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Pro Guiding Service
Domestic & International Trips & Courses with Certified Mountain Guides
Trip

3-Day Ski Touring Course - Crystal Mountain

Overview

The best way to become a backcountry skier or splitboarder is by taking our 3-day backcountry ski touring course.  If you are proficient at skiing or snowboarding off-piste in ski resorts and have been longing to get out of bounds, this course is for you! This course is also offered at Snoqualmie Pass.

$750 Per Person
3 Days
Difficulty
Ratio:
4:1, 8:2

Trip Information

$750
Price based on 3-4 skiers. Please contact us directly for private trips. 425-888-6397 x2 | info@proguiding.com

The best way to become a backcountry skier or splitboarder is to take a backcountry touring course.  This course is open to skiers and snowboarders. Please note that this course is for proficient downhill skiers/riders who can ski/ride proficiently off-piste, and safely get down black diamond runs in any conditions. 

Our 3-day Ski Touring Course and our AIARE 1 avalanche course will teach you equally important yet very different skillsets. This Ski Touring course is a 100% movement-based course designed to introduce you to the gear, skills, and knowledge necessary to move proficiently through the backcountry.  Our avalanche courses are designed to teach you to identify avalanche hazards and manage risk in the backcountry.  In order to become a well-rounded backcountry traveler, we encourage you to take both the ski touring course and an AIARE 1 course.  If you take the 3-Day Backcountry Touring Course and an AIARE 1 course in the same season, you will receive a 10% discount on each.

Duration: 3
Ratio: 4:1, 8:2
Difficulty Level:
Click here to learn more about difficulty ratings.

Overall Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skills Required: Advanced skiing skills in the ski area; can safely get down black diamonds and ski off-piste in any conditions.

Fitness Level: Moderately Strenuous


Private Trips Available

Pro Guiding Service proudly offers the most diverse ski touring and ski mountaineering programs of any guiding service in the Northwest.
Learn MoreView Dates & Availability

Itinerary

Day 1: (ski tour)

  • Skin up, skin maintenance
  • Use of AT boot and binding
  • Transceiver check
  • Walking – pole position
  • Kick turn, AVA turn
  • Terrain management: #1 safe #2 efficient #3 fast
  • Simple transceiver search (grid, induction, range vs. directional)

Day 2: (ski tour)

  • Understanding the importance of a tour plan
  • Transceiver check (repeat)
  • More walking, kick turns
  • More terrain evaluation
  • Time plan on micro level
  • Snow stability, aspects

Day 3: (ski tour)

  • Execution of a tour plan
  • Independent transceiver check
  • Map work (bearings, declination adjustment, time calculations)
  • Terrain management (for people in front)
  • Transceiver search (in-depth)
  • Avalanche scenario –progression
  • Elaborate pit (base line history)
  • Back to basics (steepness, cohesion, base layers)
  • Downhill guiding
  • Debrief with 3 X 3 in depth

Private Trips

Pro Guiding Service proudly offers the most diverse ski touring and ski mountaineering programs of any guiding service in the Northwest. Smaller, more intimate custom itineraries or instructional tours are available for any of our destinations. Tell us what you want to do, and we can create a customized plan for you.
View Private Trips

Pricing

$750
per person
Price based on 3-4 skiers. Please contact us directly for private trips. 425-888-6397 x2 | info@proguiding.com
View Dates & Availability
Payment Policy
If booking a domestic trip that is over 30 days away or an international trip that is over 60 days away, you can book your trip by paying a 20% deposit.  View Full Policy
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel for any reason 30 or more days before domestic trips or 60 or more days before international and Alaska trips, we will refund everything you have paid minus half of your deposit. No refunds will be provided if you cancel your trip for ANY REASON (this includes but is not limited to illness including CoVid-19, injury, or work-related issues) within 30 days of the start of domestic trips or 60 days of international and Alaska based trips.  View Full Policy

