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Advanced Backcountry Camp (3-Day)

Name: Advanced Backcountry Camp (3-Day)
Price: $689 plus tax USD
Availability: InStock

$689 plus tax

This 3-day, field-based backcountry camp will enable participants to advance their route-finding, on-the-go snowpack stability assessment and knowledge of Wasatch backcountry terrain in the company of a mentor. Whether you’re from out of town, new to the area or a seasoned local tourer, these 3 days will focus on descents that are new for the group. Guides will do their best to accommodate desires and objectives within reason, given the current snowpack and weather.

Course Dates

Feb 5-7, 2026 (Thursday-Saturday)

Description Prerequisites Schedule and Logistics Gear List FAQs

Spend 3 consecutive days learning and honing moderate to steep up and downhill skills, while exploring the finest terrain the Wasatch Range has to offer. Participants should be experienced backcountry skiers or splitboarders, comfortable skiing advanced terrain in ungroomed snow and willing to climb 3,000’+ per day.

Typical tour plans include a Cardiff or Silver Fork Bi-Canyon tour from Alta to Big Cottonwood Canyon, the White Pine/Red Pine/Maybird Gulch area and a Big Cottonwood to Mill Creek through tour. Depending on current conditions, goals and experience of participants, guides may explore the Lone Peak, Twin Peaks and Mt. Olympus Wilderness areas, including Pfeifferhorn, Mill B. South, Broads Fork, Gobblers Knob and Raymond Peak terrain.

Advanced Backcountry Camp Objectives

Push your endurance and vertical over 3 consecutive days of touring
Explore new terrain, lines and descents
Formulate tour plans with guides and other participants before each day’s tour, according to local advisory and field observations
Perform daily avalanche, weather and snowpack observations
Build on your on-sight route-finding skills
Gain new tips for efficiency and safety
Increase your downhill backcountry skiing and riding skills
Connect with similar-level touring partners
Identify and acknowledge your personal risk tolerance and understand how to navigate a group risk tolerance

UMA guides will coach participants in transitions to downhill mode and proper procedures for descent in avalanche-prone terrain. Guides will also demonstrate techniques for skiing and boarding in untracked snow and provide individualized feedback and tips on how to improve downhill skills in untracked snow. Time will be allowed for lunch, snacks, water breaks and enjoyment of the winter Wasatch environment. Guides may demonstrate and give students a chance to do practice beacon searches.

The second day of this advanced backcountry course will be a longer tour, usually reaching a classic Wasatch bowl or skiable peak. Participants will apply skinning, downhill and avalanche procedures while enjoying the best terrain and snow conditions available. Guides will dig a snowpit and demonstrate other snow stability assessment techniques as the party travels. The instructor will suggest good tours for students to do on their own and offer insights into a progression of tours to help participants reach their backcountry goals.

Course dates don’t fit your schedule?

Any of our pre-scheduled courses can be run as custom outings. If you’re interested in a course but the dates don’t fit your schedule, please check out our private guiding options.

Course Prerequisites

We recommend that you have a Level 1 avalanche certification.
You must be comfortable skinning/hiking 3000′ vertical at a steady pace in a day.
You should have 20+days and/or 3+ years of touring experience.
You must be comfortable, confident and in control making linked turns in all types of terrain and snow conditions (tight trees, steep, variable snow, powder, hardpack, narrow exit trails).
You can vary the size of your turns (able to do tight turns or wide turns).

This course includes 3 full days in the backcountry skinning and skiing/splitboarding (expect to be in the field for 6-8 hours per day). Guests are expected to bring their own lunch, snacks and water (1-2 liters). UMA does not provide transportation. We encourage carpooling to help mitigate traffic in the canyons and crowded parking areas.

SCHEDULE & MEETING LOCATION

Meeting times are usually 8 am. Meeting locations are provided to registered guests before the course date. This course takes place in either Little Cottonwood Canyon or Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Central Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah.

GUIDE/INSTRUCTOR

You will receive a reminder with the contact information for your guide/instructor. They will contact you directly by email to confirm meeting time and location, as well as weather considerations and equipment needs.

TRANSPORTATION & PARKING

Transportation will not be provided. Most canyon parking lots require a parking fee.

How To Register

UMA reserves the right to cancel or shorten the course if fewer than 2 participants register.

Backcountry Touring EQUIPMENT LIST

Non-cotton top and bottom base layer
Puffy overcoat and/or other insulation layer (fleece, synthetic or down)
Waterproof/windproof outer shell jacket and pants (or bibs)
Wool socks
Waterproof snow gloves and mittens (or a second pair of gloves)
Lightweight gloves for uphill travel
Warm hat and baseball cap
Helmet (recommended)
Sunglasses and goggles
Sunscreen
1-2 liters of water (water bladders not recommended for winter use)
Thermos of hot drink (optional)
Sack lunch and snacks
Ski touring or snowboard boots
Alpine touring or telemark skis, or splitboard
Skins
Ski poles with powder baskets
Beacon
Shovel
Probe
Backpack (20-45 liters)

Please see our Backcountry Touring Gear List & Rentals page for information on the items UMA provides and local shops where you can rent or purchase gear.