Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - Utah Mountain Adventures
Guiding & Instruction
Wasatch Ski Mountaineering Descents
Many Wasatch summits and couloirs provide world-class ski and snowboard mountaineering and exciting descents. UMA guides know when the conditions are right, and how to get in and out of steep and technical terrain while minimizing effort and risk. Ascents may require ice axe, crampons and rope, and a few descents include rappels or belayed skiing.
Generally a previous UMA skills class and / or tour is a prerequisite. Advanced objectives are recommended for experienced ski mountaineers only.
Wasatch Ski Mountaineering Objectives (subject to current conditions)
Popular descents include the following (many other descents are also available; call the office for options):
- WOLVERINE CIRQUE COULOIRS
DETAILS
Difficulty: Previous backcountry experience necessary; expert downhill ski ability and good fitness required
Duration: 6-8 hours
Max Ratio: 4:1
Meeting Time: Generally 8 am; 8:30 if using lifts
Meeting Location: Alta or Brighton
Lift Accessed Tour: Price of single ride lift tickets is additional
What We Provide:
- Broadly experienced, highly-trained, professional ski and mountaineering guides
- Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe and pack (if needed)
What You Need:
- Alpine touring, telemark ski or split-snowboard equipment
- Review the equipment list
How to Register:
- Register Online
- Call us at (801) 550 3986
- Email us
RATES
1 person $550 / person 2 people $350 / person 3 people $300 / person 4 people $250 / person State & Local Taxes will be added. Gratuity not included.
- MT. SUPERIOR'S SOUTHEAST FACE
DETAILS
Difficulty: Previous backcountry experience necessary; expert downhill ski ability and excellent fitness required
Duration: 6-8 hours
Max Ratio: 2:1
Meeting Time: 6 am
Meeting Location: Alta
What We Provide:
- Broadly experienced, highly-trained, professional ski and mountaineering guides
- Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe and pack (if needed)
What You Need:
- Alpine touring, telemark ski or split-snowboard equipment
- Review the equipment list
How to Register:
- Register Online
- Call us at (801) 550 3986
- Email us
RATES
1 person $600 / person 2 people $400 / person State & Local Taxes will be added. Gratuity not included.
- COALPIT HEADWALL
DETAILS
Difficulty: Previous ski mountaineering experience necessary; expert downhill ski ability and excellent fitness required
Duration: 8-12 hours
Max Ratio: 2:1
Meeting Time: 6 am
Meeting Location: Little Cottonwood Park and Ride Lot
What We Provide:
- Broadly experienced, highly-trained, professional ski and mountaineering guides
- Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe and pack (if needed)
What You Need:
- Ice axe, crampons, helmet, harness and alpine touring, telemark ski or split-snowboard equipment
- Lunch, water and snacks
- Review the equipment list
How to Register:
- Register Online
- Call us at (801) 550 3986
- Email us
RATES
1 person $650 / person 2 people $425 / person State & Local Taxes will be added. Gratuity not included.
- PFEIFFERHORN NW COULOIR
DETAILS
Difficulty: Previous ski mountaineering experience necessary; expert downhill ski ability and excellent fitness required
Duration: 8-12 hours
Max Ratio: 2:1
Meeting Time: 6 am
Meeting Location: Little Cottonwood Park and Ride Lot
What We Provide:
- Broadly experienced, highly-trained, professional ski and mountaineering guides
- Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe and pack (if needed)
What You Need:
- Ice axe, crampons, helmet, harness and alpine touring, telemark ski or split-snowboard equipment
- Lunch, water and snacks
- Review the equipment list
How to Register:
- Register Online
- Call us at (801) 550 3986
- Email us
RATES
1 person $650 / person 2 people $425 / person State & Local Taxes will be added. Gratuity not included.
Classic Wasatch Line
Photo by Lee Cohen
Testimonials
Thank you. You guys are great. Andy Polloczek is unmatched, a great instructor.
- John Pack
Thanks for a fantastic day. Todd Passey is a world class guide. He found great lines and snow. Most importantly he kept me safe. Todd was so impressive at navigating the elements and knowing all of the variables. Thanks for an experience I will not forget.
- Scott Simon
I wanted to let you know what a fantastic time Janet and I had with Todd Glew. His guiding, route choices and knowledge of the area were excellent and, not least of all, he was great company and we really enjoyed hanging out with him. And as for my last day with Todd skiing the Y Couloir . . . that will forever be one of the most memorable days skiing of my life. Wow!!
- Tim Peckett
Just wanted to say we had a FANTASTIC time today on our first backcountry tour. Eric was a wonderful, knowledgable and high-competent guide who truly made our day the best it could ever be. Thank you!
- Coleen Colahan
Quino is a wonderful guide - did a great job taking us up Cardiff pass, couple runs on the slopes north of the pass, and then back to Alta. Quino was great - easy going, set the right pace so that we could all keep up, picked a good route for us. Just perfect - many thanks for having him guide us.
- Harm Scherpbier
Just wanted to drop a quick note thanking you guys for setting me up with such a great guide yesterday! Colby was great and I had an amazing time in the snow. His expertise, professionalism and knowledge of the area was unprecedented.
- Paul Kronser
You have a great bunch of guys here with these individuals and I am sure the others in your organization are just as pleasant. From the office staff I spoke with to all the guides in the field.
- James Albritton
Utah Mountain Adventures
P.O. Box 521809
Salt Lake City, Utah 84152-1809
Phone: (801) 550 3986
Fax: (801) 486 8505
Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - Utah Mountain Adventures
Leave the crowds behind, and expand your skiing and snowboarding horizons! Traveling out-ofbounds, using climbing skins and alpine touring (AT) or telemark binding, or a split-board is becoming tremendously popular.
AT skis and splitboards are available for rent from UMA and local shops.
Touring is the perfect sport for those who hike or climb in summer and love to ski or snowboard in winter. Skinning facilitates approach and egress from peaks in winter and spring that would take far longer without. Solitude, cardio-vascular exercise, and adventurous runs are all part of the "off-piste" experience.
The Wasatch Range offers easy lift and trailhead access to deep, light snow in wide-open bowls, protected glades, and steep chutes.
Lift access is available from Alta, Brighton, The Canyons and Snowbird.
Trailhead access is available in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and Millcreek, etc.
A knowledgeable UMA guide will lead you into the finest snow and terrain. Our guides keep abreast of the avalanche, snow and weather conditions to choose the best tours. They take into consideration both your fitness level and downhill ability to select the appropriate routes for you.
UMA guides pace you and teach you how to travel uphill efficiently, working on rest-step and kick-turning techniques and progress only as fast as you feel comfortable. They give you plenty of time to rest, enjoy the view and take photos. UMA guides demonstrate how to transition between the uphill and downhill modes and teach as much about avalanche hazard evaluation, route finding and other skills as you want to learn.
Skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels improve techniques, discover new terrain, and build leadership skills.
For more information on backcountry skiing & snowboarding classes in the Salt Lake City, Utah area, please view our Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding Courses.
We also offer private Guided Backcountry Touring & Instruction in the Wasatch Range in and around the Salt Lake area.