- Due to accessibility and travel time, please call our office to book a half day of skiing.
2 People = $219*
3 People = $189*
4 People = $159*
5 People = $139*
6+ People = $129*
*Price Per Person
Colorado Mountain School is the premier guide service in the Rocky Mountains. We offer custom backcountry skiing and splitboarding adventures any time there is snow to slide on. Whether you would like to learn a particular set of skills like skinning uphill or ski mountaineering, or you just want to ski one of the many steep couloirs that Colorado has to offer, we’re here to take you wherever your skiing or riding aspirations may lie. We offer everything from single day trips to hut trips to group packages.
1 Person = $429*
2 People = $329*
3 People = $289*
4 People = $259*
5 People = $229*
6+ People = $219*
*Price Per Person
1 Person = $529*
2 People = $429*
3+ People = $409*
*Price Per Person
1 Person = $599*
2 People = $499*
3+ People = $459*
*Price Per Person
1 Person = $799*
2+ People = $649*
*Price Per Person
Backcountry skiing is one of the best ways to access the mountains in the winter environment and Colorado offers some of the best snow in the country. Are you tired of tracked-out slopes, icy conditions in-bounds or long waits in weekend resort traffic? Our highly-trained guides know the ins and outs of some of the most sought-after backcountry skiing and splitboarding terrain and will show you the best lines and powder stashes. Whether you’re a powder hound or a corn skiing fiend, our guides will escort you through alpine glades, open bowls, rock-laced couloirs, and other nooks and crannies of Rocky Mountain National Park and throughout Colorado.
Our guides have professional avalanche training and have the expertise to navigate terrain and weather forcasts to locate the best skiing and riding conditions available. Call or email us anytime for conditions updates and personalized recommendations for your trip. We want to help you have the backcountry experience of a lifetime and our guided ski and snowboard trips cater to your wants and needs to create an unforgettable, personalized day of fun in the mountains.
Colorado Mountain School offers backcountry skiing and splitboarding guiding and instruction services in the following locations:
Item | Description | Quantity | Example | Purchase At | Rent At | Equipment Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avalanche Beacon | Modern, digital, three-antennae beacon with fresh batteries. |
1 |
|
Colorado Mountain School; Neptune Mountaineering |
Equipment | |
Avalanche Probe | Collapsable metal or carbon rod used to probe avalanche debris while attempting to strike a buried target. |
1 | Colorado Mountain School; Neptune Mountaineering |
Equipment | ||
Avalanche Rescue Shovel | Ski specific shovel used to dig pits and avalanche rescue. A metal blade is mandatory. |
1 | Colorado Mountain School; Neptune Mountaineering |
Equipment | ||
Backpack: 20-40 liter | Packs smaller than this tend not to be able to carry the necessary amount of equipment and clothing. Large backpacking packs are acceptable, depending on the climb. |
1 | Colorado Mountain School |
Equipment | ||
Baselayer Bottoms | Synthetic or Merino Wool; Lightweight or mid-weight are recommended. |
1 | Men: Rab Forge Leggings |
Clothing | ||
Beanie or Fleece Hat | Should cover the ears and fit under a helmet. Hats with fluff balls on top do not fit under helmets. |
1 | Clothing | |||
Climbing Harness | UIAA or CE approved; With belay loop and gear loops. The waist belt should fit over multiple layers of clothing. |
1 | Colorado Mountain School |
Equipment | ||
Climbing Skins | Nylon or mohair. Trimmed and adjusted to fit your skis or splitboard ahead of time. |
1 | Equipment | |||
Compass | Used for navigation and orientation. A compass with adjustable declination is preferrable. |
1 | Optional | |||
Face Mask (PPE) | Should be made with at least two layers of fabric. Your mask needs to cover your nose and mouth without large gaps. The mask should have ear loops or ties so you can adjust it. Look for a mask with a bendable border at the top so you can mold the mask to fit the bridge of your nose and prevent your glasses from fogging. |
2 | Clothing | |||
First Aid Kit | Your guide will have an emergency First Aid Kit. You should bring a small kit including blister prevention and care products such as a role of athletic tape and Moleskin. Your kit should also contain a few Band-aids, some Tylenol and Ibuprofen. |
