Ski Mountaineering Skills Course
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- The Rest Step: the Foundation of Mountaineering and Ski Mountaineering.
- Crampons Types and pros and cons of each How to put them on Techniques: flat footing, duck step, pied a troisieme, front pointing, plunge stepping
- Ice Axes Types of axes and pros and cons of each Anatomy of the axe and how to hold it Ice Axe Arrest: Rope Team Arrest (to stop a partner who has fallen into a crevasse in glaciated terrain) Self Arrest (to stop yourself from falling)
- Rope Travel For glaciated terrain For steep technical terrain with a guide
- Transitions Skinning to Ski Crampons Ski Crampons or skinning to Boot Crampons Climbing/Cramponing to Skiing on steep terrain
This program requires at least 3 participants to run.
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 8:00 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead
- 8:30 am - We'll spend the day demonstrating and coaching while you practice ski mountaineering skills
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:00pm - Course ends
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- This is an introductory program - No ski mountaineering experience is required!
- Advanced Resort Riding skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions
- Basic 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 3-5 miles and climb 1,000-1,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Applicable Forest / Park Permits
- Group Safety Gear - Snow Science, First Aid Kits
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Ski & Splitboard Touring Gear
- Avalanche & Ski Mountaineering Gear - beacon, shovel, probe, ice axe, crampons, climbing harness
- Transportation
- Meals
- 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 Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Ski/Split Crampons
- Climbing Harness
Ski Mountaineering Skills Gear List
- Avalanche & Ski Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski & Splitboard Touring Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Tahoe Sports Hub - use code BLACKBIRD10 for 10% off at checkout.
Know Before you go
Snoqualmie Pass
Mt Baker
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!
7:30 am Meet your guide at the trailhead. This early start time will allow us to take advantage of frozen surface conditions and will help with learning fundamental cramponing skills.
Your guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure Check/Beacon Check then we’ll tour to an appropriate venue with terrain that provides excellent learning opportunities.
8:00 am From start to finish we’ll be explaining, demonstrating and coaching you while you practice the following skills:
- The Rest Step: the Foundation of Mountaineering and Ski Mountaineering.
- Crampons
- Types and pros and cons of each
- How to put them on
- Techniques: flat footing, duck step, pied a troisieme, front pointing, plunge stepping
- Ice Axes
- Types of axes and pros and cons of each
- Anatomy of the axe and how to hold it
- Ice Axe Arrest:
- Rope Team Arrest (to stop a partner who has fallen into a crevasse in glaciated terrain)
- Self Arrest (to stop yourself from falling)
- Rope Travel
- For glaciated terrain
- For steep technical terrain with a guide
- Transitions
- Skinning to Ski Crampons
- Ski Crampons or skinning to Boot Crampons
- Climbing/Cramponing to Skiing on steep terrain
- We’ll leave time to answer questions you may have about ski mountaineering and the various techniques at the end of the program
3:00 pm We will close the program after finishing the learning objectives of the course.
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- The Rest Step: the Foundation of Mountaineering and Ski Mountaineering.
- Crampons Types and pros and cons of each How to put them on Techniques: flat footing, duck step, pied a troisieme, front pointing, plunge stepping
- Ice Axes Types of axes and pros and cons of each Anatomy of the axe and how to hold it Ice Axe Arrest: Rope Team Arrest (to stop a partner who has fallen into a crevasse in glaciated terrain) Self Arrest (to stop yourself from falling)
- Rope Travel For glaciated terrain For steep technical terrain with a guide
- Transitions Skinning to Ski Crampons Ski Crampons or skinning to Boot Crampons Climbing/Cramponing to Skiing on steep terrain
This program requires at least 3 participants to run.
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 8:00 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead
- 8:30 am - We'll spend the day demonstrating and coaching while you practice ski mountaineering skills
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:00pm - Course ends
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- This is an introductory program - No ski mountaineering experience is required!
- Advanced Resort Riding skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions
- Basic 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 3-5 miles and climb 1,000-1,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Applicable Forest / Park Permits
- Group Safety Gear - Snow Science, First Aid Kits
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Ski & Splitboard Touring Gear
- Avalanche & Ski Mountaineering Gear - beacon, shovel, probe, ice axe, crampons, climbing harness
- Transportation
- Meals
- 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 Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Ski/Split Crampons
- Climbing Harness
Ski Mountaineering Skills Gear List
- Avalanche & Ski Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski & Splitboard Touring Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Tahoe Sports Hub - use code BLACKBIRD10 for 10% off at checkout.
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsGreat prep for Eastern Sierra Ski Mountaineering!
Zeb was awesome, and our intro to ski mountaineering course was a great intro to take before hitting some Eastern Sierra objectives the following week. Zeb was patient and informative and open to any and all questions throughout the course, and then we did a mini tour where he continued to share his breadth of knowledge about various observations and snow conditions. Couldn't recommend enough!
Kyle M. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsBlackbird always beat my expectations!
Blackbird is the best! They always beat my expectations, I can't say enough great things about them. Extremely professional, knowledgeable while making it fun, exciting and wanting to come back for more. If you're thinking about getting your avi certification, mountaineering training or guided backcountry tour- look no further.
Mikael O. - Rated 5 out of 5 stars5/5 Ski Mountaineering Skills Course!
5/5 Ski Mountaineering Skills Course!
Elizabeth G. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsLots of skills & lots of fun!
Took the ski mountaineering class with Zeb. Learned a bunch of skills and got to practice them in class before taking them to the mountains. Had lots of fun doing it! Highly recommend working with Zeb and Blackbird!
Edmond K.
the blackbird difference
Innovative courses
Professional Guides
Positive Progression
Community Focused
ongoing support
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!