BC101: Introduction to backcountry skiing
Overview
BC101, an entry-level backcountry skiing course, is for skiers and snowboarders who are already comfortable on blue and black runs at a resort and want to learn to travel in the backcountry. It is ideal for those with little to no backcountry experience who want to gain a foundation in safety, navigation, and essential equipment use. Individuals considering this course should be in good physical shape and have strong downhill skiing skills, as they will be using touring gear and may encounter varied conditions.
Our beginner tours are designed to build your confidence, refine your technique, and answer questions in a supportive environment, especially if you have some gear and basic experience but want to improve. The tours help bridge the gap between having equipment and knowing how to confidently use it for a full day in the backcountry.
Recent avalanche education course completion, while preferred, is not a prerequisite as this tour is designed to learn basics of gear and over-the-snow traveling.
Access into the terrain is 100 % snowmobile unless you choose the Cat Bump option. See details below to make the right choice for you and your group. Better yet: Get on the phone with Ronnie at Reservations and go over the tours, mechanical access options, and local accomodation choices.
2–6 participants
1:6 guide-to-participant ratio
Licensed, professional & fun guides
The price displayed represents the final tour price, which includes 6 % Idaho state tax and 6 % booking fee. These are detailed as a separate amount during the check-out process.
A typical day
| 7:30 am | Meet Selkirk’s staff and guides at the Eastriver Road meeting area. Drive together to snowmobile parking area. |
| 8:00 am | Leave on snowmobiles. |
| 9:00 am | Arrive at the dome or a lower ski zone. |
| 2:00 pm | Last ascent. |
| 3:30 pm | Return to the snowmobile parking lot. |
Gear groups
We are happy to accommodate skiers and riders at any stage of their backcountry careers.
Gear group 1
You have your own ski touring or splitboarding set-up, even if you are brand-new to it. This introduction course is perfect for you!
Gear group 2
You have all of the equipment required to spend a day in the backcountry but are still a beginner in the activity with only some experience. This course will be great to answer questions, refine technique, and boost confidence.
Equipment list
Please come prepared with the following equipment:
| Item | Category | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardgoods | 25–35 L probably works for most people | ||
| hardgoods | (with AT bindings) | ||
| hardgoods | |||
| hardgoods | |||
| hardgoods | |||
| hardgoods | a modern model with three antennas; arrive with ≥ 80 % battery | ||
| hardgoods | |||
| hardgoods | made of metal, not plastic |
| Item | Category | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| wearables | |||
| wearables | such as a light- or mid-weight fleece | ||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | to wear over a shell during breaks | ||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | softshell or hardshell | ||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables | |||
| wearables |
| Item | Category | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| more physiological needs & comforts | |||
| more physiological needs & comforts | ≥ 1 L | ||
| more physiological needs & comforts | |||
| more physiological needs & comforts | |||
| more physiological needs & comforts | |||
| more physiological needs & comforts |
| Item | Category | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| small tools | |||
| small tools | (on your phone) | ||
| small tools | |||
| small tools | |||
| small tools | pooled together in a group, several can help with broken equipment | ||
| small tools | |||
| small tools | during spring temperatures when snow could stick to skins | ||
| small tools | |||
| small tools | such as Compeed & Leukotape | ||
| small tools | at least those tools that fit your own bindings | ||
| small tools |
The snowcat bump
There are some great advantages to backcountry skiing from the snowcat. Namely, it is a warm, mobile shelter with space for 11 guests that we use as the headquarters of the day. Additionally, it also allows for the a longer last run.
- After a short snowmobile ride, jump into the cat for a warm pre-tour meeting.
- Skin back to cat for a warm lunch spot.
- At the tour’s end, the cat will drop full pitch for a huge last run.
- All riders will snowmobile from the snowcat back down to the snowmobile parking lot.
On BC101 or Advanced tours we can use the snowcat to get to 6,000 ft and higher. We park it and go on tour only ascending 200 ft to summit Atlasta. When we do take our laps, we usually keep them to 500–800 ft vertical – much shorter than a normal snowcat run – because we either turn around when the snow changes or don’t want to extend the descent – and, therefore, the skin back up – too long. At the end of the day with a Snowcat Bump, the tail-guide will to drive the cat to a pick-up point along the snowcat road before the last ascent. The group then gets a long last run right to the cat. From the cat we will transfer to sleds to return to the parking area.
Choose options
Snowcat bump
Begin and finish like cat skiing with cozy rides up and back down.
Deep backcountry
Find yourself untrammeled by resort bustle in the wilds of the Selkirks.
Fresh tracks
Expansive terrain options on three aspects offer dream-runs every day.
FAQs
Mainly, yes. We will however, at our discretion, use snowmobiles and other OTS vehicles when practical and available.
Yes. The area is open to all, but it is not practical to join us for a tour unless you did a multi-day, self-supported overnight trip.
