Backcountry Leaders Initiative

Considering the lack of BIPOC AIARE instructors & ski/snowboard guides, this is a free mentorship program.

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Climbers of Color’s Backcountry Leaders Initiative provides mentorship for those seeking to further their backcountry skills to become certified AIARE instructors, pursue backcountry ski/snowboard guiding, or seek general advancement of their decision-making and communication skills.

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Considering the lack of BIPOC AIARE instructors & ski/snowboard guides, this is a free mentorship program. Cohort size varies yearly. Applicants must be intermediate backcountry snowboarders and skiers*. The program will run from January 2025 - April/ May 2025. Outcomes for this program may look like the following: 

• Improved forecast interpretation and application skills

• Improved confidence traveling in ATES advanced and complex terrain

• Improved confidence traveling in, leading/ participating in groups in new snowpacks

• Volcano/big mountain touring efficiencies and introduction

• Pro-1 2025/2026 application

• AIARE 2025/2026 Instructor Trainer Course application

• Introduction to technical skills for ski-mountaineering/ split-mountaineering

 

*Note: 

Climbers of Color recognizes various factors that create an intermediate ability level. Rigid prerequisites are outlined below; any further questions or concerns may be directed to cal@climbersofcolor.org.

 

Prerequisites:

• AIARE I certified (may be taken this season) 

• 2 or more seasons of backcountry travel with at least 5 days/ season

• Familiarity with avalanche forecasting websites

• Backcountry travel gear & familiarity with applications

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Potential Volcano Prerequisites:

• 1,000'/hour ascent pace with day-pack

• Overnight gear

  • sleeping bag; pad; etc.​

• Ski/split-board crampons

• Boot crampons that fit properly

• Harness

• 2 locking carabiners

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Updates for '24/'25 season

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For the ‘24-’25 season, BLI will add new components of communal mentorship to the program to sharpen the leadership skills of the cohort and give a hand up to those new to the sport. In support of a mentorship ecosystem, cohort members will be expected to participate in at least 2 community events throughout the season. I encourage you to coordinate with the other members to align with your strengths so that you may share your knowledge for the event you chose IG. If you have particularly savvy navigation skills, sign up for a navigation night via Zoom; if you are a split-boarder, please sign up for a split-boarding outing. Community touring days may also count toward the required 2-days of mentorship. 

Community touring days can be anything the cohort leader aspires to lead and may be joined by anyone who signs up; however, the cohort leader(s) must conduct the bulk of the tour planning and/or field leadership. Multiple community touring days can occur on the same day; for example, one group may head to Pineapple Pass while another explores terrain on Snoqualmie Mountain or wherever the designated leader(s) can execute a safe, detailed plan and get other community members to join. The participants do not have to be a part of the BLI, they can be your friends or normal touring buddies however, you are encouraged to provide mentorship to BIPOC community members to further your knowledge gained from this program.

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All cohort members are encouraged to schedule their respective community touring days/ events if they are separate from the dates outlined below. Anticipate coordinating this over Slack - the BLI primary hub of communication.

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Course FAQs:

 

• I have all the prerequisites except for an AIARE I, can I still apply?

  • If you can receive AIARE I certification this season, yes! Scholarship availability will be updated by 1/10, either for a CoC-operated course or a scholarship provided for you to attend with another guide service.

 

• What if I do not want to become an AIARE instructor &/or ski/snowboard guide?

  • I (Cal’ S.) encourage you to re-think this! There are very few BIPOC AIARE educators and backcountry guides. Let’s work to change this together!

 

• What if this is my first season of backcountry travel, but I am a big shredder?

  • Let’s have a conversation! Contact me at cal@climbersofcolor.org & let's figure it out!

• Is this for beginners, where can I find that?

  • This program is prioritized for intermediate-advanced riders. We are exploring how to integrate BLI to mentor beginners to the backcountry.​

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Itinerary

 

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January 6th: Application closes

January 10th: Applicants notified

 

A note about the itinerary and planned missions/ zones: they are subject to change or cancellation.

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Snowpack (in)stabilities, Wx, instructor availability, etc., all play into a day in the mountains. The priorities of any activity throughout this program will be in the following order: 

 

1. The team's physical, emotional, and mental safety regarding managing team dynamics, terrain, and avalanche risks is agreed upon.

2. No suffering is allowed unless all members agree to it. (For example, a long day, touring in the rain or unfavorable conditions)

3. Fun. Only after the first two priorities are met can we move forward with the tour. 

 

Community Zoom event #1

January 22nd, Zoom, 7 - 8PST: Tour planning tactics, strategies

• Navigation review

• Wx forecasting review

• NWAC review

 

January 25th: Field Day #1

Location: Snoqualmie Pass

 

 This is the initial meetup! We will discuss community norms, pit-digging, and other various tests that we should all be familiar with and apply to the whole season. 

• Pit + tests (and why they’re a time sink)

• Hand shear

• Shovel Tilt Test

• Pole-probing

• Foot & boot penetration: why are they valuable? 

• Various terrain indicators of Wx & AVI

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February 1st: Field Day #2; ATES 3 Terrain

Location: Snoqualmie Pass/ Baker Backcountry

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Considering the terrain of focus for this meetup, capacity will be limited to groups of 4-5; however, there may be two groups with separation.

 

Intro to ATES Level 3 Terrain

• What are some tactics or strategies to manage this terrain? 

• What group size is optimal? 

• ‘Threading the Needle’: How and why?

• Discussion of emergency response plans

 

March 1st - 2nd: Field Days 3-4

Location: TBD

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Overnight trip as introductory to winter camping, on-site riding, and forecasting. Location TBD

• Application of previous skill sets employed here

  • Imagine you had no internet, how do we create a plan & mindset to be in the backcountry? How much/ what kind of data do we need?

• Intro to winter/ snow camping

• Intro to ski-mountaineering techniques

  • When does the mountaineering become skiing? When does the skiing become mountaineering? 

    • The answer is a 10-letter word that we do often.

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April 12th: Field Day #5

Location: TBD

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Cohort trip to the desired venue. Apply skillsets from previous trips to a different/ previously unvisited zone. Opportunity to preview the following skills or focus on riding and fun. 

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• Review of ski-mo techniques

• Intro to crevasse rescue for ski-mo

 

May 23rd - 26th: Volcano Tour

Location: Volcano with good Wx

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Volcano expedition. Pahto, Kulshan, Takhoma, etc. Where do we want to spend 3-nights?!

• Culminating project here team. Focus on the steps achieved and taken to get here, do not get lost in the sauce of the size of the volcano; you stand atop your mountain of experience, erupting with wisdom and winds of advice from your peers.

• Help each other get to camp and let the rest unfold.

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Itinerary FAQs

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• What if I cannot make it to 'x' date? 

  • Ultimately, this program will be what you make of it, so consider the additive nature of the curriculum. Practice makes perfect with these skills. ​Bottom line, I want you to come as much as possible and put in as much effort as you can. 

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• What is ski-mo/ what gear do I even need for that? 

  • Let's hold off on this until in-person. Some gear may be rented, others it is best to own (ski-crampons, complimentary ski-mo pack, etc.)​

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• Ski-guiding/ Split-board guiding, how do we achieve it? ​

  • Lots of money, time, certifications, and lots of question-asking, with some mountaineering skills in good dosage. ​

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• Why do we need to be climbers to be a backcountry guide? 

  • What is the primary difference between these guiding styles? ​

  • What skills are transferable and what ones are not?