Backcountry Skiing in Summit County

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 traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Summit County, CO, please refer to Colorado’s COVID-19 Travel Guidelines and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

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:

• • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • Full day of backcountry ski touring
  • Discounted use of ORTOVOX beacon, shovel, and probe (if needed)
  • Discounted demo gear
  • 3% fees

What’s not included:

• • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
  • Transportation before and after the trip
  • Food and snacks
  • Accommodations

To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in very good physical shape. You will be on your feet for 8 hours for a full day covering several miles of terrain. 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.

Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner friendly, meaning anyone with solid blue and black-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:

• • 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:

• • Helmet
  • Sunglasses and ski goggles
  • Warm gloves
  • Light gloves for uphill travel
  • Brimmed hat or visor
  • Neck gaiter or buff
  • Wind and waterproof hardshell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
  • Hard or softshell pants
  • Softshell jacket — optional
  • Down or synthetic insulated jacket
  • Synthetic or merino wool base layers, underwear and socks
  • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
  • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
  • Water bottle and 1L of water
  • Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
  • Food you can eat on-the-go
  • First aid kit
  • Sunscreen
  • Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 40L backpack)
  • Camera — optional

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 from your guiding service.
  • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from your guiding service.
  • Splitboards can be rented from your guiding service.

Ski rental locations are in Silverthorne, CO, 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:

• • For this private adventure, the max. client-to-guide ratio is 5:1. All prices are per person.
  • Costs per person decrease as the group grows for this private adventure, so it’s the perfect opportunity to ski with friends and family. 

Ski touring in Summit County 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.

To get to Summit County, most people fly into Denver International Airport just under 2 hours away from Summit County. From there, you can rent a car or take a bus.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, you will usually meet your guide at your guiding service’s basecamp in Silverthorne, CO, but you will receive more details 48 hours prior to the date of your trip that will include the exact meeting time and location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.