Yes, “sort of”: it would be on a groomed snowmobile trail. It would require some time across flat to slightly uphill sections, but it’s doable by the willing.
Yes: it is public land. We survived the Schweitzer clientele, and we’d be stoked to see properly equipped and experienced riders getting sweaty. Please just treat our commercial operation with respect.
We don’t: we coexist with our fellow sledders. We are snowmobilers, and we are professional, commercial skiers and riders with snowcats. For 21 seasons at Schweitzer, we’ve handled the balance adeptly. We think that by operating the same way, we will continue to reduce mitigate interactions.
Schweitzer is going into the snowcat skiing and snowmobiling business themselves. Powder magazine published an article in July 2024 on this topic.
Ken has another strong 10 yr in him and retains a ton of successful experiences as he developed a 78 run operation seeing thousands of guests and has made it into Year 22 without a major negative blemish. His passion for great skiing runs deep, and with the move, he has the freedom to affect the permit zone in ways that weren’t acceptable at their old location.
Yes. We will maintain our Professional membership with National Ski Patrol (Q057) and will stage a trained staff member to watch operations and lend assistance in times of need daily. We’re also always seeking NSP members to augment our support troops. Apply here.
The town of Coolin couldn’t be much cooler. It’s a very small lakeside town that’s pretty chill
in the winter. Most winter visitors are either bc shredders or sledders, so it makes for a
wonderful place to stay. It’s about 7 mi from the staging area and has all facilities to support
you. Powder magazine published an article in July
2024 on this topic.
Coolin on Google
Maps
As we’ll have two cats operating, we don’t see conflicts between the day group and scheduling for unguided groups that want to do custom arrangements.
We are approximately 135 mi / 3½ hr away from Big Red Cats. Other destinations:
- Silver Mountain: 110 mi / 2½ hr
- 49° North: 67 mi / 1½ hr
- Brundage: 345 mi / 6½ hr
- Soldier Mountain: 620 mi / 10 hr
- Coolin: 7 mi
- Priest River: 12 mi
- Schweitzer: 55 mi
- Spokane Int’la Airport: 77 mi
No, we do not offer equipment rental.
No, you must come prepared with your own backpack, avalanche transceiver (beacon), shovel, and probe. We highly recommend that you travel with replacement parts specific to your bindings, boots, and other equipment.
Yes. AIARE Rescue, Level 1, and Level 2 can be incorporated into your ski tour days. This is subject to scheduling before October 1 annually.
Yes. We’ve been fortunate to have semi- to good connectivity. We still suggest you download maps for offline use.
We recommend travel insurance policies with cancel-for-any-reason-coverage for peace of mind and reducing your exposure should you want to cancel due to conditions not being to your liking. We’ve selected a policy to consider.
Booking policies
Payment
All reservations must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Promotions & discounts
Any promotion or discount must be redeemed only by calling reservations directly. No promotion and/or discount will be applied after the reservation has been made and full payment has been received.
Cancellations & reservation changes
Cancellations
Any cancellation made within 21 days of the scheduled tour date are 100 % non-refundable – no exceptions for any reason, not even airline delays, road closures, family emergencies, personal injury, etc. We encourage all guests to consider purchasing travel insurance with enhanced coverage (one with a cancel for any reason rider) through an outside provider such as InsureMyTrip.
Reservation changes
You may request date changes to your tour date outside of 21 days of your booking. Changes to your reservation are subject to availability and may incur an administrative fee of $100 per person.
Tour cancellations due to mechanical issues or unsafe conditions
Selkirk Powder Company has no control over Mother Nature. We tour in sun, snow, rain, wind, or any combination of interesting weather. It is, after all, an alpine environment. Be prepared, and dress accordingly. SPC reserves the right to cancel a tour for mechanical, weather, safety, personal or any other circumstance. You will be issued a full or partial credit valid for 1 year from the original tour date. No refunds will be issued. If your tour is cancelled multiple times, your credit still expires after 1 year – no extensions will be applied.
SPC reserves the right at any time, and at its sole discretion, to modify any policies set out above, with or without notice other than publishing such modifications on our website. It is your responsibility to review policies on our website for updates and/or changes. Your reservation and/or use of our services following any such policy modification constitutes your acceptance of any modified policy.
To ensure you get the dates and size of group you want, we encourage you to book as soon as your dates are established. Some of our guests make their reservations up to a year in advance, so don’t wait too long to contact us.
Payment in full is due at the time of booking.
If you prefer, tips can be added at the time of booking. The typical tipping amount in the industry is 10–20 % of the total tour cost: the same as you would extend for service in a restaurant or similar setting. At Selkirk Powder, tips are pooled and shared among guides, snowcat drivers (for snowcat trips), and your reservations agent.
You may request date changes to your tour date outside of 21 days of your booking. Changes to your reservation are subject to availability and may incur an administrative fee of $100 per person. We recommend trip insurance policies with cancel for any reason for peace of mind and reducing your exposure should you want to cancel due to conditions not being to your liking.
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