Backcountry Skiing 101 Course, Salt Lake City

Backcountry Skiing 101 Course, Salt Lake City, Utah (Wasatch Range)- Learn the skills needed to efficiently and enjoyably travel in the backcountry! This course provides students with a solid foundation of skills which enables them to travel more safely and make informed decisions in the backcountry. SIET programs are unique in that the class size is small, which allows the instructors to customize the course to specific student goals and provide more one-on-one coaching. Each course is taught by guides with decades of experience in the field. 

BC Ski 101 at a Glance

  • Location: Salt Lake City, Utah — Wasatch Range.
  • Tuition: $200, Scholarships available.
  • Format: One full field day, approximately 1-3 hours of self-paced online learning, and a live online check-in before your field weekend.
  • Who it’s for: Skiers and split-boarders seeking a foundation in backcountry awareness and backcountry decision-making. You should be comfortable skiing or riding blue runs in variable snow and fit enough to ascend 1,000 vertical feet per day. See all prerequisites below.

Choose Dates and Register Here:


 

All of our courses cover curriculum that meets and exceeds the guidelines of the American Avalanche Association and is equivalent to an equivalent AIARE course. 

 

 

Course Topics and Learning Outcomes:

  • Learn to read the avalanche advisory and apply it in the backcountry
  • Learn how to use touring and avalanche equipment
  • Learn fundamentals of beacon use 
  • Identify avalanche terrain in the field.
  • Choose terrain appropriate for the current avalanche forecast and avoid avalanche problems.
  • Describe where and why avalanches occur
  • Human Factors: Apply decision making tools to prepare for traveling in avalanche terrain.
  • Apply risk management tools: safety equipment, trailhead checks, and communication.

Dates and Logistics, Winter 2026/27 

This course will have 1 field session, a virtual check-in via Zoom the Tuesday before the field dates, and about 1-3 hours of online learning that you can complete at your own pace anytime before the course begins. Please note this course has prerequisites, see below for details.

Choose Dates and Register Here:

Prerequisites: Students must be able to comfortably ski/board a ‘blue square’ run in western resorts in any condition, including powder, crust, chunder, etc. You must also be fit enough to climb 1,000 feet of vertical per day and still have the energy to ski/board back down safely. Snow shoes, nordic gear (cross country), and snow machines are not an option for SIET courses (contact us if you need to find a course provider that specializes in those modes of travel, we’d be happy to help!).

 

Required Gear List (same as Avi L1): Gear List

 

Avalanche Level 1 Course Salt Lake City Utah

Mount Superior, the core of the Wasatch Range. Home to world-class backcountry skiing..and powerful avalanches!

Scholarships Available:

SIET offers a number of scholarships to help folks receive the training they need. Please check the Scholarships Page for more info.

Cancellation Policy:

If you need to cancel 60 days prior to the course, you will be given a full refund. Cancellations that occur after 60 days will not receive a refund and students can not transfer to another course. The course may also be cancelled due to bad weather, sickness, low enrollment, or other logistical challenges, in which case the course will be rescheduled or students will be given a credit or refund. 

  • Rentals available from evo.com, please make your request 10 days before the course start date

  • Transportation not provided; all wheel drive and/or chains sometimes required by law in the Wasatch, plan accordingly.