3-day Ski mountaineering course in the Wasatch Range, near Salt Lake City

Join Josh, an IFMGA-certified mountain guide, for this informative and scenic 3-day ski mountaineering course in Utah's Wasatch Range. Learn and practice many necessary ski mountaineering skills and techniques against the stunning backdrop of the Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Wasatch Mountains

3 Days

Mar

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Enjoy the stunning scenery of the Wasatch Range.
Learn many necessary ski mountaineering skills.
Practice steep off-piste skiing and newly acquired ski mountaineering skills.

Description

Stretching for 260 kilometers through northeastern Utah, the Wasatch Range is the perfect place for an immersive ski mountaineering course!

Designed for intermediate backcountry skiers, this course will teach you the technical skills necessary for making high-consequence ski mountaineering descents.

Starting on the very first day, we will go over avalanche mitigation strategies, practice skiing on steep terrain and go over fundamental mountaineering skills (such as tying knots, setting up hitches and going over all of the devices).

On the second day, we will learn and practice some basic ski mountaineering skills, including anchoring, belaying a skier, managing steep entrances and rappelling.

Our third and final day will be the highlight of the course. Taking place against the backdrop of the stunning mountain scenery and incredible views of the Wasatch Range, we will put our newly acquired skills to the test.

The day will be spent heading out to various different spots and trying some challenging and highly technical ski mountaineering rope work and snowpack assessment.

So what are you waiting for? Book now for this informative and scenic 3-day ski mountaineering course in the wonderful Wasatch Range!

If you like the look of this trip then I think you may also enjoy my 3-day avalanche safety course, also in the Wasatch Range!

Price includes

Guiding fee

Price details

Transportation is not included. Participants must arrange transportation to and from the trailheads. Chains or allwheel drive sometimes required by law in the Wasatch.

Itinerary

Day 1:

You’ll learn about avalanche mitigation strategies for high consequence terrain, work on steep skiing techniques, practice fundamental technical skills (knots, hitches, devices, anchors, etc), and learn about group management in difficult terrain. The accessibility and high concentration of steep terrain found close to the road in Little Cottonwood Canyon make this a perfect venue for this day.

Day 2:

We will focus on the repetition of fundamental ski mountaineering skills- anchoring, belaying a skier, managing steep entrances, rappelling, etc. Our objectives will be a little bigger than the previous day. Exact location TBD.

Day 3:

The goal is for students to apply their new skills to some of the most complex lines in the Wasatch. We will set our sites on some of the more challenging, highly technical objectives where rope work and snowpack assessment will be critical. Big lines such as the NW Couloir of Pfeifferhorn, the Hypodermic Needle, South Ridge of Superior and others have been objectives on past courses.

Details

More info

Please contact us for an equipment checklist.

Course topics:

Gear selection, knots, anchors, technical rope work, belaying a skier, rappelling, use of an ice axe/crampons, steep skiing technique, team/partner communication, terrain assessment and of course, avalanche hazard evaluation in high risk terrain. Glacier travel and crevasse rescue skills are an option, depending on the group’s aspirations.

Participants should:

Be comfortable (comfortable = rarely falling and skiing in control in any conditions) skiing black diamond terrain and harder in western ski areas.

Have the ability to skin up a minimum of 4,000 feet in a day.

Be competent with alpine touring equipment.

Meeting point

To be determined upon completion of booking.