Tahoe Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding
Choose your location between North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe
North Lake Tahoe zones include: Castle Peak, Donner Summit, Lake Run, Silver Peak, Deep Creek
South Lake Tahoe zones include: Elephant's Back, Red Lake Peak, and Steven's Peak
- Ski the best zone in the area that day, based on weather and snow conditions
- Refresh gear and technique skills
- Avalanche safety skills review throughout the day
This program requires at least 3 participants to run.
Looking for a Mt Rose Tour? Go to Mt Rose Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding.
Looking for a Private Backcountry Tour? Go to Backcountry Skiing Tahoe - Private.
Want the ultimate overnight backcountry hut ski experience in Tahoe? Check out our available dates at Frog Lake Huts.
- 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
- Intermediate Backcountry Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days spent in the backcountry.
- 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 course:
- Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Permit
- 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
- Transportation
- Meals
- Winter Parking Passes
- Guide Gratuities
Tahoe Backcountry Skiing Gear List
- Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski/Split 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
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!
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.
Choose your location between North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe
North Lake Tahoe zones include: Castle Peak, Donner Summit, Lake Run, Silver Peak, Deep Creek
South Lake Tahoe zones include: Elephant's Back, Red Lake Peak, and Steven's Peak
- Ski the best zone in the area that day, based on weather and snow conditions
- Refresh gear and technique skills
- Avalanche safety skills review throughout the day
This program requires at least 3 participants to run.
Looking for a Mt Rose Tour? Go to Mt Rose Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding.
Looking for a Private Backcountry Tour? Go to Backcountry Skiing Tahoe - Private.
Want the ultimate overnight backcountry hut ski experience in Tahoe? Check out our available dates at Frog Lake Huts.
- 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
- Intermediate Backcountry Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days spent in the backcountry.
- 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 course:
- Experienced AMGA/AIARE Trained Guide
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Permit
- 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
- Transportation
- Meals
- Winter Parking Passes
- Guide Gratuities
Tahoe Backcountry Skiing Gear List
- Avalanche Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Ski/Split 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 starsVery Professional...excellent Mountain Guides!
Blackbird guides has taken me on various tours across the N. Lake Tahoe area including Mt. Rose. They've been very professional to work with, and provided extensive training/educational experience. I am very pleased to have been able to work with them this past season and plan to continue my education with their team.
Thanks Blackbird, for the (earned) turns and the education!
Andreas S. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsFive Star Backcountry Skiing!
Five Star Backcountry Skiing!
Kolya S. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsExcellent staff and teachers!
I highly recommend Blackbird Mountain Guides. They are extremely professional and made me feel safe on each and every Backcountry Tour I took with them. They provide excellent staffing to teach you the skills you need to stay safe in the mountains; their expertise is derived off of collective decades worth of experience in the field.
Andreas S. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsAwesome - plenty of vert and knowledge!
Went out on the Tahoe Tour with Will and had an awesome time. We got in plenty of vert and picked up knowledge along the way. I look forward to doing more of these trips and taking some of their educational courses.
Charlie M.
the blackbird difference
Innovative courses
Professional Guides
Positive Progression
Community Focused
ongoing support
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