Ski Mountaineering

Sunrise through the metronome rhythm of your boots connecting with your skis. Frost builds on your hat with each exhale into the cold morning air. Legs warm up and ease into the comfortable strain of skinning up hill. The sound of your climbing skins being pulled off your skis always gets the heart pounding and mind wandering to the turns to come. Ski Mountaineering brings it all together; scenic alpine beauty, the challenge of climbing with skis, and remote turns in pristine powder.

Whether you want to learn the “ropes” of ski mountaineering locally on Mt. Washington, ski perfect B.C. powder in the Selkirk Mountains, ski the monster couloirs in Alaska, or experience the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt Mahoney Alpine Adventures can make it happen for you.

New Hampshire and Vermont Ski Mountaineering

Intro to Ski Mountaineering: Mahoney Alpine Adventures Intro to Ski Mountaineering Course in the White Mountains will take you from lift resort skiing to backcountry skiing independent of lift lines. The course can be run from one day to three days based on individual interest and time. This course is specifically designed to offer the experience of backcountry skiing to people who want more of a wilderness skiing experience. During the course you will learn the fundamentals of skinning and track setting for going up as well as avalanche terrain assessment. We will also focus on down skiing in terrain that is not groomed or maintained. Mount Washington is the Mecca for East Coast ski mountaineering. Areas such as the Gulf of Slides, Tuckerman’s Ravine and Huntington’s Ravine are the go to places. Gear rentals are available upon request.

Private courses are available ratios are run up to 4:1.

Advanced Ski Mountaineering:

This course is specifically designed for people who take skiing seriously! The Advanced Ski Mountaineering course will focus on steep skiing and how to manage the terrain. Belayed skiing and rappelling with skis as well as climbing with skis on your back are common. The course utilizes the steepest terrain in Tuckerman’s Ravine and the gully’s of Huntington’s Ravine.

Private courses are available or 2:1 ratio only.

Avalanche Awareness:

Snow kills and knowledge is your only weapon. This course is designed to tune in your awareness to the hazards of avalanche terrain and keeping yourself safe. The curriculum is based on AAIRE level 1 curriculum.

Private or group courses are available.

International Ski Mountaineering

Haute Route: Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland on skis what else needs to be said? This is an all time ski mountaineering classic. The route takes seven days and has spectacular views and skiing. Individuals need to have some ski mountaineering background, working knowledge of transceiver use and good fitness. MAA can train you for a spring trip to the Alps during the winter and then guide you on the ski trip of a lifetime.

Groups are encouraged at a 4:1 ratio and privates are welcome.

Alaska Ski Mountaineering

Ruth Gorge Ski tour: Ski touring on the spectacular Ruth Glacier in the Alaska Range is one of the absolute must do adventures that any ski enthusiast should experience. Numerous granite peaks rise a mile above the glacier. Many of the peaks have shear south and east faces but offer opportunities to ski down the north side. The gorge is located twenty miles south east of Denali and the flight to the gorge is worth the trip alone.

Groups are encouraged at a 4:1 ratio and privates are welcome.