on a group of 6. Running these as a private program with fewer than 6 participants will increase the per-person cost.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
- Fixed Dates & Costs: Scheduled programs have set dates, itineraries, objectives, and pricing.
- Great for Solo or Small Groups: Ideal for individuals or small groups looking to share costs with others.
- Affordable for 1-2 People: Scheduled programs are typically less expensive for groups of 1-2.
- Less Flexibility: Dates fill quickly, and group programs require adapting to the skill level and pace of all participants
- Group Atmosphere: Meet others with similar interests and make some new backcountry buddies!
Note: Any scheduled program can also be run as a private program with customized dates and rates.
Both options offer exceptional guiding and experiences. Choose what works best for you!
Full Itinerary
8:00 am 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.
8:30 am Tour into our objective for the day and ski as many laps as time will allow on the best snow available.
3:30 pm Return to the trailhead with enough daylight to have a margin to get back safely.
Private Backcountry Skiing is all about you and your team. You bring the crew, we will:
- Find the best zone in the Mammoth area for you and your team based on your desires, fitness and riding skills.
- Manage the snowpack and conditions.
- Share helpful tips along the way
- Tailor the trip with any skills you'd like to cover during the day, including avalanche, technical skiing, layering, and gear
- 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
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Group Safety Gear - Snow Science, First Aid Kits
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal, in compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Ski/Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear - Beacon, Shovel, Probe
- Transportation
- Meals
- Winter Parking Passes
- Guide Gratuities
Eastern Sierra Backcountry Skiing Gear List
- Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski Touring Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Mammoth Mountaineering
Ski mountaineering in the Palisades near Big Pine and Mammoth Lakes California
Powder skiing in the Eastern Sierra.
Backcountry Skiing Mammoth & Eastern Sierra - Private
the blackbird difference
Innovative courses
Professional Guides
Positive Progression
Community Focused
ongoing support
Got Questions?
We’re here to help. Our FAQs or Gear Lists might have the information you’re seeking. But If you’re not finding the information you need, we’d be happy to help!