Traveling in the backcountry is a lifelong pursuit. While access to the wilderness can be incredibly liberating, a myriad of factors can inhibit personal confidence and leadership. With learning the hazards and complexities of avalanches, and reading terrain, and finding good snow in a given location, and understanding weather and its effect on snow conditions, one can be left feeling incredibly overwhelmed. Even after learning how to ski/ride inbounds and taking the prerequisite AIARE Level 1 and Rescue courses, the learning curve to gain confidence is slow. Often our students and clients feel timid to make decisions even after a few years in the backcountry.
The Backcountry Mentorship Program is designed to support you as a backcountry traveler. You’ll be working directly with a trained professional ski and avalanche educator. Spend 3 months this winter (mid December – mid March) traveling in backcountry terrain all over the Cascades. You’ll practice skills like decision-making, conditions and safety evaluation, and skiing/riding technique; all with a professional guiding you along the way. Learn how to assess new areas and pick the best locations in any given condition. You might even find secret areas to shred some untracked powder! Feel confident knowing you have a pro by your side, and take that newfound confidence with you when the program is over. As a bonus, you’ll gain a community of new touring partners along the way! It’s a win, win, win!
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How it Works
The Backcountry Mentorship Program will run between mid-December and mid-March, and have up to 24 total days to choose from. Mentees will be given a code to register for a handful of days in a series throughout the season.
2024-2025 Program Dates
December
14th, 15th, 21st, 29th
January
4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 25th
February
1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 16th, 17th (President’s day Monday), 22nd, 23rd
March
1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th
This program will leave you with knowledge and practical application of:
PLUS: