Learn ski and snowboard mountaineering skills while making ascents and ski descents of several classic ski mountaineering objectives in the San Juans including the iconic 14,150’ Mt. Sneffels.
Premier Colorado Ski Mountaineering Venue
In early May each year the Yankee Boy road is plowed by Ouray County, offering quick access to incredible ski mountaineering terrain around 14,150’ Mt. Sneffels. We capitalize on this access to bring you 4 education-filled, challenging, and rewarding days of instruction and descents in the heart of Colorado ski mountaineering country.
Taught By An AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guide
The instructor, Matt Wade, is an AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guide who has been teaching ski mountaineering courses in wild places like the Cascades, the Chugach, and the San Juans for over 10 years. He has helped many new ski mountaineers safely build their skills for rewarding skiing and mountaineering pursuits.
Small Group Size
This course is limited to just 3 participants so each student can receive personalized coaching and feedback from the guide. The small group size also allows for safe and efficient travel in technical terrain.
Learn Skills To Become A Ski Mountaineer
We commonly teach the following skills in the context of some incredible ski mountaineering tours and peak descents:
- Tour planning and terrain selection
- Map, compass, & GPS navigation
- Tracksetting for safety, efficiency, and observations
- Traveling skills: striding, pacing, AVA turn and kick turn
- Use of ski crampons, ice axe, and boot crampons
- Construction of THINX ski anchors
- Lowering and rappelling for access to steep terrain
- Steep skiing techniques
- Advanced snowpack stability assessment through layer identification, understanding of spatial variability, and understanding direct and indirect weather effects
Mt. Sneffels Ski Mountaineering Course Sample Itinerary:
Evening before the course: On the evening before the course we will meet to discuss each participant’s goals for the course. This enables us to create a very personalized program and it sets the tone for a strong group dynamic. Your instructor will also review maps of the area and update the group on the current snow and avalanche conditions, so you can begin to understand how the conditions relate to safe selection of ski mountaineering objectives. Once everyone has an understanding of the conditions and possible objectives, we’ll do a gear check to make sure everyone is well prepared for the trip. Your instructor will also introduce you to a “fast & light” approach to equipment selection, and will show you some of the highly efficient ski mountaineering equipment that is available today.
Day 1: We’ll meet in the morning to create a route plan for our approach into Yankee Boy Basin. You will learn how to gather information for route selection, how to make a time plan, and how to create a low-vis navigation strategy with map, compass, & GPS. Once we have built our route plan we’ll make the approach to Yankee Boy Basin and we’ll find a safe location for our basecamp. After camp is established your instructor will introduce you to a variety of anchors for ski mountaineering and you will have the opportunity to practice building them and testing them.
Day 2: On this day we will make an ascent and ski descent of a nearby peak, learning fundamental ski mountaineering skills along the way. While touring we’ll make some baseline observations of the snowpack, we’ll practice strategies for efficient tracksetting using the "safety, efficiency, observations" triad; and we’ll practice with ski mountaineering tools such as ski crampons, ice axe, and/or boot crampons. You will learn how to properly use each tool for improved safety and efficiency in firm, icy, and/or steep terrain.
Day 3: On this day we will apply the skills learned in the previous days of the program to make an ascent and ski descent of 14,150’ Mt. Sneffels. This highly regarded ski mountaineering peak offers several possible ascent and descent routes, all of which require a full complement of ski mountaineering skills. On the tour we’ll discuss strategies for managing steep terrain such as ropework for climbing, ski belays and rappels for descending, and we’ll practice steep skiing techniques. With beautiful ski terrain, a steep craggy summit, and “14er” status, a climb and ski descent of Mt. Sneffels is a centerpiece achievement for any ski mountaineer.
Day 4: On the final day of the program we will make an attempt of a smaller ski mountaineering objective near camp so everyone can continue to develop their proficiency with the skills that have been introduced it the program. After our ascent and descent we’ll pack up our camp and return to the car.
*Peak Mountain Guides Colorado Backcountry Skiing programs are located on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests under priority use permit from the Forest Service, USDA. Peak Mountain Guides is an equal opportunity service provider.* |
