Ski Mountaineering Camp in the Tetons

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • An experienced, certified ski mountaineering guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 3 days of ski mountaineering in the Grand Teton National Park
    • Backcountry permits

  What’s not included:

  • • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment (can be rented)
    • Transportation
    • Food and snacks
    • Accommodations
    • Guide gratuities — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  To enjoy this Tetons ski mountaineering trip, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for 10 to 12 hours two days in a row gaining between 4 and 6 thousand feet in altitude. You will need to manage controlled ski descents in variable conditions, including high-angle couloirs. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and have some experience with backcountry skiing in steep, ungroomed and treed terrain. Participants should be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning and climbing variable degrees of terrain. Keep in mind that your guide will take great care of you, prioritize your safety at all times, answer any questions, observe your technique, and most importantly, provide you with instruction on everything you need to know before going to the field. 

• What if I’ve never tried ski mountaineering before?

  To participate in this Tetons ski mountaineering tour, you need to have previous backcountry skiing and be comfortable with steep, ungroomed, and treed terrain. Ski mountaineering experience is not necessary, but you should have great stamina in order to handle long climbs with altitude gains between 4 and 6 thousand feet and manage long high-angle ski runs. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for up to 12 hours a day, two days in a row. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, we suggest joining a guide for a day of beginner-friendly guided backcountry skiing in Jackson Hole.

• What do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring skis, telemark skis, or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
    • Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
    • Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
      • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
      • Lightweight snow shovel
      • Avalanche probe

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • Long sleeve synthetic top
    • Helmet — optional
    • Medium to expedition weight long underwear
    • Soft shell or fleece jacket 
    • Shell jacket with hood
    • Puffy jacket with a hood — optional, but recommended
    • Synthetic or wool long underwear bottoms 
    • Shell pants — full side zips and built-in gaiters 
    • Socks — synthetic or wool, sized for your boots and blister protection
    • Liners — optional, but recommended
    • Gloves — 3 pairs: 1 light, 1 medium, 1 heavy pair  
    • Hat — medium weight ski hat
    • Baseball or visor for sun
    • Buff/neck gaiter
    • Backpack — 30 to 40L ski pack
    • Water bottle — thermos or insulated water bottles are best
    • Lots of snacks
    • Sunglasses w/ case
    • Ski goggles
    • Toiletries 
    • Headlamp  with extra batteries
    • Laptop or tablet — for the Ski and Split Mountaineering Camp
    • Camera — optional
• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent: 

  • • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe, can be rented from your guide
    • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from your guide
    • Splitboards can be rented from your guide

  Ski rental locations are in Jackson, WY, and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. There are numerous other rental companies in Jackson you can get your gear from, such as Teton Backcountry Rentals. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and prices:

  • • For this group adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 4:1. 
    • The cost is per person and doesn’t decrease as the group grows. 

  Ski mountaineering in the Grand Teton National Park can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.

  If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. 

  • • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund, less a $50 processing fee. 
    • For cancellations fourteen (14) to twenty nine (29) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking. 
    • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.
• Getting there and meeting location

  The simplest way to reach Grand Teton National Park is by taking a flight to Salt Lake City International Airport. From there, it’s a 4-5 hour drive to Jackson, WY, depending on the weather conditions. Renting a car is recommended, but air travel options to the Jackson Hole Airport are also available. Grand Teton National Park is located roughly 10 minutes from Jackson, WY. 

  Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your Tetons ski mountaineering guide will suggest the best place to meet. You will usually meet your guides at their headquarters in Jackson, WY, from where you’ll head to the trailhead. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ski ability of the group.

  It is recommended that you arrive in Jackson one or two days before the camp starts to give yourself a chance to acclimatize and leave yourself one or two rest days in Jackson upon the completion of the camp.

• Covid measures in the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

  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, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Grand Teton National Park, please refer to the Wyoming Department of Health’s official 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!