Spend 3 days learning and honing moderate to steep up and downhill skills, while exploring the finest backcountry terrain in the Wasatch Range.
This 3-day, field-based backcountry camp will enable participants to advance their route-finding, on-the-go snowpack stability assessment and knowledge of Wasatch backcountry terrain in the company of a mentor. Whether you’re from out of town, new to the area or a seasoned local tourer, these 3 days will focus on descents that are new for the group.
From the trip description by Utah Mountain Adventures
On-snow support
- Independent: Below this trip's level of support
Ski or ride independently, without trip staff accompanying you on the mountain.
- Hosted: With your guide
Trip hosts ski or ride with the group, help everyone get oriented, and share local knowledge.
- Guided: Included
Professional guides lead the group and select suitable terrain and routes based on conditions and ability.
- Coached: Included
Professional coaches lead the group, select suitable terrain, and provide instruction and personalized feedback to help you improve.
- 3 days on snow with staff
- CourseGuides will also demonstrate techniques for skiing and boarding in untracked snow and provide individualized feedback and tips on how to improve downhill skills in untracked snow.
- Backcountry guidingGuides will do their best to accommodate desires and objectives within reason, given the current snowpack and weather.
Terrain, ability and who it is for
- Participants should be experienced backcountry skiers or splitboarders, comfortable skiing advanced terrain in ungroomed snow and willing to climb 3,000’+ per day.
- We recommend that you have a Level 1 avalanche certification.
- You must be comfortable skinning/hiking 3000′ vertical at a steady pace in a day.
- You should have 20+days and/or 3+ years of touring experience.
- You must be comfortable, confident and in control making linked turns in all types of terrain and snow conditions (tight trees, steep, variable snow, powder, hardpack, narrow exit trails).
- You can vary the size of your turns (able to do tight turns or wide turns).
- Typical tour plans include a Cardiff or Silver Fork Bi-Canyon tour from Alta to Big Cottonwood Canyon, the White Pine/Red Pine/Maybird Gulch area and a Big Cottonwood to Mill Creek through tour.
- Depending on current conditions, goals and experience of participants, guides may explore the Lone Peak, Twin Peaks and Mt. Olympus Wilderness areas, including Pfeifferhorn, Mill B. South, Broads Fork, Gobblers Knob and Raymond Peak terrain.
- Push your endurance and vertical over 3 consecutive days of touring
- Explore new terrain, lines and descents
- Formulate tour plans with guides and other participants before each day’s tour, according to local advisory and field observations
- Perform daily avalanche, weather and snowpack observations
- Build on your on-sight route-finding skills
- Gain new tips for efficiency and safety
- Increase your downhill backcountry skiing and riding skills
- Connect with similar-level touring partners
- Identify and acknowledge your personal risk tolerance and understand how to navigate a group risk tolerance
- Sport
- Ski + Snowboard
From the trip description by Utah Mountain Adventures
What the price includes
Included
- Lesson
- This course includes 3 full days in the backcountry skinning and skiing/splitboarding (expect to be in the field for 6-8 hours per day).
Not included
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guests are expected to bring their own lunch, snacks and water (1-2 liters).
- Transportation will not be provided.
Not confirmed by the operator: Lodging, Lift pass.
Location
Getting There
Meeting times are usually 8 am. Meeting locations are provided to registered guests before the course date. This course takes place in either Little Cottonwood Canyon or Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Central Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Transportation will not be provided. Most canyon parking lots require a parking fee.
UMA does not provide transportation. We encourage carpooling to help mitigate traffic in the canyons and crowded parking areas.
From the trip description by Utah Mountain Adventures
Pins show the approximate main trip area—not a route, meeting point, or full itinerary. Confirm exact locations in the company's trip details.
Dates and prices
- Feb 25 – Feb 27, 20272026/27 · 3 days999 USD$999 plus tax per person; currency not named on the pageAvailableChoose these datesBook on company website
Published as "Feb 25-27, 2027 (Thursday-Saturday)". UMA may cancel or shorten the course if fewer than 2 participants register.
Prices, taxes and fees, required extras, inclusions, availability, and booking terms can change. Confirm the current price and trip details on the company website; source last reviewed September 24, 2026.
Good To Know
The second day of this advanced backcountry course will be a longer tour, usually reaching a classic Wasatch bowl or skiable peak.
Guides may demonstrate and give students a chance to do practice beacon searches.
UMA reserves the right to cancel or shorten the course if fewer than 2 participants register.
Please see our Backcountry Touring Gear List & Rentals page for information on the items UMA provides and local shops where you can rent or purchase gear.
You will receive a reminder with the contact information for your guide/instructor.
Any of our pre-scheduled courses can be run as custom outings. If you’re interested in a course but the dates don’t fit your schedule, please check out our private guiding options.
From the trip description by Utah Mountain Adventures
Reviews
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