Intro to Splitboard & Ski Touring Mount Baker
One-Day Intro to Ski Touring and Splitboarding at Mount Baker and Heather Meadows
A beginner-friendly intro backcountry skiing and splitboarding couse for riders who want a clear, supported path into backcountry splitboard and ski touring. Hands-on coaching will build the foundational skills that make AIARE courses, guided touring days, and independent tours more productive: gear care and maintenance, touring skin care, uphill and downhill transitions, skinning technique, backcountry ski coaching, terrain awareness, positive group communication, and trip planning basics.
Spend an extra day getting comfortable with your equipment, allowing you to focus fully on avalanche safety during your training. The areas most experienced backcountry instructors will create a welcoming transition to the lifelong journey through snowy mountains. We find participants perform better during avalanche courses after participating in our Intro to Backcountry day.
If this isn't your first tour participants can build on their existing backcountry experience.
- Beginner-Friendly: Ideal for those new to splitboarding and ski touring.
- Skill Enhancement: Build upon baseline skills for more experienced backcountry travelers.
- AIARE 1 Preparation: Get a head start before your avalanche course.
Boost your confidence and skills in splitboarding and ski touring with our one-day introductory course. Whether you’re preparing for an avalanche safety course or simply looking to enhance your backcountry abilities, this course provides the foundation you need for safe and enjoyable adventures.
- Prices: Based on a minimum of 3 participants
- Private Courses: Available for custom dates
Part of our Mount Baker guide →
- Stance Adjustments: Have to get that uphill and downhill stance dialed. Splitboarders optimize stance width and angles while allowing acceptable uphill touring performance.
- Skinning Movement: Dial in efficient skinning techniques for uphill travel such as heel plant, hips forward, and short strides
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Kick Turns: Learn and practice kick turns including AVA, K Turn, Convergent & Divergent, and full on kick turn.
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Quick Transitions: Improve transition times between skinning and shredding.
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Equipment Care: Keep warm, keep dry, stay happy tour longer = Maintenance and care for your touring gear so you can spend all day in the mountains
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Trekking Pole Integration: Its never always, and always- it depends. Have reason to have your poles in hand. Effective use of trekking poles for splitboarders.
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Efficiency Techniques: Enhance efficiency for both ascents and descents.
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Newcomers to splitboarding and ski touring should be comfortable in ski area equivalent blue runs on a variety of snow conditions. Make sure this isnt your 1st day of skiing for the season.
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AIARE 1 Participants: Get out there and ski at the ski area a bit. Get your legs under you right away.
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Experienced Backcountry Travelers: Practice Transitions and get your gear sorted, we can work with every ability level and can guarantee you level up your skills.
Yes. This 1 day intro to ski touring and splitboarding course is designed for skiers and riders who are new to touring and want a welcoming, inviting entry point with a local Mt Baker ski guide.
No, but avalanche training is the next step. This course helps prepare you for an AIARE 1 in the future and winter backcountry travel in the legendary Baker Backcountry.
Our skilled guides are career minded and with decades of introducing backcountry psyche to all abilities. They have extensive backcountry experience in the Baker Backcountry having skied everything from Mt Shuksan, the Shuksan Arm to Artist Point, the Table Mountain circumnav and all around Mt Baker! But rest assured they have decades of working with excited beginners and are committed to positive learning experiences.
YES! This is a learn by doing experience. We are with you every step of the way, we'll help you through your first kick turn, help manage icy skins, and keep your goggles dry all while ripping in the record breaking snow in one of the worlds snowiest places at Mt Baker.
This 1 day course covers all the essential skills for an effective introduction to ski and splitboard touring. Afterwards join us every other year to refresh your skills and keep up with current standards. Learning is a life long process and check out our AIARE Rescue, AIARE 2, and Advanced Ski Touring and Splitboarding Courses at Mount Baker and Snoqualmie Pass.
Gear list
Gear list
Gear required varies trip to trip. Your guide helps you decide what to bring or leave during the gear check. Need to rent crampons, ice axe, harness, or helmet? Let us know when you book.
Intinerary
Day 1: Intro to touring day focused on movement skills and gear management.
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7:30am: Meet at our HQ in Glacier WA. Perform a gear check and conditions update.
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Morning: Demonstrate proper use of ski touring gear such as uphill and downhill binding use, skin care, layering for cool weather activity. Into the mountains and introduce movement skills such as efficient skinning, kick turns, active poles, basic track setting.
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Afternoon: Go on a ski tour to Artist Point, Herman Saddle, Table Mountain, or Mount Herman, general zones such as Heather Meadows. Time to learn and rip with coaching from your guide.
Itinerary subject to change based on weather; your guide will confirm meeting time and place details with you before the course
Cancellation
It is your responsibility to be familiar with our Payment, Cancellation, and Rescheduling Policies. When you book a trip with Guided Exposure, you are agreeing to our policies outlined here:
