Backcountry Mentorship

WEDNESDAY BACKCOUNTRY CLUB

Drop off the kids, then drop in. The Wednesday Backcountry Club is UMA’s midweek mentorship: one-off, skills-focused tours on select Wednesdays, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, so you’re back in time for pickup. Come to one session or all of them.

Register here

PROGRAM DATES

Jan 13, 2027 (Wednesday)

Jan 27, 2027 (Wednesday)

Feb 10, 2027 (Wednesday)

Feb 24, 2027 (Wednesday)

Mar 10, 2027 (Wednesday)

Mar 24, 2027 (Wednesday)

Apr 7, 2027 (Wednesday)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Mentorship doesn’t have to be a season-long commitment. The Wednesday Backcountry Club is our most flexible mentorship option, and our only one that runs midweek. Join the sessions that fit your calendar and skip the rest. Every session stands on its own.

Each Wednesday has a theme and a drainage chosen by your guide based on current conditions. One week might be about reading the avalanche forecast and planning a tour. Another might be about beacon practice and companion rescue, or finding good snow and safe terrain after a wind event. Every session is a real tour with real turns. And because the focus is on skills, not just laps, you’ll get a lot out of it even if the snow isn’t great.

Come often and you’ll build a well-rounded set of backcountry skills, and a group of midweek touring partners.

SAMPLE SESSION TOPICS

• Tour planning: reading the Utah Avalanche Center forecast and building a plan
• Companion rescue: beacon searches, probing and strategic shoveling
• Snowpack 101: digging a pit and running stability tests
• Uphill efficiency: skin track setting, kick turns and transitions
• Terrain and route-finding: terrain traps, slope angle and safer route choices
• Finding good snow: aspect, elevation and wind effects
• Spring touring: timing corn snow and managing wet avalanche problems

WEDNESDAY BACKCOUNTRY CLUB OBJECTIVES

• Build backcountry skills one focused session at a time
• Practice avalanche and snowpack skills in the field with a professional guide
• Improve skinning, transitions and downhill skills in variable snow
• Learn new Wasatch terrain from week to week
• Get personal feedback and coaching on every tour
• Meet midweek touring partners

MAX STUDENT : INSTRUCTOR RATIO

4 : 1

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?

This program is designed for parents, remote workers, shift workers and anyone with a busy schedule who wants to keep building backcountry skills without a multi-week commitment. It’s a great next step after an Avalanche Level 1 or our 2-Day Backcountry & Avalanche Skills course, and a good tune-up for experienced tourers.

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!

COST:

• $269 plus tax

COURSE PREREQUISITES

• You should be familiar with your touring gear (skins, transitions, beacon, shovel and probe).
• Having taken Avalanche Fundamentals, Avalanche Level 1 or our 2-Day Backcountry & Avalanche Skills course is recommended.

FITNESS & SKILL LEVEL

• You should be comfortable hiking 2,500 vertical feet at a steady pace within the 5-hour session.
• You should be able to confidently control your skis or board in un-groomed, variable snow in trees and open terrain.

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