Transform Colorado’s Rockies into your ultimate playground by going off-piste! Join a thrilling 3-day backcountry skiing course amidst the stunning landscapes surrounding Estes Park. Dive into the world of ski touring, focusing on concrete educational outcomes, while allowing you to explore the bowls, glades, and couloirs of Rocky Mountain National Park. The comprehensive curriculum encompasses avalanche safety, downhill and uphill movement techniques, equipment use, efficient transitions, and more, providing a solid foundation to kickstart your backcountry skiing journey. Join our expert guide for an unforgettable adventure tailored to beginners and leave resorts behind for good!
Join this 3-day backcountry skiing course in Estes Park and become a confident skier outside the resorts. You'll gain essential skills for off-piste adventures, covering efficient uphill and downhill travel, avalanche rescue training, and exploring diverse terrains in Rocky Mountain National Park—all under the expert guidance of our experienced instructors. Get ready to elevate your skiing experience and create lasting memories in Colorado's snowy wilderness.
Some of the skills and topics that will be covered during your Estes Park backcountry skiing course are:
Begin your journey with a solid foundation in efficient uphill and downhill travel skills. You’ll delve into track setting, honing your ability to navigate through various backcountry conditions. As the day progresses, you’ll gain essential insights into basic route finding, understanding the terrain, and finding slopes with the best snow. This day sets the stage for your backcountry skiing experience, guiding you towards the art of traversing untamed landscapes and discovering where to find the finest snow, turning your exploration into an exhilarating and educational experience.
On this pivotal day of your backcountry skiing course, you delve deep into the essential art of avalanche rescue. You’ll receive comprehensive training in companion rescue within an avalanche scenario, guided by an experienced instructor who adheres to the American Avalanche Institute (AAI) recreational curriculum. This curriculum is recognized and approved by the American Avalanche Association (A3), setting the highest standard for avalanche training in the United States. As you venture into the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains, you’ll learn navigate and respond effectively in potentially life-threatening situations (as wll as how to avoid them).
The pinnacle of your backcountry skiing course takes place in the breathtaking expanse of Rocky Mountain National Park. This natural wonderland offers an array of terrains catering to all skiers and splitboarders, whether you seek the tranquility of mellow glades, the vastness of open bowls, the challenge of steep couloirs, or the heights of lofty summits. It’s a full day of adventure that seamlessly integrates all the skills you’ve acquired, allowing you to confidently navigate the diverse landscapes.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
To enjoy this Estes backcountry skiing course, you need to be in very good physical shape. Engaging in aerobic activities in the weeks leading up to the course is highly recommended to build stamina and endurance. Generally, a sports-oriented lifestyle is beneficial. This adventure demands the ability to confidently navigate controlled descents in standard resort skiing conditions and feel at ease tackling challenging blue-level resort runs. It’s important to note that this course is thoughtfully designed with beginners in mind, meaning you don’t need any prior ski touring experience. Your instructor will provide the guidance and support necessary to ensure you build the skills and confidence required for a successful backcountry skiing journey, starting from scratch.
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 Estes Park, Colorado 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.
For accommodation, we recommend the Estes Park Adventure Hostel, which is owned by your guiding service. The affordable hostel offers a comfortable and communal experience with 16 beds in 3 rooms, along with amenities like bathrooms, showers, a fully equipped kitchen, Wi-Fi, a ping-pong table, and a lounge area. Contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Group sizes and prices:
Backcountry skiing courses in Estes Park can be arranged for larger and for private groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Estes Park, most people fly into Denver International Airport, which is 1.5 hours away. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service.
You will meet your Estes Park backcountry skiing guide and fellow backcountry skiers at CMS Lodge, 341 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO in the morning on Day 1. We suggest that you arrive the day before so that you can get enough rest before the course.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency rescue and travel insurance. With rescue insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.
Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
For set dates, full payment to secure your place is due upon booking. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
