Covid measures in Whitefish, Montana

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity. We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Whitefish, Montana, please refer to the Montana Governor’s Coronavirus Task Force website . Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get in this adventure: An experienced, certified guide with extensive knowledge of the area A virtual check-in and introduction into the course A full 2 days in the field What’s not included: Technical backcountry ski touring equipment Transportation Accommodation Food and snacks

How fit do I need to be?

In order to get the most of this adventure, you need to have a moderate level of fitness. You will be on your feet for a full day. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain. Prerequisites: You don’t need to be an advanced skier or boarder, but you do need to be able to ascend moderate slopes using skins. All participants should be comfortable traveling in snow while carrying touring gear. There are no other prerequisites.

What equipment do I need to bring?

For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring: Alpine touring, telemark, or snowboarding boots (can be rented) Skis or splitboard with compatible binding for boots (can be rented) Climbing skins (can be rented) Ski poles (can be rented) Basic avalanche safety gear (can be rented) Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon Lightweight snow shovel Avalanche probe For personal items, we recommend bringing: Helmet – optional Long sleeve synthetic — medium to expedition weight long underwear Softshell or fleece jacket Shell jacket with a hood Puffy jacket with a hood Synthetic or wool long underwear bottoms Shell pants — full side zips and built-in gaiters Socks — synthetic or wool, sized for your boots and blister protection Liners — optional, but recommended Gloves – 3 pairs: 1 light, 1 medium, 1 heavy pair Medium weight ski hat Baseball hat or visor for sun Buff or a neck gaiter Backpack (30-40 liter ski pack) Thermos or insulated water bottle Food you can eat-on-the-go Sunglasses Ski goggles Extra prescription glasses/contact lenses Sunscreen Lip balm Headlamp and extra batteries Laptop computer Camera — optional

Can I rent equipment?

All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent: Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe can be rented from your guide Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from your guide Splitboards can be rented from your guide Ski rental locations are in Whitefish and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and prices: This course is not private. For the group courses, the usual guest-to-guide ratio is 6:1. Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows. Ski touring in Whitefish can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to Whitefish, most people fly into Glacier Park International Airport 15 minutes away from Whitefish. From there, you can rent a car or take a train. Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. From there, you’ll head to your tour. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ski ability of the group.

Whitefish | Montana

AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Course in Whitefish

5.00

From $495 ()

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Intro
Itinerary
Brochure
Reviews
Things to know

Duration

3 days

Season

December through January

Group size

Up to 6 people

Those prepared to rough out the fog and bitter cold of winter in Whitefish, Montana, can expect to find some of the finest backcountry skiing and boarding in the “last best place on Earth”. Whitefish permeates a rough sort of charm—you don’t go there for five-star luxury ski resorts, you go there for the cheap lodging, the great pancakes, and the miles upon miles of ungroomed powder. However, the Montana backcountry can be treacherous, and the threat of an avalanche always looms over those who choose to trade the resort for the wilderness. And if things go south, you should be ready. Take an AIARE Level 1 Course in Whitefish and master the fundamentals of avalanche safety while blazing your own trail down some crazy slopes.

Adventure highlights

Improve your skillset on 3,000 skiable acres of quality light dry powder
Amazing views of Blackhead Lake make learning avalanche safety a treat
Enjoy some breathtaking descents in Whitefish’s winter wonderland

From $495 ()

Got questions or need a private booking?

Book a call

Highlighted reviews from other travellers

John H.

JHMG knows their stuff! My instructors provided a wealth of knowledge for us to learn from and an awesome attitude that kept everyone stoked!

Clinton C.

Very professional! Excellent instructors with a wealth of knowledge and most importantly, they know how to facilitate growth of one’s mountain sense.

Ben W.

Knowledgeable instructors and in a setting that inspires. I learned a lot during my course and look forward to putting my new knowledge to use exploring on snow in the Tetons and beyond.

Show all reviews

Itinerary

Download itinerary

Refine your avalanche safety knowledge and become a safer, more competent backcountry adventurer with this AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course. Learn or review the fundamentals of avalanche safety under the guidance of an experienced instructor. The one-of-a-kind setting of the Blacktail Ski Area provides the ideal learning environment, and the snow and slope quality will guarantee an unforgettable learning experience!

AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Course in Whitefish

Adventure Brochure

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If you have questions or need help with planning a trip, schedule a call with one of our adventure experts.

Meet your guide

5.00

The Mountain Guides

The Mountain Guides have been leading desert and mountain adventures in the Western U.S. since 1968. They offer the unique experience of discovering the vertical world with some of America's most experienced mountain guides. Accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), they run everything from climbing courses to ski mountaineering. People of all ages who seek outdoor adventure can find the Mountain Guides’ program appropriate for their ambitions.

5.00(3 reviews)

John H.

JHMG knows their stuff! My instructors provided a wealth of knowledge for us to learn from and an awesome attitude that kept everyone stoked!

Clinton C.

Very professional! Excellent instructors with a wealth of knowledge and most importantly, they know how to facilitate growth of one’s mountain sense.

Ben W.

Knowledgeable instructors and in a setting that inspires. I learned a lot during my course and look forward to putting my new knowledge to use exploring on snow in the Tetons and beyond.

Show all reviews

John H.

JHMG knows their stuff! My instructors provided a wealth of knowledge for us to learn from and an awesome attitude that kept everyone stoked!

Clinton C.

Very professional! Excellent instructors with a wealth of knowledge and most importantly, they know how to facilitate growth of one’s mountain sense.

Ben W.

Knowledgeable instructors and in a setting that inspires. I learned a lot during my course and look forward to putting my new knowledge to use exploring on snow in the Tetons and beyond.

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Whitefish, Montana, please refer to the Montana Governor’s Coronavirus Task Force website.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
- - An experienced, certified guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - A virtual check-in and introduction into the course
  - A full 2 days in the field
What’s not included:
- - Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
  - Transportation
  - Accommodation
  - Food and snacks
In order to get the most of this adventure, you need to have a moderate level of fitness. You will be on your feet for a full day. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

Prerequisites:
You don’t need to be an advanced skier or boarder, but you do need to be able to ascend moderate slopes using skins. All participants should be comfortable traveling in snow while carrying touring gear. There are no other prerequisites.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
- - Alpine touring, telemark, or snowboarding boots (can be rented)
  - Skis or splitboard with compatible binding for boots (can be rented)
  - Climbing skins (can be rented)
  - Ski poles (can be rented)
  - Basic avalanche safety gear (can be rented)
    
    Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
    
    Lightweight snow shovel
    
    Avalanche probe
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
- - Helmet – optional
  - Long sleeve synthetic — medium to expedition weight long underwear
  - Softshell or fleece jacket
  - Shell jacket with a hood
  - Puffy jacket with a hood
  - Synthetic or wool long underwear bottoms
  - Shell pants — full side zips and built-in gaiters
  - Socks — synthetic or wool, sized for your boots and blister protection
  - Liners — optional, but recommended
  - Gloves – 3 pairs: 1 light, 1 medium, 1 heavy pair
  - Medium weight ski hat
  - Baseball hat or visor for sun
  - Buff or a neck gaiter
  - Backpack (30-40 liter ski pack)
  - Thermos or insulated water bottle
  - Food you can eat-on-the-go
  - Sunglasses
  - Ski goggles
  - Extra prescription glasses/contact lenses
  - Sunscreen
  - Lip balm
  - Headlamp and extra batteries
  - Laptop computer
  - Camera — optional
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
- - Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe can be rented from your guide
  - Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from your guide
  - Splitboards can be rented from your guide
Ski rental locations are in Whitefish and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and prices:
- - This course is not private. For the group courses, the usual guest-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
  - Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.
Ski touring in Whitefish can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
To get to Whitefish, most people fly into Glacier Park International Airport 15 minutes away from Whitefish. From there, you can rent a car or take a train.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. From there, you’ll head to your tour. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ski ability of the group.
Cancel within 48 hours of booking your trip for free, no questions asked. If you need to change your plans up to 31 days ahead of your scheduled adventure, we offer a full refund on most trips. Within 31 days we offer free date changes or the option to convert your booking to credit to use on any 57hours adventure at a later date.