It’s the last day of our final AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Course here in Durango and the San Juan Mountains. It’s been a great course so far, with a very strong group of participants including many guides and pro patrolers. And it’s dumping snow again, with another 4 – 8 inches predicted in the high…
Join Colorado Wild, Pine Needle Mountaineering and Southwest Adventure Guides for the 2nd Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival In Durango, Colorado. When: Sunday, March 21 – 7:00 pm Where: Smiley Theater – 1309 E. Third Ave, Durango, CO How: Advance Tickets At Pine Needle Mountaineering: $10 Adults, $8 Students, or at the Door: $15 Adults,…
One of our last AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Courses of the season had 8 motivated students from as close as Durango and as far away as Los Alamos, NM. As is typical of our Level 1 Avalanche Course, we began with a full day of classroom activities and presentations, during which participants had the opportunity…
February was a busy month in the San Juans, with numerous ice courses/trips, avalanche courses, and backcountry skiing days. Among those trips, was a 2 day Intermediate Ice Course that we conducted in both the Ouray Ice Park and the popular Skylight area. Four great friends came for 2 days of ice training amidst some…
Check out these videos of backcountry skiing and avalanche coursework in the San Juans with our guides and instructors. The footage is provided by our friends at IDTV and thanks to our sponsors RAB, Osprey, and BCA!
Though snow conditions were tough, Dana and I still had a great Introduction to winter mountaineering course this last weekend. Day one consisted of Dana slaying it on the vertical ice of Cascade Canyon where he learned the basics of belaying, rope work, and climbing techniques. Day two we made our way to over 11,000…
This last weekend’s Level 1 AIARE avalanche course was a huge success. The recent storm that rocked Southwest Colorado and the San Juan Mountains left us a great snowpack to play with during this course. After our classroom day of great learning, we ventured up toward Cascade Canyon north of Durango Mountain Resort to practice…
Last week, Ari and Alex joined us for a 3 day blast of ice climbing in Silverton and Ouray. On the first day of our trip, we decided on a climb of Whorehous Ice Hose. The conditions on Whorehouse are superb this year, and the 3 of us had a great day on the climb. …
Last weekend’s Level 1 Avalanche course was a huge success. We had numerous folks from around the four corners come for three days of avalanche education. The weather was beautiful with some cold mornings and clear, blue sky days to make for a educational and enjoyable course. After the first day of learning in the…
The Southwest Adventure Guides ski posse had a great time exploring the skiing conditions in the alpine. This was organized as an intentional opportunity to share tricks of the trade while getting out and enjoying the skiing of the San Juans. We all met in Silverton for our guides meeting over coffee, and then carpooled…
Last week long time client Valari W. joined us for 3 days of ice climbing in the San Juans. We spent 2 days in Silverton’s Eureka Canyon climbing a few of the classics, most notably Whorehouse Ice Hose and Stairway to Heaven. Both climbs are in super shape, with many choices in terms of which…
Last week’s AIARE Level 1 Avalanche course was a huge success. Four motivated individuals came out mid-week to improve their avalanche knowledge and skills. There was a great mix of experience levels in the group including a professional skier, a competitive park rider, a recreational snowboarder, and a mountaineer. During the course, we had an…
The end of the year brought snow, cold, and another successful winter mountaineering course in the beautiful San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Six aspiring mountaineers from Chicago to Texas to Colorado are now ready for bigger, bolder, and more committing climbs after successfully completing our four day Introduction to Winter Mountaineering course. Day one consisted…
A spell of high pressure in December means it’s time to get high in the back country. Mark U. and I warmed up on the East side of McMillan and found virgin powder. Me donning Black Diamond Verdicts and Mark on his K2 Coombas, we floated down Northeast facing slopes towards Cement Creek. Day two…
December has been a great month for snow, especially in the Southern San Juans between Coal Bank and Red Mountain Passes. More great news for ski conditions in the high country. Check out this storm profile! A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST WEDNESDAY. * PERIODS OF SNOW… HEAVY AT TIMES……
On Saturday the 19th and Monday the 21st, SWAG guide Gary Falk led one of our past Level 1 Avalanche Course particpants, and veteran of the ski the peaks program, on a couple of days of Backcountry Skiing in the San Juan high country. They experienced generally stable conditions on both days, culminating in a…
Last week we conducted our first SWAG Ski Guide Training for all of our Backcountry Ski Guides here in the San Juans. We will conduct an additional training in the month of March, prior to the start of our spring skiing season. Guide training and certification is something we take quite seriously at Southwest Adventure…
Last week Ari and I continued the ice climbing progression we began working on last season. At the end of last year, I had given him a number of training exercises to maintain good fitness for ice climbing season. Happily, the training seemed to work out very well as he was able to “hit the…
We are proud to announce our new partnership with Backcountry Access, makers of the finest selection of avalanche beacons and gear in North America. Backcountry Access is owned and run by dedicated backcountry skiers and snowboarders that live for fresh lines. Their passions are ski touring and innovation. They constantly strive to break new ground…
We all gathered at the office today to discuss training dates and refine skills prior to the start of another busy winter season of guiding in the San Juans. The snow has been falling at a steady rate all day, which bodes well for the snowpack up in the mountains. Our first AIARE Level 1…