1-Day Intro to Backcountry Ski Touring Course

Learn the basics the right way and explore the incredible ski terrain outside the resort boundaries.

This private trip is designed to give the intermediate resort skier the first taste of the backcountry. It gives a thorough examination of the movement skills for uphill and downhill movement, avalanche safety protocols and equipment usage, route selection, and personal management.

All our guides are professionally traIned ski guides with an incredible knowledge of the local mountains. In addition we have the largest permit area for skiing in all of western Colorado. No one else can match the diversity and magnitude of opportunities that SJMG can offer.

Learn to: set a good skin track, perform a kick turn in tight terrain, manage different snow types on descent, use an avalanche transceiver, perform a single burial avalanche beacon rescue, and tons more... It truly is a whole new world of skiing out there in the backcountry. Our guides are the best at teaching you the fundamentals and building confidence.

Private Ski Guiding Rates: 2012/2013 Winter Ski Rates
1 Skier $375
2 Skiers $250
3 Skiers $210
4 Skiers $185
All rates are per person, per day. * INCLUDES * - AT Skis, Boots, Skins, Poles, avy tranceiver, probe, and shovel.

Course Itinerary

This instructional day starts at 0730 at our office - 725 Main St. in Ouray. We will fit gear, talk about packing and using it all, look at the weather and avalanche forecast, and choose the best terrain for the day. Your guide will drive you up to the chosen departure point. From there you will experience one of the most rewarding and challenging outdoor activities known to man.

A few of the skills you can learn during one of our professionally guided backcountry ski tours include:

Proper equipment and clothing selection
Efficient packing for accessibility and comfort
Selecting appropriate terrain for daily goals using the avalanche bulletin, maps, guidebooks, and photos
Uphill travel skills: striding, pacing, proper poling, AVA turn, uphill kick turn, pirouettes
Tracksetting strategies for security, hazard avoidance, energy conservation, speed, and group management
Snowpack stability assessments using snowpack tests, environmental observations, and weather patterns
Avalanche beacon function tests, single rescuer avalanche strategies, shoveling techniques, and probe patterns
Finding the best snow conditions for uphill travel and dowhnill skiing.
Skiing techniques and for powder and other conditions
Coached practice exercises used to improve your balance, confidence, and enjoyment
How to have a ton of fun makinf sweet turns in whatever conditions and weather Mother Nature throws at us!

Backcountry Skiing Equipment

We include top of the line Alpine Touring or Randonee Ski Equipment with all our ski programs.
That is a $65 value in itself. We supply the following great gear:

Black Diamond Kilowatt and Havoc AT Skis with Fritschi Diamir Explore Bindings
Black Diamond Slant and Scarpa Spirit AT Boots
Black Diamond Traverse Poles
Black Diamond Avalanche Probes and Shovels
Mammut Barryvox Pulse and BCA Tracker Avalanche Transceivers

Hut Based Skiing Programs

There are a number of excellent European-style backcountry ski huts here in the Majestic San Juan Mountains. We can arrange for a number of hut-based skiing programs for skier's of all ability levels and from 2 to 5 days in length. Give us a call at 970 - 325 - 4925 or email info@ourayclimbing.com to learn more about what's available!

Private Hut Trip Locations

OPUS Hut (Ophir Pass area)
Addie S (Red Mountain Pass)
Mountain Belle (Red Mountain Pass)
Artist Cabin (Chattanooga Corner)
Alladin's Lamp (Silverton/Molas Pass)