Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding

Spend 14 days immersed in the backcountry of Wyoming, known for dependable snow and some of the best ski terrain in the country. You’ll travel by touring skis or splitboard, sleep in snow shelters, and build a solid foundation of backcountry travel and avalanche education.

You’ll start at NOLS Teton Valley in Driggs, sorting gear, working through introductory avalanche curriculum, and taking a professional ski lesson at Grand Targhee Resort before heading into the field. If you’re newer to skiing, a few additional lessons before arriving is encouraged. From there your course will take you into the Snake River Range, the Palisades, the Wyoming Range, or the Absaroka Mountains— all magical places to learn the intricacies of backcountry travel and winter camping. 

Photo credit: Kristen Lovelace

You’ll spend 10 days in the backcountry, sleeping in elaborate snow shelters you build with your group. Days include skiing or snowboarding from camp, learning camp craft, studying avalanche science, local ecology, and cooking. Managing cold — staying warm, boiling water, preventing cold injuries — runs through every day alongside the technical curriculum.

You’ll leave with a Level 1 Avalanche and Avalanche Rescue certification, recognized by the American Avalanche Association, and the skills to plan your own winter backcountry trips.

Photo credit: Kristen Lovelace