Ski Mt Shasta with Daron Rahlves
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 on Mt Shasta!
- Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Summit 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 to Camp & 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 - Summit 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.
- 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
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
- 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 Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Climbing Harness
- Headlamp
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Pad
Know Before you go
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.
Here's the schedule for your trip:
- Day 1 - Touring to Camp & 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 - Summit 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.
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 on Mt Shasta!
- Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Summit 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 to Camp & 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 - Summit 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.
- 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
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
- 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 Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Climbing Harness
- Headlamp
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Pad
the blackbird difference
Innovative courses
Professional Guides
Positive Progression
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epic reviews from adventurers
View Reviews
Awesome Experience
“Taking this course with Zeb was the best decision! He was extremely friendly, relaxed and knowledgeable and answered all our questions with great patience.
An Exceptional Course
“I took an AIARE 1 with Blackbird and couldn't recommend it more. The knowledge gained was well-worth every penny, and then some."
Too Good For Words
Just took the "lift-assisted" Avalanche Rescue course, and it was a fantastic opportunity to act out more realistic rescue scenarios. It was a great refresher and learning experience. Our instructor Evan was knowledgeable and a lot of fun. Highly recommended!
An Incredible Weekend!
Completed AIARE 1 w/ Blackbird. Instructors were very knowledgeable, experienced, patient, attentive, and down-to-earth in relating to clients across a wide spectrum of ability. Highly recommended. Great group of people!
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