Guided Backcountry Skiing

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Experience the joy of earning your turns the old-fashioned way, with human-powered skiing and snowboarding. Snowbird Mountain Guides will lead the way as you leave the trailhead or exit the resort's backcountry gate to explore a whole new world of fresh tracks and tranquility.

Note: Guided backcountry skiing is now closed for the 2022-23 winter season.

Guided Backcountry Skiing

• Pricing: $370/1 guest, $560/2 guests, $780/3 guests, $1000/4 guests.
• Details: Your guide will assist you in getting your gear set-up, transitioning for uphill and downhill travel, and will take care of the route finding and risk management for you. Private groups only. Includes breakfast at The Forklift and a packed lunch from General Gritts.
• Skill Level: All participants should be advanced skiers in physical condition for a high altitude exertion and must be able to hike with touring skis.
• Time: 7:30 am meet outside The Forklift (Snowbird Center, Plaza Deck, Level 3).
• Required Equipment: Alpine touring skis or splitboard, climbing skins, transceiver, avalanche shovel, probe and backpack are required.  Mammut transceiver, backpack, shovel and probe are included in the cost, but guests may also use their own gear if preferred. Touring skis and skins are available to rent at Snowbird, please contact us for more information.

Backcountry 101

The Backcountry 101 Course is a one-day introduction to the skills and knowledge it takes to go for a backcountry tour.  If you are just getting started in the backcountry world, we strongly recommend this course before taking an AIARE 1. You will learn and practice the use of alpine touring equipment, climbing skins to go uphill, route finding and technique.  You will also get navigation and trip planning tools, a basic understanding of avalanche safety equipment, avalanche terrain and the avalanche forecast.

• Pricing: $280/person, max group size of 6 students per instructor
• Dates:  January 13 - Ski Only (Sold Out), January 14 - Ski Only, January 20 - Ski Only, January 22 - Splitboard Only, February 19 - Ski Only
• Details: All participants should be advanced skiers in physical condition for high altitude exertion and must be able to hike with touring skis.  This course is intended for the beginner backcountry traveler, but it is still necessary to have an advanced skiing or snowboarding ability in order to travel safely off-piste and outside of the resort.
• Skill Level: All participants should be advanced skiers in physical condition for high altitude exertion and must be able to hike with touring skis.  This course is intended for the beginner backcountry traveler, but it is still necessary to have an advanced skiing or snowboarding ability in order to travel safely off-piste and outside of the resort.
• Time: 7:30 am meet outside The Forklift (Snowbird Center, Plaza Deck, Level 3).
• Required Equipment: Alpine touring skis or splitboard, climbing skins, transceiver, avalanche shovel, probe and backpack.  Mammut transceiver, backpack, shovel and probe are included, but guests may also use their own gear if preferred.  Touring skis and skins are available to rent at Snowbird, please contact us for more information.

Cancellation Policy 

• Any cancellation made by guests more than 30 days out will receive a full refund. 
• Cancellations made by guests within 30 days will receive a refund less a $50 processing fee
• Cancellations made by guests within 7 days are non-refundable.
• Snowbird reserves the right to cancel any reservation due to conditions beyond our control. If Snowbird cancels for any reason you will have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.