Lake Tahoe’s boundless backcountry is full of skiing opportunities. The Bay Area’s resorts are some of the most crowded in the world, so it makes sense to seek refuge from the crowds in Lake Tahoe’s solemn wilderness. Areas such as the diverse Truckee, the extremely approachable Palisades Tahoe, and the stunningly long descents of West Shore make backcountry skiing on the Jewel of the Sierra a real treat. The experience is enhanced even further by the excellent lift coverage—reaching the best off-piste routes is fast and effortless, and you always get to sneak in an extra descent or two. However, the backcountry comes with its fair share of risks, the biggest one being avalanches. This is why being properly prepared should be any backcountry adventurer’s number one priority. Take an all-female avalanche safety course in the scenic Lake Tahoe and shred the slopes with unparalleled feminine confidence!
Become a safer skier in Lake Tahoe’s picturesque backcountry
Fantastic ski-lift coverage allows for more scenario practice opportunities
Learn optimal avalanche safety and rescue practices on excellent untracked powder
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and 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 on Lake Tahoe, California, please refer to California’s official COVID-19 travel recommendations and North Lake Tahoe’s COVID-19 travel guidelines.
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 get the most of this adventure, you need to have a moderate level of fitness. You will be on your feet for 1-2 full days. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain. These courses are ideal for backcountry riders looking to assess avalanche risk, improve their decision making during tours and become a backcountry partner. It is an excellent way to solidify concepts that are often hazy, even after years of riding the backcountry.
Prerequisites:
Before booking this course, you should at least have some experience riding advanced terrain at a ski resort. The course venue may be in fairly benign terrain, but it’s crucial that you possess the advanced skiing and riding abilities necessary to manage the highly variable snow conditions you could experience in the backcountry. You should also be proficient in using backcountry skiing equipment. All participants should be comfortable traveling in snow while carrying touring gear.
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 at the Donner Ski Ranch 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.
Group sizes and pricing:
Avalanche courses in Lake Tahoe can be arranged for larger 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 Lake Tahoe, most people fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport one hour away. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to Lake Tahoe and Donner Ski Ranch.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. From there, you’ll head to your tour. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ski ability of the group.
We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance.