Equipment List

Clothing
Base Layer
  • Lightweight or midweight top (avoid cotton)
  • Lightweight or midweight long underwear bottoms, may omit depending on the warmth of your pants
  • Warm ski socks
Mid Layer
  • Fleece or wool or similar warmth layer
  • Wind shirt or soft shell jacket - wind & water resistant, breathable
Outerwear
  • Waterproof/breathable jacket with hood
  • Ski/snowboard pants - either softshell or waterproof/breathable pants depending on weather)
  • Down or synthetic puffy-type jacket
  • Warm hat - should cover ears
  • Sun hat - baseball type or visor
  • Lightweight gloves
  • Ski gloves or mittens
  • A 3rd pair of gloves - recommended for temps above freezing in case your gloves get wet (lightweight or midweight)
Personal Gear
  • Day pack – large enough to fit everything inside (around 30 liters) - dedicated shovel pocket preferred
  • Water bottles - enough for a full day - wide mouth best to prevent freezing shut, hydration systems are okay if the temps are going to be above freezing
  • Lunch and snacks - enough for a full day
  • Sunglasses - adequate for snow travel
  • Goggles
  • Sunscreen - SPF 25+, waterproof
  • Lip Balm - SPF 15+
  • Headlamp - lightweight LED recommended
  • Face mask/covering - for when close contact is unavoidable
Technical Gear

Snow Travel Gear

  • Snow travel equipment - alpine touring or telemark skis or splitboard
  • Boots - touring ski boots or snowboard boots
  • Poles - adjustable poles are ideal so you can adjust the length when going uphill/downhill
  • Climbing skins
  • Ski brakes or removable ski leashes
  • Ski or splitboard crampons - ensure they are compatible with your bindings and ski/board width

Safety Gear

  • Avalanche Beacon
  • Shovel - compact, lightweight, metal blade preferred
  • Probe - dedicated probe only (240cm or longer strongly recommended)

 

Optional Items
  • Basic snow study kit - dial stem thermometer(s), crystal card, magnifying loupe, ruler
  • Notebook and writing utensil
  • Thermos - with a hot drink
  • Compass - adjustable declination a must
  • Altimeter watch
  • Maps - contact guiding office for appropriate quadrangles
  • Map case - large Ziploc bags work well
  • Camera
  • Hand sanitizer
Equipment Sales & Rental

Gearing Up Adventurers Since 1999 

Be prepared for every adventure by visiting our sister business—Pro Ski and Mountain Service. Order online or visit us in store in North Bend, Washington. Check out our discounts on rentals and purchases when you book a trip or course with us.
10% Off purchases and 20% Off rentals for Pro Guiding Service guests
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FAQs

I am an intermediate skier, but I would love to get into backcountry skiing. Can I take this course?

You should be at least a very solid intermediate skier, or you will most likely not enjoy the course. Snow conditions may vary, ski touring boots are not as supportive as standard alpine gear and the course is physically demanding.

What is the general character of the course?

The course is movement based.  Ski touring principles are explained on the go and practical application is instant.

What about the avalanche courses you offer...do you prefer one over the other?

Well, ideally you take both an AIARE Level 1 course AND a 3-Day Ski Touring Course. The designs of these two courses are very complementary and that is why we offer a 10% discount to anyone who decides to sign-up for both of them within the same season.

Should I tip my guides?

Although tipping is not a requirement, it is considered standard practice in the guiding industry and is appreciated by our guides. We generally recommend roughly 10%-15% of your course or a trip cost or a flat amount that you are comfortable with.

Why Book With Us? 

Certified Professional Guides & All Access
All of our guides have the highest quality training and certification in the industry, and you can be sure that we have the permits, licenses and insurance in every location we operate.
Safe, Well-Planned Tour Design
Every tour has a carefully thought-out guide-to-customer ratio. You always get a safe, high-quality trip or learning environment with us.
Pioneers In The Industry
You will travel and learn from experts. We've pioneered several alpine climbing routes, ski descents, and traverses and we've written books on skills and routes in the industry. 
Read Our story
Resources

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