Ski & Boarding Adventures
Join MountainGeist on guided backcountry ski and split-board tours of Bear Valley’s local backcountry. Breathtaking 360-degree views of the Sierra high country keep you occupied as you ‘skin’ up local favorite peaks away from the crowds of the resort. You will then be rewarded with fresh descents, carving your own line down virgin powder!
The terrain offers variations for all ability levels from moderate to extreme, even within the same group. Every day is new with different conditions and many fantastic lines to explore. Book a day or book a weekend to explore more advanced terrain or longer back-to-back tours. Multi-day tour options are also possible for the adventure seekers.
These tours are designed for advanced skiers and boarders with their own touring equipment that wish to be introduced into backcountry skiing & boarding under the tutelage of an expert guide. All skiing is off-piste – there are no groomed runs in backcountry!
MountainGeist also offers backcountry workshops for those interested in building the skills necessary to do it themselves – please call to inquire.
CALL TO BOOK NOW!
EXPERIENCE
Back Country Ski & Boarding Tour
ACTIVITY
Ski & Board Tour
DESTINATION
Stanislaus National Forest, High Sierra
SEASON
Winter-Spring
DURATION
Full Day: 6 - 8 Hours
CHALLENGE
Moderate
SOLITUDE
Less Traveled
PRICE
From $140 PP, lunch included
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Expert Ski Guide trained in Avalanche Safety
First Aid kit carried by guide trained in wilderness first aid
Guide will carry all necessary navigational tools (map, compass, GPS)
Water at trailhead (bottle/s)
Light trail snacks – may contain nuts
Bag Lunch (on full day experiences only)
USFS permits and guiding fees (does not include park entrance fees)
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Guide Gratuities
Transportation to/from trailhead (we will caravan from a central meeting location)
SNO-PARK Pass (where appropriate and driving separately)
Please call for equipment rental options for specialized gear
WHAT TO BRING
Highly Recommended
Participants will need to bring their own alpine touring set-up or split board including climbing skins, boots, poles and helmet
All participants need avalanche safety equipment including a shovel, probe and digital beacon. Limited gear is available for rent
Day pack to carry personal items, food and water
Comfortable outdoor weatherproof clothing including warm gloves
Sunscreen (SPF 30+) and SPF rated lip balm
Sun hat and Sunglasses and/or ski googles
Headlamp
WHAT TO BRING
Optional
Camera
Sunglasses (google can fog up when ascending)
Personal water bottle or hydration pack (1-liter minimum recommended)
Additional trail snacks (especially those with dietary restrictions or allergies)
Personal medication
Nitty Gritty Details
Scheduled Days of Experience
Backcountry ski and snowboard experiences are offered winter and early spring on weekends and holidays as snow conditions allow. Call to book. Private experiences may be booked during the week days with prior arrangement. Also inquire about alpine touring and side-country workshops to enhance your knowledge.
Meeting Time and Place
Upon booking, you will be provided an exact time and meeting location which will can be tailored up or down the highway 4 corridor to accommodate our guests.
Transportation
All transport to and from the trailhead will be in your personal vehicle. The group will caravan together from the meeting location to the trailhead. A SNO-PARK pass will most likely be required which you will need to purchase separately – we’ll let you know where you can obtain these if necessary.
Duration
The duration of the experience from leaving the trailhead is approximately 6-8 hours which can be tailored to the groups desire. The drive from Murphys to the Trail Head is approximately 1 hour (one-way) in the winter and will require chains or All-Wheel Drive (or 4WD) and snow tires. A high clearance vehicle is suggested such as an SUV.
Challenge and Terrain
Moderate – The experience is rated as moderate however we can expand the difficulty as individuals desire to Extreme, even within the same group by allowing a choice of descents. Trailhead elevation is ~7,000 feet. During the day, we will travel 5-10 miles with elevation gains up to 2,000 feet (or more if desired). The terrain lends itself to a wide variety of abilities. Expect varying snow conditions, even on the same trip. We would encourage participants with an advanced level of ski or boarding ability to participate in this experience (off-piste – there are no groomed runs in the backcountry), although you do not need backcountry tour experience – that’s what the guide if for!
Solitude
Less-Traveled - In these less-traveled areas, you may occasionally encounter other individuals or small groups, but you will have the backcountry to yourself for much of the experience.
Group Size
You may expect anywhere from two to eight other ‘adventurers’ on your shared experience. Private experiences are also available.
Minimum Age
Generally, we encourage each participant to consider their ability in meeting the “challenge” level outlined in each experience rather than adhering to strict age limits. While we recommend a minimum age of 16 on this experience, we would consider younger ages with advanced ski or boarding experience.
Trip Packet
Shortly before the scheduled day of the experience, a trip packet will be sent to the contact email who booked the experience. You will be provided trip details, trailhead information, weather forecast update, and reminders on what to pack and what to expect. You will also receive a liability waiver and a few other items to fill out prior to the day of the experience which will be returned via email or delivered in person to the guide at the meeting location.
Security
As with parking in any remote location, we encourage you to leave any valuables at home and lock anything remaining of value in your trunk or out of site. Due to wildlife considerations, we discourage leaving food or scented items in your vehicle. There are generally no bear boxes at the trailheads where we will be parking, so leave what you don’t need on the ride at your home, hotel or rental.
Park Entry Fees
A SNO-PARK pass will most likely be required which you will need to purchase separately – we’ll let you know where you can obtain these if necessary.
Lodging
Need recommendations for lodging before or after your experience? Don’t hesitate to call us and we can help provide information.
Pricing Details
This experience is open to the public and single participants will join a larger group.
Pricing per person (PP) based on number of people in booking party (not total group size).
Discounts provided to parties booking with 2 or more people.
“Solo” pricing option available on experiences that do not book multiple participants (it does not refer to a private experience).
Non-refundable deposit required upon booking. $25 per person for open trips or 20% of the total price for private trips.
Private group experience upgrade fee of $200 per group.
Call for details about private groups, corporate events and custom experiences
Cancellation Policy
Refunds offered up to 48-hours in advance of all day or half-day trips (7-days in advance of all multi-day trips) less the non-refundable deposit unless cancelled by MountainGeist in which a full refund or credit will be offered.
Single-participant, non-private experiences (public experiences that only book a single participant), will have the option to either upgrade to a “solo” price experience or cancel 48-hours in advance with a full refund. The “solo” option may be designated at time of booking as well.
Pricing
SOLO OPTION
$350
1 PERSON
$195 / PP
2-3 PEOPLE
$175 / PP
4+ PEOPLE
$140 / PP
UNDER 12
N/A
TRIPS OFFERED: Back Country Ski & Boarding
| ROUND VALLEY TOUR: Mount Reba | Moderate to Advanced |
| ROUND VALLEY TOUR: Round Valley | Moderate to Advanced |
| ROUND VALLEY TOUR: Underwood and Lake Valley | Advanced |
| BEAR TRAP BASIN: Bear Trap Cabin | Moderate to Advanced |
| BEAR VALLEY SKI AREA: Lift-Assisted Sidecuntry | Moderate |