Sitting between the California and Nevada border in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Lake Tahoe is home to a host of world-class backcountry terrain. The Sierra Nevadas see plenty of snow each year, making Tahoe backcountry skiing a huge draw for skiers looking to shred some powder from nearby Reno or San Francisco’s Bay Area. Resorts like Palisades Tahoe-Alpine Valley and Sugar Bowl have opened their terrain to backcountry enthusiasts offering slackcountry skiing at its finest. Whether looking for out-of-bounds skiing just off the resort or deep backcountry skiing, the Tahoe area features it all. Join a Tahoe backcountry skiing guide and see for yourself why we think it’s one of the best places for backcountry skiing in California.
We recently participated in back to back weekends in the Intro to Backcountry and AIARE level 1 courses. As total beginners to backcountry skiing, we both feel much more prepared to plan and execute a basic backcountry ski trip! There were participants in the AIARE course who weren’t new to backcountry, and they all seemed to also get a lot of the course too. Both instructors we had were well informed, managed time well, read the group dynamic very well, and were enthusiastic instructors who clearly love the mountains and want to share that love. It was also FUN – learning is always better when there is fun involved. One thing I had heard about the AIARE course is the last day is a full day backcountry tour – due to a variety of factors, most especially a crusty snow pack and my own ability, this wasn’t the case for our class. This was a disappointment, but also a good reality check about thinking what is actually possible given the conditions and group skill level. The office in Squaw is welcoming, with some cool folks who clearly are pretty stoked about what they do. They hooked us up with some high quality rental gear too, and were patient with me when I went through about 3 different boot sizes and ski exchanges. Overhearing some of the level 2 AIARE course work only inspired me to want to sign up for that course next year too, after getting some more experience. We enthusiastically recommend Alpenglow and would definitely return for another course in the future.
The conditions were not ideal and our guide did an amazing job making our day enjoyable, adventuresome, and beautiful. Zen had some interesting jobs for our tour. He rescued a ski, built a snow bridge over a creek, and broke a great skin trail. I would highly recommend a trip with Alpenglow.
Of the 3 great expeditions I’ve done with Alpenglow and my trusted guide, Tim Dobbins, my Feb 2018 tour of Poulson’s Peak was the best. We skied in a storm, which I enjoy, when Squaw Valley Resort was closed. The powder was light, deep and amazing – a true winter wonderland. We milked as many turns as we could, touring about 5-6 miles in as many hours. The Blizzard Rustler 11s were a dream in the soft stuff. It’s no mystery why I’m a repeat customer!
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Lake Tahoe, California, please refer to the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority website.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
In order to enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to have a moderate level of fitness. You will be on your feet for a full day. While there is terrain for all skill levels in Lake Tahoe, you will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on blue level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.
For the enjoyment and safety of everyone involved, participants must be approved to participate in advanced backcountry skiing tours either through a previous trip with the guiding service or through recommendations.
Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner friendly, meaning anyone with blue level resort experience can have fun in the backcountry. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They’ll take care of the planning, introduce you to the basics, like skinning uphill, and teach you how to manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training to keep you safe.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Lake Tahoe and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Groups and pricing:
Ski tours in Lake Tahoe can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If you plan to ski with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Lake Tahoe, most people fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service, such as the South Tahoe Airporter, the one-hour drive to the Lake Tahoe area.
Once you and your Tahoe backcountry skiing guide agree on the details of your itinerary, they will suggest the best place to meet in Tahoe.
Day Trips Cancellations
Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.
We recently participated in back to back weekends in the Intro to Backcountry and AIARE level 1 courses. As total beginners to backcountry skiing, we both feel much more prepared to plan and execute a basic backcountry ski trip! There were participants in the AIARE course who weren’t new to backcountry, and they all seemed to also get a lot of the course too. Both instructors we had were well informed, managed time well, read the group dynamic very well, and were enthusiastic instructors who clearly love the mountains and want to share that love. It was also FUN – learning is always better when there is fun involved. One thing I had heard about the AIARE course is the last day is a full day backcountry tour – due to a variety of factors, most especially a crusty snow pack and my own ability, this wasn’t the case for our class. This was a disappointment, but also a good reality check about thinking what is actually possible given the conditions and group skill level. The office in Squaw is welcoming, with some cool folks who clearly are pretty stoked about what they do. They hooked us up with some high quality rental gear too, and were patient with me when I went through about 3 different boot sizes and ski exchanges. Overhearing some of the level 2 AIARE course work only inspired me to want to sign up for that course next year too, after getting some more experience. We enthusiastically recommend Alpenglow and would definitely return for another course in the future.