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Leave the lift line behind and learn to splitboard Colorado’s backcountry with pro guides based in Silverthorne. Expect uphill skinning, avalanche skills, and fresh powder runs tailored to your ability.
Leave the lift line behind and learn to splitboard Colorado’s backcountry with pro guides based in Silverthorne. Expect uphill skinning, avalanche skills, and fresh powder runs tailored to your ability.
The wind has a way of rearranging the mountain overnight; you step out of the van to a ridge blown clean on one side and a wind-loaded bowl on the other. Snow squeaks under teams of training boots while guides unpack avalanche gear and the splitboard clicks from ride mode into touring mode. For the next eight hours you'll trade chairlift laps for slow uphill skinning, then pivot to the freedom of fresh runs few riders will see.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Colorado Adventure Guides · Silverthorne, Colorado
The wind has a way of rearranging the mountain overnight; you step out of the van to a ridge blown clean on one side and a wind-loaded bowl on the other. Snow squeaks under teams of training boots while guides unpack avalanche gear and the splitboard clicks from ride mode into touring mode. For the next eight hours you'll trade chairlift laps for slow uphill skinning, then pivot to the freedom of fresh runs few riders will see.
This style of travel—splitboarding—grew from powder-starved snowboarders adapting alpine touring hardware to snowboard shapes. In the Gore Range and Tenmile Range above Silverthorne, complex geology of uplifted granitic rock creates steep drainages and protected tree bowls that hold light, drifty powder. Local guiding culture emphasizes conservative decision-making: route-finding, avy checks, and reading snowpack history are core parts of the day.
Practically speaking expect a full-day outing: 1–3 uphill climbs totaling several hundred to 1,500 feet depending on objective, variable terrain from meadows to tight trees, and occasionally exposed alpine ridgelines. Guides teach skin use, efficient transitions, and companion rescue (beacon/shovel/probe) while you solidify downhill technique in untracked snow.
Plan for layered insulation, extra water and calories, and a late start common in winter backcountry ops. Rentals are available from the Silverthorne basecamp if you can’t bring your own. Monitor avalanche forecasts (Colorado Avalanche Information Center) and tell your guide about any recent injuries or health concerns. With the right prep, a guided splitboard day turns the mountain’s quiet side into both a classroom and a playground—earn the climb, enjoy the fall.
challenging.
8 hours.
Strong aerobic fitness; comfortable riding black-diamond resort terrain and prepared for sustained uphill skinning with a loaded pack.
No — guides teach uphill and downhill splitboard techniques, but you should be comfortable riding black-diamond terrain at ski resorts.
Rentals and demo gear are available from the Silverthorne basecamp; discounts often apply when booking a guided tour.
Guides deliver practical instruction in beacon use, shovel/probe techniques, and decision-making throughout the day with hands-on companion rescue drills as appropriate.
Meet at Colorado Adventure Guides HQ in Silverthorne or a prearranged site communicated by your guide before the trip.
Splitboarding emerged in the 1990s as snowboarders adapted alpine touring gear; Colorado’s guide community formalized instruction and safety protocols over the past two decades.
Guides follow Leave No Trace and route choices aim to minimize vegetation and wildlife disturbance; respecting closures and pack-in, pack-out policies helps protect fragile alpine zones.
Colorado Adventure Guides operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The wind has a way of rearranging the mountain overnight; you step out of the van to a ridge blown clean on one side and a wind-loaded bowl on the other. Snow squeaks under teams of training boots while guides unpack avalanche gear and the splitboard clicks from ride mode into touring mode. For the next eight hours you'll trade chairlift laps for slow uphill skinning, then pivot to the freedom of fresh runs few riders will see.
The wind has a way of rearranging the mountain overnight; you step out of the van to a ridge blown clean on one side and a wind-loaded bowl on the other. Snow squeaks under teams of training boots while guides unpack avalanche gear and the splitboard clicks from ride mode into touring mode. For the next eight hours you'll trade chairlift laps for slow uphill skinning, then pivot to the freedom of fresh runs few riders will see.
This style of travel—splitboarding—grew from powder-starved snowboarders adapting alpine touring hardware to snowboard shapes. In the Gore Range and Tenmile Range above Silverthorne, complex geology of uplifted granitic rock creates steep drainages and protected tree bowls that hold light, drifty powder. Local guiding culture emphasizes conservative decision-making: route-finding, avy checks, and reading snowpack history are core parts of the day.
Practically speaking expect a full-day outing: 1–3 uphill climbs totaling several hundred to 1,500 feet depending on objective, variable terrain from meadows to tight trees, and occasionally exposed alpine ridgelines. Guides teach skin use, efficient transitions, and companion rescue (beacon/shovel/probe) while you solidify downhill technique in untracked snow.
Plan for layered insulation, extra water and calories, and a late start common in winter backcountry ops. Rentals are available from the Silverthorne basecamp if you can’t bring your own. Monitor avalanche forecasts (Colorado Avalanche Information Center) and tell your guide about any recent injuries or health concerns. With the right prep, a guided splitboard day turns the mountain’s quiet side into both a classroom and a playground—earn the climb, enjoy the fall.