2-Day Steep Skiing Clinic Overview
From the Kendall Adventure Zone to the Snoqualmie Haute Route to the Alaska Mountain Adventure Route, world-class steep skiing, couloirs, and big adventure lie just over an hour from Seattle. The Snoqualmie Pass backcountry is spectacular, accessible, and brimming with possibilities for those ready to take on challenging and committing lines.
This 2-day clinic is designed for intermediate to expert skiers looking to progress their mountain travel skills and gain the technical proficiency required for steep skiing in consequential terrain. Participants will learn and refine techniques for moving confidently in steep backcountry environments—whether it’s dropping into a narrow couloir, navigating complex entrances, or managing hazards with rope systems.
We’ll focus on technical skills on Day 1 and then apply them in real terrain on Day 2, tackling a steep, adventurous tour in the heart of Snoqualmie Pass.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this clinic, participants will have learned or practiced:
- Gear selection for steep ski objectives
- Essential knots for backcountry rope work
- Terrain assessment and safe route selection
- Hazard evaluation in steep and exposed terrain
- Managing steep entrances and narrow couloirs
- Belayed skiing
- Snow anchor construction
- Rappelling with skis on backpack and skis on feet
- Cramponing techniques
Frequently Asked Questions - Intro to Backcountry Touring
You will be emailed specific information for your course upon registration. The following is to serve as a helpful guideline.
Participants should be advanced skiers or riders and be able to confidently ski black diamond terrain or harder in a variety of snow conditions.
Yes! You should be very familiar with the process of transitioning to and from uphill/downhill travel modes prior to this program and have prior backcountry touring experience.
A pack for a day of backcountry skiing or riding should be no more than 15 pounds. Heavier packs make for more challenging descents in addition to slowing uphill travel
Snow conditions encountered in the average day in the backcountry can range from perfect powder to difficult crust and everything in between. One of the skills we cover is how to identify where skiing and riding conditions are better or worse in the terrain.
We do not expect students to link perfect turns in sun crust – but we do expect you have the downhill movement skills to competently navigate challenging snow conditions with the direction of the instructor/guide.
No! You should already be comfortable with uphill travel prior to this course. If you want to dive into the basics of backcountry travel, we recommend our Intro to Backcountry Touring Course.
As guides we are always passing on tips to make backcountry travel more risk aware and more fun and pointers for downhill travel are no exception. That said, it is beyond our ability and the available time for us to teach you to how to ski or snowboard in the backcountry.
One of the key elements of backcountry skiing is being able to identify avalanche terrain versus places where avalanches are nearly impossible (very low angled terrain, ridges, tight trees, etc.). In this course we will spend time analyzing terrain and where we go in relation to the avalanche hazard. Though our terrain choices are much more limited in times of Considerable or High avalanche hazard, we will still go into the backcountry and work through as much of the course curriculum as conditions allow.
Although tipping is not a requirement it is greatly appreciated. An average tip for this program is $30-$50 per guide per skiier.
Reading List
This is our highly recommended shortlist. We would be happy to pass along a longer reading list for those interested. These links will bounce to Amazon.com with reviews.
Backcountry Skiing: Skills for Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering
Martin Volkan, Mountaineers Books
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain
Bruce Temper
Snow Sense
Jill Fredston and Doug Fesler
Backcountry Ski Book
Allen O’bannon and Mike Clelland
Very well run and put together. Willie was excellent and well seasoned, best guide I have ever met.