1 | Optional | |||
Food | Proper lunches that are prepared ahead of time are recommended (sandwich, burrito, leftover pizza, etc), along with an assortment of snack bars, gels, or trail mixes. Feeze-dried meals are acceptable on overnight trips, but not day trips. |
1 | Equipment | |||
Goggles | Protect your eyes and face from wind and sun burn. |
1 | Equipment | |||
Hardshell Pants | These should be non-insulated pants with ankle cuffs wide enough to fit over your ski or ride boots. |
1 | Men: Rab Khroma Kinetic Pants |
Clothing | ||
Heavyweight Waterproof Glove | This glove comes out when the winter going gets cold and wet or at higher altitudes. |
1 | Men: Pivot GTX Glove |
Clothing | ||
Hot Drinks | Coffee, tea, hot cocoa are great for warming up when it's cold outside. |
1 | Optional | |||
Laptop | Useful for navigation courses, including hiking and ski tour planning. |
1 | Optional | |||
Lightweight Baselayer Top | Synthetic or Merino Wool; Worn against the skin and is considered a "wicking" layer that facilitates the movement of moisture away from the skin and through the layers. Hooded base layers add extra versatility. |
2 | Men: Rab Forge LS Tee |
Clothing | ||
Lightweight Gloves | Synthetic; Thin gloves used when hiking the early morning approach. Belay gloves can suffice if full-fingered. |
1 | Clothing | |||
Lip ScreenSPF 15 or higher. | Non-SPF rated lip balms can actually increase your chances of getting burned. |
1 | Rocky Mountain Sunscreen Lip Balm |
Optional | ||
Midweight Baselayer Top | Synthetic or Merino Wool; Adds extra warmth and protection from the cold and wind without creating a moisture barrier as a jacket would. Having at least one base layer that is hooded adds versatility, protecting the neck and ears from cold winds. |
1 | Men: Rab Nexus Jacket |
Clothing | ||
Midweight Softshell Glove | This is the workhorse glove and is most often worn on warmer days when mountaineering. Softshell gloves are water-resistant and durable. They often have leather palms and fingers. |
1 | Clothing | |||
Neck Gaiter | "Buffs" are quite versatile in their uses. They can be used as light beanies, neck warmers, and can offer face protection from the cold wind or sun. |
1 | Clothing | |||
Personal Care Items | Medications, glasses or contacts, feminine products, etc. |
1 | Optional | |||
Rock Climbing Helmet | UIAA/CE approved; Should be large enough to fit over a beanie. Plastic helmets are more durable, but heavier. Foam helmets are lighter, but more easily damaged when carried in a pack. |
1 | Colorado Mountain School |
Equipment | ||
Ski Helmet | This item is recommended but not required. We will be skiing in the trees, and in snow conditions where rocks, stumps, and downded logs are present. |
1 | Equipment | |||
Ski or Snowboard Boots | Footwear should be appropriate to mode of travel i.e. ski, snowboard, or insulated winter boots for snowshoes. For snowshoers, a boot such as the Scarpa Mont Blanc is the minimum level of boot required. Ski Boots should have a walk mode. |
1 | Equipment | |||
Ski or Trekking Poles | Two poles, with powder baskets, are required for all skiers, splitboarders, and snowshoers. It is ideal if poles are ski-specific and collapse small enough to fit onto a pack when climbing. |
1 | Colorado Mountain School; Neptune Mountaineering |
Equipment | ||
Ski Straps | 18" Rubber or velcro straps to connect skis when attaching them to a pack. Also useful for a variety of in-the-field equipment repairs. |
2 | Optional | |||
Skis or Snowboard | Skis should have touring bindings; lightweight tech bindings are ideal. Splitboards are ideal for snowboarders. Snowboarders using resort snowboards will need to have snowshoes and poles. |
1 | Equipment | |||
Slope Meter (Inclinometer) | Used to measure slope angle, this tool is a standard equipment item for any backcountry traveler in avalanche terrain. |
1 | Optional | |||
Smart Phone App | There are a plethora of apps that assist in navigation. These apps use your phone's GPS functions and can work in the mountains offline. |
1 | Avanet; Gaia Maps; Topo Maps |
Optional | ||
Smartphone | Great for taking photos and videos. Smartphone batteries tend to shut down in freezing temps - keep your phone in a warm inner layer. A tether is ideal in the mountains to protet against dropping your phone. |
1 | Optional | |||
Snow Saw | For cutting columns during snowpack analysis |
