Backcountry Mentorship

WASATCH BACKCOUNTRY MENTORSHIP (4-DAY)

This is our mentorship model in a 4-day block. Spend 4 consecutive days touring new Wasatch terrain with UMA’s professional guides, taking on more of the decision-making each day, and leave with a plan for your next season.

Register here

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

PROGRAM DATES

Feb 25-28, 2027 (Thursday-Sunday)

Not everyone can commit to a mentorship that runs all season. The Wasatch Backcountry Mentorship packs the coaching, feedback and growing responsibility of our mentorship series into 4 consecutive days. It’s for experienced tourers who want to sharpen their route-finding, on-the-go snowpack assessment and Wasatch terrain knowledge. Whether you’re from out of town, new to the area or a seasoned local, you’ll spend these 4 days on descents that are new for the group. Guides will do their best to accommodate your goals, given the current snowpack and weather.

The mentorship starts before you click into your bindings. Your guide will contact you in advance to talk through your experience, goals and the objectives you have in mind. Each morning, the group builds the tour plan together from the avalanche forecast, weather and snowpack observations. Your guide leads the first day. By the fourth day, participants are leading the planning, route-finding and group decisions while the guide coaches and backs them up.

Each evening your guide debriefs the day with you. At the end of the course, you’ll get individual feedback and a progression plan covering what to practice, what to read, and what terrain to aim for next.

Typical tours include Cardiff or Silver Fork bi-canyon tours, the White Pine/Red Pine/Maybird Gulch area, and Big Cottonwood to Mill Creek bi-canyon tours. Depending on conditions and participant goals, guides may explore the Lone Peak, Twin Peaks and Mt. Olympus Wilderness areas.

WASATCH BACKCOUNTRY MENTORSHIP OBJECTIVES

• Push endurance and vertical over 4 consecutive touring days
• Explore new terrain, lines and descents
• Plan each day’s tour with your guide and group, taking more responsibility each day
• Lead a mentee-planned tour on Day 4 with your guide coaching
• Perform daily avalanche, weather and snowpack observations
• Build on-sight route-finding skills
• Gain efficiency and safety tips for transitions and descents in avalanche terrain
• Increase downhill backcountry skiing and riding skills in untracked and variable snow
• Identify and navigate personal and group risk tolerance
• Connect with similar-level touring partners
• Leave with individualized feedback and a written progression plan

MAX STUDENT : INSTRUCTOR RATIO

4 : 1

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?

This program is designed for experienced backcountry skiers and splitboarders who want mentorship but can’t commit to a longer series. It’s a great fit for visitors on a ski trip, locals with a few days off, and anyone who learns best by going deep for a few days at a time.

COURSE DATES DON’T FIT YOUR SCHEDULE?

All of our mentorship programs can be done on your schedule with your crew. If you’re interested in mentorship but scheduled dates don’t fit your schedule, please inquire!

GUIDES

Our most experienced senior guides lead this program. You will receive a reminder with the contact information for your guide. They will contact you ahead of each tour to confirm meeting time and location, as well as weather considerations and equipment needs.

COST:

• $1299 plus tax

COURSE PREREQUISITES

• We recommend that you have a Level 1 avalanche certification.
• You should have 20+ days and/or 3+ years of touring experience.

FITNESS & SKILL LEVEL

• You must be comfortable skinning/hiking 3,000′ of vertical at a steady pace each day for 4 consecutive days.
• You must be comfortable, confident and in control making linked turns in all terrain and snow conditions (tight trees, steep, variable snow, powder, hardpack, narrow exit trails).
• You should be able to vary your turn size (tight or wide turns).

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