Want to take the tour even a little higher, WITH ROPES?  Ski mountaineering utilizes all the skills and techniques climbers learn in backcountry snow and alpine rock courses.  It is the ultimate climbing and skiing hybrid that facilitates access to more difficult snow covered peaks, high basins, rugged ridge lines, and steeper couloirs.  The first two days of the course will be dedicated to skills and systems development as well as making turns.  Days three and four will be devoted to putting all of your ski mountaineering skills together on a bigger objective and includes a night out in the field.

Skills taught but not limited to:

• Continued avalanche education
• Tour/time planning 
• Ski crampon use
• Boot cramponing
• Snow/ski anchors
• Rope handling and systems
• Rappels
• Transitions in steep terrain
• Pace and track setting
• Winter/Spring snow camping

Trip requirements: Skiers and splitboarders taking this course must be proficient riders in the backcountry and have previous touring skills and avalanche education.  This is an intermediate level course and some previous mountaineering/climbing experience is helpful.  Expect to spend at least 8 hours in the field each day.  Accordingly, all participants should be in great physical condition.

Locations:

• Quandary Peak, near Breckenridge, CO
• Monarch Pass, near Salida, CO
• Hoosier Pass, near Breckenridge, CO
• Pikes Peak, near Colorado Springs, CO

Included:

• AMGA certified Ski Guide or IFMGA Mountain Guide will lead this course
• Group gear and technical gear not on the gear list
• Ortovox demo gear available upon request

Exclusions:

• Lodging between field days
• Transportation and Pikes Peak Highway tolls ($10-15 per day) (if we climb/ride on Pikes Peak)

Sample Course Itinerary:

Day 1:  Meet at a coffee shop near the field location to review all gear required for the course. Discuss risk management and ski mountaineering resources. Transfer to field location and work on cramponing and ski cramponing and more.  Overnight in town.

Day 2:  Meet at 7am for ski mountaineering in an alpine setting on Pikes Peak or the Mosquito Range near Hoosier Pass.  Skills covered include climbing through 4th class rock, roped systems, terrain belay, rappelling, ski/snow anchors, and much more. Overnight in town.

Day 3:  Meet at 7am for our approach into our ski mountaineering valley of choice.  We’ll skin in, scout the area and set up a small overnight base camp.  Then continue with the course and make some turns along the way. Then back to base camp to plan our objectives for the next day.  Overnight is winter (spring) camping in the field.

Day 4:  Ski mountaineering objectives. Today we put together the last three days lessons and we’ll climb and ride the objectives planned by participants. Afternoon we return to camp, break it down and ride out to the trailhead to debrief the course.

Guides will tailor this itinerary to best match the skills and interests of the group and in accordance with mountain weather and route conditions.

Public Course Pricing

$980/person

• 4-day public course
• Price is per person
• 4:1 max. ratio
• 2:1 min. ratio to run course

*Pikes Peak Highway tollgate fee of $15/person/day not included when we use the highway.

Call 719-368-9524 or contact us to book this course for one or more persons.

As always, this course can be scheduled any day of the week as Private Course.

Public Course Dates 2023