Climbing a couloir using an ice axe

Ascending a couloir roped up

Rappelling with skis onto a couloir

Snow pack evaluation

Rapelling with skis

Dropping into some steep skiing

Creavsse rescue on skis practice

SKI MOUNTAINEERING COURSE OVERVIEW

Ready to take your backcountry skiing to the next level? This comprehensive backcountry ski mountaineering course combines backcountry skiing with mountaineering to get you higher into the more alpine ski terrain. Learn to ski couloirs, steeps and wide open glaciers. We also cover technical mountaineering techniques as they apply to skiing big peaks.

This course is based in the Eastern Sierra out of Mammoth Lakes in which we pick a different objective each day depending on the goals and instruction for the day . The Eastern Sierra from Mammoth up to Bridgeport has numerous options to get high up into true alpine ski mountaineering terrain. We spend some time after each day in the mountains debriefing and learning. There are numerous lodging options in the Mammoth Lakes area (not included).

Ski mountaineering instruction covered:

Skiing Steeps & Couloirs
Snow Anchors, Ropework & Rappeling
Ice Axe and Boot Crampon use
Crevasse Rescue on Skis
Navigation & Route Planning
Snowpack Stability Evaluation

This ski mountaineering course is designed to give you the skills to ski the big glaciated terrain in the Alps of Europe, Canada or Alaska. Also great for those looking to improve their backcountry skiing skills for skiing steeper lines in the Sierra Nevada.

This course is designed by UIAGM/IFMGA internationally certified ski mountaineering guide and CAG owner Dave Miller. Dave has a history of being a full time ski racer and has over 30 years of backcountry skiing experience including ski mountaineering and guiding throughout the Western US, Alaska and the European Alps.

Learn world standard ski mountaineering techniques on this comprehensive ski course... and get in some great turns as well!

For backcountry ski guides in the Lake Tahoe/Truckee areas check out our Lake Tahoe Backcountry Ski Tours & Courses

Gear List

SKILL & EXPERIENCE LEVEL

Advanced level skiers with previous backcountry skiing experience. Very good physical condition and the ability to skin for 6 hours and cover 4000 ft of vertical in a day. No previous climbing experience required.

2025 DATES

February 1-2
March 1-2
March 15-16

COST: $575

INCLUDES

Avalanche safety equipment including shovel and avalanche transceiver.
Professional guiding and instruction from IFMGA and/or AMGA certified ski guides at a low ratio of 3 skiers to 1 guide
All mountaineering gear such as ice axe, boot crampons and harness.

For more info on this trip please fill out the form below:

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THE INTERNATIONAL ALPINE GUIDES DIFFERENCE

For over 40 years IAG/ASI team have been ski guiding in the Sierra Nevada & throughout California, as well as in many of the great mountain ranges of the world. As one of the most experienced and oldest guide services in California, we bring to you the highest standards in the mountain guiding industry. All of our ski guides operating in technical terrain have training with the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) in the terrain they guide. We are also one of the most experienced American mountain guiding companies operating ski tours & off piste skiing in the Alps of Europe. Our extensive worldwide experience, adherence to the highest standards, as well as our approachable down to earth guiding philosophy all combine to give you, our valued guests, the best mountain experience possible.

All of our programs are developed and supervised by Internationally licensed IFMGA guide Dave Miller, our owner and technical director. As the only full service ski and mountain guiding company based in Mammoth Lakes, we know the Eastern Sierra backcountry!

Guiding the mountains of the world since 1979

PH: 877-686-2546 (MTN-CLIMB)
EMAIL: info@InternationalAlpineGuides.com

Po Box 1461
Mammoth Lakes, California 93546

When in Mammoth Lakes please visit Mammoth Mountaineering for all your outdoor needs:

When in Truckee please visit The Backcountry for all your outdoor needs:

International Alpine Guides, California Alpine Guides LLC & Alpine Skills International provide mountain guides, ski tours, mountain climbing, guided treks and rock climbing in the United States & throughout the world and under special use permits from Yosemite National Park, Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park, Lassen National Park, Inyo National Forest, Humboldt/Toiyabe National Forest, Shasta/Trinity National Forest, Eldorado National Forest & the Tahoe National Forest

California Alpine Guides LLC & International Alpine guides also operates under the DBA of Alpine Skills International.

“In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office or write a letter addressedto USDA and provided in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (a) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (b) fax: (202) 690-7442; email: program.intake@usda.gov.” “USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.”

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Ski Mountaineering Course Sierra Nevada

SKI MOUNTAINEERING COURSE