MOUNTAIN MOVEMENT COURSES

Mountain Movement (n.) - the practice of moving through mountainous terrain using specialized physical techniques, equipment, and route-finding strategies to maintain efficiency, balance, and safety over uneven, steep, or rugged ground.

You won’t find this definition in the dictionary. And you won’t find courses like this anywhere else. After over a decade of working and recreating in the mountains, we’ve come to understand the most fundamental, and most under-addressed skillset people are introduced to is simply, movement. We’re here to change that.

“Mastering” mountain travel is about more than theory. You can’t fully grasp terrain management, snowpack, or avalanche concepts if you’re struggling with basic movement skills.” - Lead Guide, Sammy Rubin

Our 2 Day Mountain Movement Courses will teach you how to move confidently and efficiently in the backcountry terrain you want to explore. You’ll walk away with solid movement fundamentals, an expanded sense of self, and heightened spatial and situational awareness in mountainous terrain.

What is Beginner Mountain Movement?

If you’re new to backcountry touring - this course is for you!

Day 1: We’ll dial in our gear and master basic movement techniques, like skinning, kick turns, and skiing/riding unpredictable backcountry snow.

Day 2: We’ll expand on our skills by moving through lots of different types of terrain and develop our spatial awareness skills in the backcountry. We’ll explore terrain identification and basic navigation, and relate it all back to making safe, smart travel decisions.

Beginner

“Not your average Intro Course, that's for sure! I loved having a whole day to just focus on movement. Sammy was super patient, and had tons of tips that were super helpful for a small person like me. I felt like I walked away more connected to my body and way more confident. I’ll be back for more!”

- Brooke R.

  • Day 1: Gear & Movement

    • Intro to Backcountry Gear

      • We’ll make sure our gear is dialed, and learn how to transition it all from uphill mode to downhill mode and vice versa.

    • Intro to Mountain Movement (uphill)

      • Skinning - We’ll go over efficient skinning techniques, and focus on mastering our body mechanics to maximize our input. We’ll practice:

        • Rounded Turns, AVA Turns, and Kick Turns

        • “Side-hilling”

        • Skinning Downhill/Split-skiing

    • Intro to Mountain Movement (downhill)

      • Ski/Ride - We’ll go over different strategies for skiing/riding in unpredictable and unknown snow conditions. We’ll practice moving on our backcountry set ups, and skiing/riding with packs on, which will all feel very different than riding at a ski resort.

    Day 2: Safety, Awareness & Movement

    • Understanding Time, Place, & Space in Winter Mountain Environments

      • Terrain ID - We’ll get a feel for Slope Angle and Terrain Type as we move through various types of terrain throughout the day. We’ll discuss visual cues, and what terrain is and isn’t avalanche terrain.

      • Basic Navigation - We’ll go over basic navigation techniques so we can make sure we’ll always have an idea of where we are in time, place, and space in the backcountry. With no pre-established trails, ever-changing conditions, and various skin tracks you could follow, it’s essential to know where YOU are in relation to where YOU need to be.

  • This course is for beginners!

    0 - 5 Backcountry Tours

    Moderate Fitness

    Intermediate Skier/Rider (comfortable skiing/riding blue terrain off-piste)

  • Truckee:

    December 6 - December 7, 2026

    January 15 - January 16, 2026

  • $495 Per Person

SIGN UP

What is Advanced Mountain Movement?

If you’re an experienced backcountry skier/splitboarder and looking to ski/ride in steep terrain, this course is for you!

Day 1: We’ll dial in our **advanced movement techniques in steep terrain. We’ll practice advanced skinning, bootpacking, self-arrest, and how to ski/ride in high consequence, high exposure environments.

**we’ll practice these skills in a supervised, low risk, low consequence setting

Day 2: We’ll expand on our skills with an appropriate progression of movement into steeper terrain. We’ll integrate movement skills with decision-making, risk assessment and hazard evaluation. We’ll dive into strategies to balance fear, confidence, and humility, so we can make smart travel decisions in the backcountry.

Advanced

  • Day 1 - Advanced Movement Skills

    Day 2 - Balancing Skill, Hazard, & Risk

  • Description text goes here

  • Description text goes here
SIGN UP

When movement becomes second nature, your decision-making gets sharper, your awareness expands, and your learning deepens.