Backcountry Essentials Course

Name: Backcountry Essentials Course
Brand: Wasatch Mountain Guides
Price: 5502 USD
Availability: InStock

$550 (Minimum of 2 participants)

Utah

1-4 People per Guide

2 Days

Beginner-Intermediate

$550 (Minimum of 2 participants)

Utah

1-4 People per Guide

2 Days

Beginner-Intermediate

Inquire

Two days guided backcountry touring intro course. Escape the lift lines and discover the majesty of the backcountry in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. Learn how to confidently tour and navigate backcountry terrain with the guidance and teaching by certified AMGA and IFMGA Mountain Guides.

Quick facts: The Backcountry Essentials course from WMG is a 2-day, beginner-friendly backcountry ski course in Utah’s Wasatch, taught at a 1–4 student-per-guide ratio. It covers touring technique, transitions, and avalanche-safety fundamentals for skiers and splitboarders getting started in the backcountry. Price varies for private an public courses. Please inquire.

Backcountry Course by Certified Guides

During two days of ski touring or splitboarding, learn and practice essential avalanche skills, beacon rescue, safe route selection, efficient skinning, downhill technique on skis and splitboards, while enjoying our legendary Wasatch terrain. If you are fit and have good aerobic endurance, you will do well on this two-day trip. To know what a day backcountry touring with Wasatch Mountain Guides is like, learn more here.

This two day backountry introductory course is for you if you want to learn the basics to safely ski or splitboard tour (and get away from resort crowds!), have off-piste skiing or snowboarding experience, and are motivated to learn how to safely find and ski powder in the backcountry. This course is great for those that don’t have the exeperience, budget, or time to complete a certified avalanche course. Additionally, this course is great preparation for an avalanche course. Those courses are recommended for those with some to intermediate backcountry touring experience.

Book a Private Course. Contact us to schedule a date, we’ll customize the course for you.

The logo for American Avalanche Association and badge for a Recognized Provider of recreational avalanche education

Not the right course for you? Explore more mountain education courses.

A minimum of 2 participants needed, maximum of 8 (client to guide ratio max: 4:1)
Difficulty: No backcountry experience necessary; intermediate to advanced downhill ski ability and good fitness required
Meeting Time: Generally 8am
Meeting Location: Big or Little Cottonwood Park and Ride Lot, Alta or Brighton, depending on objective. We may also meet in the Provo area mountains.
We provide:
- IFMGA or AMGA certified guides
- Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe, and pack (if needed)
What you need: you will be sent an equipment list once booked

Price per person:

$550
Minimum of 2 participants required

Max Client to Guide Ratio:

4:1
We can book groups larger than four and will add an additional guide to the group, keeping max client to guide ratio 4:1.

Getting to know our equipment
Objectives for safe travel in avalanche terrain (terrain, terrain, terrain!)
Current hazards (weather and avalanche forecast)
Group capabilities and limitations
Group travel procedures
Beacon rescue
Maximizing our efficiency on skins
Kick turning skills and tricks
Safety concerns whilst ascending a line
Safety concerns whilst skiing/boarding a line
Introduction to snow stability assessment techniques
Picking suitable unguided tours
Progression of tours to enable goals to be achieved

What Clients Say

He was an incredible teacher and guide whose approachable demeanor made everyone in my course feel comfortable asking questions.

Completed my Hybrid Level 1 Avalanche course with Erik from WMG last month. He was an incredible teacher and guide whose approachable demeanor made everyone in my course feel comfortable asking questions.

Will F.

Erik was fantastic. I’ve hired a lot of guides over the years and Erik is one of the best.

He did a great job “reading” the client, providing just the right amount of fun and challenge, while teaching me about the mountains and keeping us safe.

Jeff E.

Our guide Erik was a great teacher.

Made me way more comfortable with being prepared and making safe decisions in Avy terrain. Our small group size made it very manageable to learn and move around the larger groups. Highly recommend.

Wade P.