What skill level do I need to join?

Participants should be high-advanced to expert skiers or snowboarders with prior backcountry experience and the ability to climb several thousand feet in a day at a moderate pace.

Is camping provided during the course?

The mentorship operates from an overnight alpine basecamp; final details on shelters and what is provided are confirmed after booking.

What is included in the program?

Expect hands-on coaching, rope and crevasse rescue instruction, scenario-based decision training, and basecamp winter camping; logistic inclusions are listed by the operator at booking.

How should I prepare physically and technically?

Prioritize uphill endurance, weighted pack hikes, and refresh avalanche rescue drills, crampon work, and ice-axe technique before arriving.

What are the cancellation and booking terms?

Cancellation policies and booking terms are provided by the operator when you reserve; review those terms before booking for details on refunds and changes.

Where should I stay before the course starts?

Sedro-Woolley is the nearest town listed; many participants stage in towns along the Mount Baker Highway and arrive early to check kit and meet guides.

Mastering Steep Snow: Ski Mountaineering Mentorship on Mt. Baker

Ski Mountaineering Mentorship - Mt. Baker is a four-day expert-level course run on Mount Baker in northern Washington, reachable via Sedro-Woolley and the Mount Baker Highway. The program places advanced skiers and snowboarders in high alpine terrain to learn steep route selection, glacier travel, rope systems, and winter campcraft. Participants operate from an overnight basecamp on the mountain's snowfields and ridgelines, practicing uphill travel, technical booting, and long descents. Instruction focuses on techniques that matter in steep and glaciated terrain. Students refine self arrest with an ice axe, efficient cramponing, and controlled skiing on steep snow and ice. Modules cover rope use for belays and rappels, prusik and pulley systems for crevasse rescue, and team movement strategies when exposure is high. Coaches run scenarios that connect avalanche forecasts to objective selection and timing, teaching how to adjust plans as conditions change. Mount Baker is a glaciated stratovolcano with large, active glaciers, deep winter snow, and steep gullies that test both technique and judgment. The mountain’s heavy snowpack and sculpted cornices create classic mountaineering challenges and long, committing descents when routes are chosen well. Views from the upper slopes can include the North Cascades, Vancouver Island on distant clear days, and the Salish lowlands. This mentorship is designed for people who already ski at a high advanced to expert level and can climb several thousand feet per day. Physical fitness matters: expect sustained ascents and heavy packs for short periods while carrying ropes and rescue gear. The course accelerates practical decision making through concentrated exposure to real alpine problems rather than purely classroom drills. Offered by thebackcountrypros, the course pairs seasoned guides with small teams so each participant receives hands-on coaching during climbs, rope drills, and winter camping. The program emphasizes managing risk, reading snowpack, and building the technical foundation needed to attempt steeper alpine objectives beyond the highway and resort boundaries. Bring purposeful kit and a readiness to learn in cold, changing weather; expect basic alpine tents at camp and focused instruction rather than luxury support. For advanced skiers who want to move into technical backcountry objectives with competence, this course on Mount Baker is a compact, direct way to gain skills that keep you moving and alive in serious winter mountains. Expect a curriculum that blends guided practice with scenario decision training. Participants receive feedback on efficiency and group management. Specific modules cover route planning with maps, conservative turn selection in variable snow, and camp positioning for avalanche avoidance. The mentorship does not include transportation or resort lift tickets; logistical details and final kit lists are supplied after registration. This course sharpens judgment and technical skill so participants return to their home ranges with a higher margin for safety.

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.