Is prior backcountry skiing experience required for the course?

While not mandatory, basic skiing ability and comfort in winter mountain terrain will help you get the most out of the training.

What is the ratio of students to instructors?

The course maintains a low 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio for personalized instruction and safety.

Does the course include any online learning components?

Yes, a significant portion of the curriculum is delivered through a self-paced online module before the field sessions.

Will the course teach how to perform avalanche rescues?

Absolutely; performing beacon searches, probe strikes, and shoveling rescues are core hands-on components of the field days.

Are the instructors certified guides?

All instructors are AMGA Certified Ski Guides, ensuring top-tier professional expertise.

What should I bring to the course?

Participants need avalanche safety gear including transceiver, shovel, probe, and layered clothing suitable for winter alpine conditions.

Avalanche Safety Training with The Backcountry Pros in Utah | Guided Tour

The rugged Wasatch Range outside Cottonwood Heights, Utah, offers some of the most accessible—and dynamic—backcountry skiing terrain in the lower 48 states. Known for its deep powder and diverse snowpack, these mountains demand respect and preparation, especially in avalanche season. The Backcountry Pros LLC, based in Cottonwood Heights, delivers specialized avalanche safety training designed to equip recreational skiers for confident and informed backcountry travel.

Their Level 1 Avalanche Safety course stands out for its intensive hands-on approach, combining two full field days with comprehensive online instruction and interactive Zoom sessions. With a low student-to-instructor ratio of 4:1, every participant benefits from personal guidance by AMGA Certified Ski Guides—the highest credential available for mountain guides. These leaders bring deep regional knowledge, from interpreting complex snowpack conditions to navigating the Wasatch’s varied terrain features such as steep gullies, cornices, and glide cracks.

Students gain practical skills in identifying avalanche hazards, reading official avalanche forecasts, and executing critical rescue techniques. Learning to recognize terrain traps and runout zones is critical here—the difference between a safe descent and disaster lies in these nuanced details. Beyond technical skills, the course fosters vital decision-making and communication strategies for small touring groups in remote winter settings.

Cottonwood Heights serves as a gateway to this winter playground and is uniquely positioned near Salt Lake City, where adventurers can easily access world-class ski resorts and avalanche-prone backcountry alike. The Backcountry Pros fill a crucial role in the local outdoor community, raising safety standards and encouraging stewardship of the fragile alpine environment.

For skiers hoping to venture beyond groomed slopes, this course delivers the confidence and skills necessary to make backcountry skiing both thrilling and responsibly safe.

About The Backcountry Pros LLC

The Backcountry Pros LLC is a Utah-based guiding and education company specializing in backcountry skiing, avalanche education, and technical climbing instruction. The team offers a range of hands-on experiences — from single-day clinics to multi-day mentorships and heli-assisted ski touring — focused on practical skills, decision-making, and safe mountain travel. Instructional offerings include Advanced Backcountry Skiing Mentorship, Backcountry Skiing Mentorship, Ski Mountaineering Course, Level I (Uinta Mountains), Avalanche I Refresher, Heli Assisted Ski Touring, Intro to Trad Climbing, Multi Pitch Self Rescue, Advanced Ice Techniques, and Ice Intro Clinic.

Courses combine classroom and fieldwork when appropriate, with Zoom sessions, guided field days, basecamp-style mentorship, and real-world scenario practice. The Backcountry Pros LLC emphasizes small groups and a limited instructor-to-student ratio to maximize individualized feedback and hands-on coaching. Professional ski instructors and certified guides lead technical lessons in the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains, covering avalanche forecasting, companion rescue, ski travel techniques, ice screw placement, anchor building, and multi-pitch self-rescue.

Safety and evidence-based decision making are core priorities; students practice terrain assessment, hazard interpretation, and rescue drills in real mountain settings. The company’s programs are designed for progressing skiers and climbers seeking measurable skill development, confidence in complex terrain, and the ability to plan and execute safe backcountry trips. Booking information, prerequisite details, and course logistics are provided for each trip to ensure participants arrive prepared for a productive and secure learning experience. Industry-standard safety protocols and hands-on mentorship create measurable progress and lasting skills for responsible mountain travel across winter and alpine environments.