Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding Courses
Build the Skills to Ski Big Mountain Objectives
Take your backcountry skiing or splitboarding beyond basic touring with hands-on instruction for the full gamut of technical systems, glacier travel, and steep skiing techniques necessary for ski mountaineering. From the San Juan Mountains to the glaciated peaks of the North Cascades and Alaska, our ski mountaineering courses are customized to teach you the systems and build your confidence to move safely through complex mountain ski terrain.
Our team of AMGA certified Ski Guides are expert skiers and splitboarders, with a proven resume of steep descents around the world. We’re passionate about sharing our experience and taking you beyond backcountry skiing and into the bigger mountains.
Course Descriptions: Intermediate to advanced ski mountaineering courses. These courses follow a progression of increasing difficulty and technical challenges, from an Intro To Ski Mountaineering on Red Mountain Pass and the San Juan Mountains to glaciated descents on Mount Baker and big lines in Alaska.
Prerequisites: Previous backcountry skiing/splitboarding experience required for all courses. Skiers and riders must be proficient descending black diamond terrain in the resort.
Schedule: Courses are full days (8 hours) of hands-on learning and ski mountaineering. Amount of days vary per course. Intro To Ski Alpinism is a 3 day course. Glaciated Skiing Seminar is a 5 day course.
Group Size: All ski mountaineering courses are taught with a maximum of 4 skiers/riders per guide.
Locations: Intro To Ski Alpinism is in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado on Red Mountain Pass and Mount Sneffels. Glaciated Skiing Seminar is on Mount Baker, Washington.
Pricing: Varies based on the course.
Why Learn Ski Mountaineering Techniques From Us?
Skyward Mountaineering offers guided backcountry skiing and splitboarding courses in the San Juan Mountains, Mount Baker, Washington, and in Alaska. Our access to these incredible ski mountaineering venues provides a logical progression for skill development.
Our guides aren't simply “experienced” skiers, they're AMGA certified Ski Guides and IFMGA Mountain Guides who understand how ski movement, climbing, snow science, and route selection come together in complex terrain. With decades of experience ski guiding in the San Juan Mountains and on major ski objectives around the world, including Alaska, Canada, the Alps, Greenland, Norway, and South America, we focus on practical skills that transfer directly to your own mountain adventures.
Learn in Real Terrain
Train in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado or the glaciated slopes of Mount Baker. Each setting offers different opportunities to practice the skills needed for increasingly complex ski objectives and gain familiarity and confidence riding a varied snowpack.
Build Transferable Skills
We emphasize practical instruction and experience driven decision making. You'll work toward understanding how to apply your skills to future trips, and recognize when conditions or terrain require a different approach.
Small Groups & Personalized Instruction
Courses are taught with a maximum of four riders per guide, allowing for focused coaching and meaningful opportunities to practice technical skills. Instruction is adapted to the group and conditions.
Choose Your Backcountry Skiing Course
Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding
2 days | Red Mountain Pass, CO
Learn the fundamentals of backcountry skiing and splitboarding in the San Juan Mountains. This hands-on course introduces the touring equipment, skinning techniques, and decision making skills needed to travel beyond the resort.
Train around Silverton and Red Mountain Pass while learning how to plan, pack, travel uphill efficiently, transition between skinning and downhill skiing, select appropriate terrain, and recognize common backcountry hazards.
Ideal for: Intermediate to advanced resort skiers and snowboarders who are new to backcountry travel and want to build a solid foundation for independent ski touring and splitboarding.
AIARE 1 Avalanche Education
3 days | Silverton, CO
Build the knowledge and decision making skills needed to travel safely in avalanche terrain. This hands-on course combines online learning with in-person field instruction to teach avalanche hazard assessment, terrain selection, snowpack observations, and travel strategies for managing risk in the backcountry.
Learn this skills in Silverton and Red Mountain Pass, where real world ski terrain provide an ideal setting for an avalanche course.
Ideal for: Backcountry skiers and splitboarders who want to develop a strong foundation in avalanche awareness and terrain management.
Intro to Ski Alpinism
3 days | San Juan Mountains
Build the technical foundation for ski mountaineering in the San Juan Mountains. This hands-on course introduces the climbing and steep skiing techniques used to access committing mountain descents.
Train and ski on terrain around Silverton and Ouray County’s 14er, Mount Sneffels, while learning how to combine efficient uphill travel, technical climbing systems, and controlled skiing in exposed alpine environments.
Ideal for: Experienced backcountry skiers and splitboarders who want to progress from conventional ski touring to steeper, more technical objectives.
Glaciated Skiing Seminar
5 days | Mount Baker, WA
Develop the technical skills needed to travel and ski in glaciated alpine terrain. This hands-on course combines ski mountaineering techniques with glacier travel skills to prepare you for more complex mountain objectives.
Train on the glaciers of Mount Baker in Washington's North Cascades while learning roped and un-roped glacier travel techniques and decision making, crevasse rescue, snow anchors, and advanced ski mountaineering systems.
Ideal for: Experienced backcountry skiers and splitboarders who want to prepare for glaciated ski mountaineering objectives and remote expeditions.
Backcountry Skiing Course Progression
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, our ski mountaineering courses are designed for skiers and splitboarders with previous backcountry touring experience who are proficient on black diamond resort terrain. These are technical progression courses rather than introductory lessons in skiing or splitboarding movement.
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Backcountry skiing generally involves traveling uphill on touring equipment and skiing unmaintained, off-piste terrain. Ski mountaineering involves descending steeper terrain and adds the component of technical climbing and mountain travel skills that may include crampon and ice axe use, belaying, rappelling, glacier travel. The combination of skills required depend on the objective.
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Avalanche education is an important foundation for backcountry travel. If you are unfamiliar with backcountry skiing equipment and basic ski touring techniques we recommend booking a private day of backcountry ski touring instruction or our Intro To Backcountry Skiing Course.
An avalanche level 1 course is required when signing up for more advanced ski mountaineering courses. If you haven't taken an avalanche course, you may consider signing up for our AIARE 1 Course which is developed specifically for backcountry skiiers and splitboarders. Technical ski mountaineering instruction and avalanche education address different skills and should complement one another.
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Courses take place primarily in Colorado's San Juan Mountains, based out of Silverton. We also offer the Glaciated Skiing Seminar on Mount Baker in Washington's North Cascades.
Skyward Mountaineering also offers private ski guiding at ski mountaineering destinations around the world, including Alaska, Norway, the Alps, and Chile.
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Yes, private instruction can be tailored to your experience, goals, and schedule. Contact Skyward Mountaineering to discuss a custom course and determine the best location and format for your training.
Develop Your Backcountry Ski Touring And Ski Mountaineering Skills
Take the next step toward your big mountain skiing objectives with expert instruction from Skyward Mountaineering. Explore our backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering courses or contact our guides to discuss your experience, goals, and the best course for your next adventure.
Private Backcountry Skiing Instruction
Looking for a more personalized approach? Private instruction allows you to focus on the specific skills and objectives that matter most to you. Work with a guide to develop steep skiing technique, improve uphill efficiency, practice technical rope systems, or prepare for an upcoming ski mountaineering expedition.
Instruction can be tailored to your existing experience, goals, and the terrain and conditions available. Contact Skyward Mountaineering to discuss a custom course.