Intro to Backcountry Skiing
Location
Silverton, Colorado
Group Size
6 people per guide
Duration
8 hours
Location
Silverton, Colorado
Group Size
6 people per guide
Duration
8 hours
This course is for those who have little or no backcountry travel experience, with intermediate level in bounds resort skiing experience and want to learn how to take the skills they already have and move into the backcountry. This course serves as an excellent introduction to your backcountry gear, techniques and best practices for uphill and downhill travel, and avalanche education fundamentals.
In this course we will cover the equipment necessary for backcountry skiing and splitboarding, discussing differences in modern equipment, including skis, bindings, and skins. We'll dive into the crucial avalanche safety equipment needed to move through the backcountry and review its basic functions, and will review how to find and understand the most crucial information from the avalanche bulletin.
Once everyone is properly outfitted, we'll head out into the beautiful backcountry terrain around Silverton. Once on the snow, we'll begin our tour moving slowly as we introduce key concepts like identifying avalanche terrain and using it to reduce our risk, and recognizing weather and snowpack factors that contribute to elevated avalanche hazard. We’ll learn about proper track setting, route finding, maximizing functionality and efficiency of our touring equipment, and specific movement skills for backcountry conditions.”
What's included
Avalanche, Beacon, Shovel and Probe
SJE can provide this equipment free of charge. You must email info@sanjuanexpeditions.com to request to reserve this gear.
San Juan Expeditions
Welcome to San Juan Expeditions the guide service of Silverton and Durango Colorado. As a year-round guide service, we offer our clients jaw-dropping climbing and trekking opportunities in the summer while our guided skiing, ice climbing, and avalanche education keep our guests busy in the winter. As the only year-round guide service headquartered in Silverton, we are uniquely qualified to share our world-class backyard with you, your friends, and your family. Offering programs to match any experience level, from novice to expert, we look forward to having our AMGA educated & certified guides foster an unforgettable experience for you.
The Guides
Where you'll meet
The details
What to bring
Cancellation Policy
SJE requires a full credit card or cash/check payment to hold your reservation. If you choose to cancel within 7 days of a scheduled trip, you will be charged full price. Within 7-14 days of your trip, we would be happy to work out a date to reschedule. If you choose to cancel 2 weeks or more (3 weeks or more for multi-day trips of 5+ people) prior to your scheduled trip, you will receive a full refund. If your guide decides that weather makes your scheduled trip a no-go, we will work with you to reschedule, give you a credit, or refund your trip. Given that mountain travel has so many extenuating & unavoidable variables, travel insurance is highly recommended.
Our precautions for COVID-19
What you can expect from us:
We understand the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic; our goal is to provide our clients the experience they seek without compromising their safety or the safety of our staff. We are adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines and timelines, as issued by Pitkin County.
General Business Practices:
- We will encourage our employees to use conservative social distancing behavior while not at work to reduce their exposure to COVID-19 and therefore the exposure to our clients.
- We will conduct daily symptoms checks of all employees.
- Staff will receive oversight/auditing by management to ensure they’re following these guidelines.
- AEW will focus on private & small group guiding over group larger enrolment adventures.
- We will be diligent in following these stated guidelines.
Learn more about our COVID-19 guidelines here:
More trips from San Juan Expeditions
Reviews
Trip: Intro to Backcountry Skiing
Guide: Kam W.
Awesome experience, Kam is very knowledgeable and patient . Thank you for the insight , i highly recommend this course.
By Sergio V. on January 11, 2025
Trip: Intro to Backcountry Skiing
Guide: Kam W.
Kam was an awesome guide. He is extremely knowledgeable and taught us the check list to make sure we do things the right way and to stay safe. The mountains around Silverton were incredible. If you need equipment - Ryan at Cripple Creek will hook you up!
By Steve G. on January 05, 2025
