Spring Touring Mentorship Days

One Week Before:

• You will receive an email from your guide with any additional helpful information and introductions.

Day of:

• 0830: Meet at the Mount Baker Ski Area (Bagley Lakes Trailhead aka Heather Meadows) with ski gear ready to go. Group introductions and a departure check will follow.

• 0900: Ski and learn together!

• 1530: Return to cars and debrief

Join us for a spring ski & splitboard touring mentorship day focused on building community, expanding our avalanche knowledge – with a focus on spring-specific considerations – and further developing our backcountry touring skills. Whether you’re newer to touring or looking to refine advanced techniques, this day offers tailored group options to match your experience level.

Enjoy a safe, supportive & fun environment where education and adventure come together for an unforgettable day in the mountains.

• Beginner & Intermediate/Advanced group options

• Tailored tour route and learning objectives based on the group’s priorities, goals for the day, and level

• Answers to questions from the season

• Supportive mentorship from our professionally trained ski guide team at small group ratios

Opportunities to deep dive into:

• Safely finding the best skiing & riding conditions

• Route planning, timing, and terrain assessment

• Hazard assessment

• Avalanche mechanics, snow science, snowpack tests

• Tour group assembly, decision-making psychology

• Leadership skills, managing a group on the ascent & descent

• Skintrack setting, bootpacking technique

• Gear selection

• Familiar with your backcountry touring equipment. You know the very basics of transitioning your gear between uphill & downhill mode (at any pace) and have at least an introductory knowledge of skinning technique.

• Can ascend at least ~1500’ of elevation in a day at a relaxed pace.

• Ski or snowboard off-piste blue square-equivalent runs at a resort.

For this course, you will need to bring your own backcountry gear or rent gear. Upward Transitions does not have backcountry ski rentals. We do have a list of suggestions if you are looking to rent.

• Backcountry skis

• Skins

• Poles

• Outerwear

• Backcountry boots

• Beacon, shovel, probe

• Backpack (30L capacity)

• Helmet

Within one week of signing up, you will receive an informational packet with more information about what to expect, a packing list, and other course information that will be helpful for you to review.