Provided by Utah Mountain Adventures
With a maximum Participant:Instructor ratio of 4:1, this course is designed to quickly take you from the resort to the backcountry. It combines UMA’s Introduction to Backcountry Touring course and Avalanche Fundamentals course into one for those who’d like to learn it all over two days in legendary Wasatch terrain. During two days of touring with professional UMA instructors, you’ll learn avalanche safety, companion rescue, route selection, how to use touring gear, efficient skinning, uphill kick turn, transitions and downhill technique on skis or a splitboard. No experience required other than the ability to link downhill turns on skis or snowboard in variable snow. Participants are placed in groups of compatible experience and ability. Group requests are honored. All UMA Instructors are professionally certified by the American Avalanche Association.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Backcountry touring skills and avalanche safety are the essential prerequisites for entering avalanche terrain without a guide. UMA’s 2-day Backcountry & Avalanche Skills Course is the ideal way to kick-start your splitboard or ski touring career. Two consecutive days of skinning and avalanche awareness with professional instructors sets you up to start touring independently in simple off-piste terrain. You also get to experience two different tours in the central Wasatch that you could go back to on your own.
Instructors will initially focus on equipment and procedures for travel and recognizing avalanche terrain. They will share systems and methods for developing tour plans, including how to use the local avalanche advisory. Guides will address route selection as the party ascends to level-appropriate runs.
You will learn where to set a safe skin track, how to spread out in avalanche terrain and how to recognize and find “islands of safety.” Guides will coach you on techniques to maximize your efficiency on skins and show you where and how to dig snowpits.
After successful completion of this course and Avalanche Fundamentals Lecture participants will receive an Avalanche Fundamentals Certificate from the American Avalanche Association (A3).
BACKCOUNTRY & AVALANCHE SKILLS COURSE (2-DAY) OUTCOMES:
- Understand how to recognize avalanche terrain
- Gain basic route finding and navigational skills
- Learn how to skin uphill efficiently and transition quickly to downhill
- Know what to pack and how to stay warm, energized and hydrated
- Improve your ability to ski or ride in backcountry conditions
- Dig snowpits and perform stability tests
- Practice rescue with a beacon, shovel and probe
- Travel up and downhill employing avalanche-hazard mitigation procedures
- Implement safe travel and route-finding skills
SCHEDULES:
MONDAY & TUESDAY (WEEKDAY COURSE)
- Optional pre-recorded Avalanche Fundamentals Lecture taught by UMA instructors
- Mon: 7:30am – 3:30pm, Backcountry Field Session
- Tue: 7:30am – 3:30 pm, Backcountry Field Session
SATURDAY & SUNDAY (WEEKEND COURSE)
- Optional pre-recorded Avalanche Fundamentals Lecture taught by UMA instructors
- Sat: 7:30am – 3:30pm, Backcountry Field Session
- Sun: 7:30am – 3:30pm, Backcountry Field Session
COURSE DATES:
- Dec 12-13, 2026 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Dec 28-29, 2026 (Monday-Tuesday)
- Jan 9-10, 2027 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Jan 23-24, 2027 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Feb 1-2, 2027 (Monday-Tuesday)
- Feb 20-21, 2027 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Mar 20-21, 2027 (Saturday-Sunday)
COST:
- $529 plus tax
MEETING LOCATION: Meeting location is generally at the UMA Office in Cottonwood Heights or at a trailhead in Little Cottonwood Canyon or Big Cottonwood Canyon just outside Salt Lake City, Utah.
TRANSPORTATION & PARKING: Transportation will not be provided. Most canyon parking lots require a parking fee and we encourage carpooling for the overflow lot. Feel free to reach out to the other participants in your group to carpool.
- Register here or contact Utah Mountain Adventures:
- [email protected]
- 801-550-3986
- UtahMountainAdventures.com