1 | Optional | |||
Snow Study Kit | Crystal card, magnifying lens, thermometers, 2 meter ruler |
1 | Equipment | |||
Softshell and Fleece Jacket | Water-resistant, windproof, yet it "breaths," which means it allows moisture to move through. Hoods are ideal. There are multiple thicknesses of Softshell jackets. A lightweight or medium-weight jacket is preferred. Fleece jackets are acceptable. |
1 | Men: Rab VR Summit Jacket |
Clothing | ||
Softshell Pants | Softshell material is stretchy, wind-proof, water-resistant, and resists abrasion. Mid-weight is recommended and light-weight pants can work for warm days. Typical thin, nylon "hiking pants" are generally not tough enough. |
1 | Men: Rab Vapour Rise Guide |
Clothing | ||
Sports Bra | Provides support and allows for full range of motion |
1 | North Face Beyond the Wall |
Clothing | ||
Sun Hat | A billed hat to keep the sun at bay during the approach and descent. |
1 | Clothing | |||
Sunglasses | "Wrap-Around" style sunglasses with 100% UV Protection. |
1 | Equipment | |||
SunscreenSPF 30 or higher. | Travel size. |
1 | Rocky Mountain Sunscreen SPF 50 |
Equipment | ||
Synthetic or Down Puffy Jacket | Fits over all other layers and is worn at breaks and on really cold days. Synthetic puffies are more durable, are easily laundered, and dry out quickly if wet. Down puffies are lighter weight, pack smaller, and provide exceptional warmth, but once wet, they stay wet. |
1 | Men: Rab Electron Pro Jacket |
Clothing | ||
Synthetic or Merino Wool Socks | Wool and synthetic blends are great for long days on the trail. "Ski" and "Snowboard" socks are especially useful when warmth is desired. |
2 | Clothing | |||
Thermos | Many ice climbers prefer to bring a thermos of hot water or soup instead of one of their water bottles. |
1 | Optional | |||
Toe Warmers and Hand Heaters | Help keep you warm on particularly cold days. |
1 | Optional | |||
Watch with Altimiter | An altimeter is very useful in gauging progression of altitude gain or loss when climbing, and especially when visibility is decreased due to weather. Many Altimeter watches have compasses or GPS tracking functions. |
1 | Suunto Vector; Suunto Core |
Optional | ||
Water Bottles | 1 liter bottles are the standard. Bladders such as Camelbacks and Platypus are acceptable for above freezing temps, but only in conjunction with another bottle. Bladders are not acceptable during sub freezing temps. Sports drinks are also acceptable. |
2 | Nalgene, Hydro Flask |
Equipment | ||
Waterproof Shell Jacket | Non-insulated, Gore-Tex, Dermizax, Event, or other waterproofing system is required. Mostly, this jacket sits in the bottom of your pack and comes out when the weather gets nasty with precipitation. This jacket should fit over all other layers. |
1 | Men: Rab Khroma Kinetic Jacket |
Clothing |
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633 S Broadway Unit A
Boulder, CO 80305
341 Moraine Ave
Estes Park, CO 80517
info@coloradomountainschool.com
(720) 387-8944
Colorado Mountain School is an equal opportunity provider and is operated under special use permit with the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest.
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Dan C (verified owner) –
We booked two days of guided backcountry skiing with CMS guide Everett and had an amazing time! We had a call with him ahead of the trip so he could understand what we wanted to get out of the experience. He listened and created the perfect plan for our two days in the backcountry. Everett (like all of the CMS guides) was extremely professional and very knowledgable. Beyond that we very much enjoyed spending a weekend skiing with him. He taught us a great deal, provided invaluable tips and most important kept us safe while skiing incredible terrain. We would highly recommend CMS and Everett for your backcountry adventure!
Hunter Jones (verified owner) –
Joe was a blast to be with for a day in the backcountry. He makes everyone feel comfortable, is patient and gives helpful information throughout the trip. I would absolutely use CMS and Joe again!
Henry Kvietok (verified owner) –
I had an absolutely epic day in Rocky Mountain National Park with my ski mountaineering guide, Ben. He customized the day to my exact needs (I wanted to learn more about skimo and also glacier travel techniques). We climbed and skied 3 big couloirs with awesome snow! Would highly recommend.