Winter Backcountry Touring - Adult
Start exploring wilderness in winter
Breathe in cold air as you ski down fresh snow. Feel your muscles burn as you top a ridge showing you a view of the next snow-covered valley. Enjoy the quiet of a winter night after a good, hard day of work. On this course, you’ll join a group of motivated adults to learn to ski or splitboard in the backcountry.
You’ll start with ski or snowboarding lessons at the Grand Targhee Ski Resort, then head to the mountains. During the day you’ll work on your touring skills, spending some nights in yurts and others in snow shelters you’ll build yourself. You’ll find fresh powder for skiing or snowboarding and start learning snow science. In addition to these technical skills, this course will focus on leadership. Every day will give you new challenges to meet and practice growing skills in risk management, communication, and decision making. Leadership on this course is about doing and practicing as much as possible. With this combination of outdoor and leadership skills, you’ll go home prepared for a lifetime of enjoying the wilderness in the winter.
NOLS adult courses are designed for both beginners and experienced individuals. Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of skill level!
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Duration
12 days
Age
23+ yrs
Tuition
$3,850 to $3,970
2 College Credits
- 2 Skills Practicum
Certifications
- NOLS Level I Avalanche Training
Equipment Deposit
$400
Start/End
Driggs, Idaho
Fly In/Out
Jackson, Wyoming
Course Session Dates
Feb 1, 2026 - Feb 12, 2026
Driggs, ID
$3,850 View Session
Feb 15, 2026 - Feb 26, 2026
Driggs, ID
$3,850 View Session
Jan 31, 2027 - Feb 11, 2027
Driggs, ID
$3,970 View Session
Feb 14, 2027 - Feb 25, 2027
Driggs, ID
$3,970 View Session

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Financial aid & Scholarships
NOLS supports a variety of outside financial aid options:
- AmeriCorps
- 529 College Savings Plans
- Veteran's Benefits (In Wyoming only)
If you are fluent in American Sign Language or Signed Exact English, you may be eligible to receive a full scholarship to your wilderness medicine course.