Where Can I Learn Backcountry Skiing or Splitboarding Near Breckenridge, Summit County, or Monarch Pass, Colorado?
Ready to trade the resort for untracked snow and bigger mountain adventures?
Backcountry skiing and splitboarding open up a whole new world, but there's a lot more to it than putting on skins and heading uphill. Learning to travel in the backcountry means building the skills to understand avalanche conditions, recognize terrain hazards, make decisions with your partners, and know when it's time to change the plan.
That's where education comes in. VNTRbirds offers backcountry skiing, splitboarding, and avalanche education courses in Summit County, Colorado, and at Monarch Pass. We're a women-led outdoor education company creating femme-centered spaces where women and non-binary skiers and riders can build technical skills, ask questions, and find their people along the way.
Whether you're looking to build your backcountry skills in Summit County or near Monarch Pass, VNTRbirds offers courses to help you get started or continue developing your knowledge.
Where can you take a backcountry skiing and splitboarding course near Breckenridge or on Monarch Pass in Colorado?
Our femme-centered courses bring women and non-binary skiers and riders together to build backcountry skills, practice making informed decisions, and learn alongside experienced instructors and fellow mountain enthusiasts. Whether you're just getting started or looking to grow your existing skills, you'll gain practical experience and knowledge you can continue building on in the backcountry.
Course locations and dates vary by program, so explore the options to find the right fit for your experience and goals.
Ready to find your next adventure? Explore our backcountry courses and upcoming dates.
Which backcountry course should you take?
Not sure where to start? No worries. The right course depends on your experience, your goals, and what you already know about backcountry travel. Here's a quick breakdown to help you find your starting point.
Backcountry Basics: Build your foundation
Curious about backcountry skiing or splitboarding but not sure where to begin?
Backcountry Basics is an introduction to the skills, equipment, and knowledge you'll need to get started.
It's an opportunity to get familiar with backcountry travel and gear, learn foundational skills, and start understanding the decisions that go into a day outside the resort boundaries. If you're backcountry-curious and want to build a foundation before progressing into a full avalanche course, this is a great place to start.
Check the VNTRbirds backcountry course calendar for upcoming dates and locations.
AIARE Level 1: Learn avalanche hazard management
Ready to take a deeper dive into avalanche education? AIARE Level 1 helps you build a foundation in avalanche hazard management, terrain assessment, and decision-making.
You'll learn how to:
Recognize avalanche terrain and interpret avalanche forecasts.
Prepare for a backcountry trip and identify potential hazards.
Observe changing conditions and use those observations to inform decisions.
Communicate with your partners and make decisions as a group.
Practice companion rescue skills with an avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe.
VNTRbirds offers AIARE Level 1 courses in Summit County and at Monarch Pass. Our courses combine required online learning, a virtual session, and hands-on field days where you'll put what you're learning into practice.
Check out our AIARE Level 1 course for upcoming dates, locations, and registration details.
A note for beginners: AIARE Level 1 is about building a foundation in avalanche hazard management, terrain assessment, and group decision-making. You'll leave with a framework to keep practicing and developing your skills as you gain backcountry experience.
What skills do you need before heading into the backcountry?
Strong resort skiing or snowboarding skills are a great starting point, but backcountry travel asks you to bring a few more tools to the party. You'll need to think about the terrain, the snowpack, the weather, your equipment, and how your group makes decisions together.
Before heading out, consider whether you're comfortable with:
Skiing or riding in variable snow: Backcountry conditions aren't groomed, and snow can change dramatically throughout the day.
Using touring equipment: You'll need to understand your setup, whether that's skis with climbing skins or a splitboard.
Recognizing avalanche terrain: Understanding where avalanches can start, travel, and stop is a fundamental backcountry skill.
Using avalanche forecasts: Learn how to interpret the daily forecast and connect it to the terrain and conditions you're considering. https://avalanche.state.co.us/
Carrying rescue equipment: An avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe are essential, along with the knowledge and practice to use them.
Making decisions with your partners: Good communication, shared expectations, and the ability to speak up or change plans matter just as much as technical skills.
You don't need to have it all figured out before taking a course. That's the point of learning! The important thing is choosing a course that matches your experience and continuing to practice as your skills develop.
Why take a femme-centered backcountry course?
Learning technical mountain skills is about more than the curriculum. It's also about having the space to ask questions, try something new, learn from mistakes, and build confidence without feeling like you need to prove yourself.
At VNTRbirds, we're here for the skills and the people. Our femme-centered courses bring women and non-binary skiers and riders together to learn, challenge themselves, and build connections with others who want to spend more time in the mountains.
We believe good outdoor education should combine high-quality instruction with an environment where people feel comfortable participating, speaking up, and learning at their own pace. We welcome LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC participants and work to create spaces where more people can develop the skills and judgment to make informed decisions outdoors.
You'll leave with more than a list of things you learned. You'll have experience to build on, new connections, and a stronger foundation for your next steps in the backcountry.
Where do VNTRbirds backcountry courses take place?
VNTRbirds offers backcountry skiing, splitboarding, and avalanche education in two primary Colorado areas: Summit County, including the Breckenridge area, and Monarch Pass.
Summit County and Breckenridge: Convenient for skiers and riders based in or visiting Breckenridge and the surrounding Summit County communities. Courses in this area provide opportunities to develop backcountry skills in the central Colorado Rockies.
Monarch Pass: An additional course location for those looking to learn near the Monarch Pass area. VNTRbirds offers select backcountry and avalanche education programs here, giving participants another option beyond Summit County.
Not every course is offered at both locations, so check the individual course listing for the location, dates, and program details that fit your plans.
Planning a trip around your course? We recommend staying close to your scheduled course location to make getting to the field easier. Specific meeting points and trailhead locations are shared with participants before the course.
Browse our backcountry course calendar to compare upcoming dates and locations.
Ready to get out there?
The backcountry has a lot to offer, and learning how to travel in it thoughtfully is part of the adventure. You don't have to know everything on day one. Start with the right education, get comfortable with your equipment, practice your skills, and keep learning alongside people who share your stoke for the mountains.
Whether you're starting with Backcountry Basics, signing up for AIARE Level 1, refreshing your companion rescue skills, or continuing your avalanche education, VNTRbirds is here to help you build your skills and find your next adventure.
Find your next course: Explore VNTRbirds Backcountry Education
Questions about which course is right for you? Email VNTRbirds@gmail.com. We'll help you figure out where to start.
See you out there. 🪶
Photos: https://wildchildmedia.co/
