Backcountry ski touring in Idaho’s wilderness offers a soul-nurturing experience in Mother Nature that differs significantly from charging down resort runs. It demands the skills, judgment, and the grit of authentic adventure. Our unique approach to teaching backcountry skills promotes personal responsibility and a growth mindset while students learn the skills to become proficient in the backcountry.
ZEN MASTERS™
WINTER BACKCOUNTRY PROGRAM
Students learn about selecting and packing gear, practicing the basics of backcountry travel, using digital navigation tools (using their smartphone), developing sound rescue skills, and understanding how to interpret the Sawtooth Avalanche Center forecast and extrapolate the relevant information to build a safe tour plan.
ZEN MASTER founder Gerry Moffatt instructs and leads the Winter program with the support of outfitter Sun Valley Guides for on-snow days in the backcountry. By the end of the course, most ZEN MASTERS will be competent and confident enough to tour in non-complex local avalanche terrain. A new horizon of winter skiing in Mother Nature’s rugged landscape awaits!
ZEN MASTERS™ Winter Backcountry Program
PROGRAM LOGISTICS
Dec
Equipment/Gear Selection Guidance (Email with evening Zoom call)
One (1) on-snow instructional day: Introduction to Backcountry Ski/rescue equipment and basic skinning technique.
On-your-own Pre-program Fitness Training. Climbing Baldy and or/ Dollar will allow you to build fitness for the season.
Jan-Feb
Five(5) total on-snow instructional days (midweek)
Five (5) weekly evening classroom lectures (via Zoom): 4 total lectures (midweek)
Five (5) weekly homework assignments (YouTube), digital navigation tutorials
Course offered Dec – Feb
CURRICULUM COVERS:
- Proper gear and equipment selection, use, and care
- Ski touring techniques
- Introduction to assessing terrain and hazards for safe travel
- Introduction to understanding snowpack conditions
- What to pack and why
- Introduction to using digital navigation technology and online resources for planning a safe backcountry tour
- ZEN MASTERS reading/viewing list (required for in-class discussions)
PROGRAM DATES
Jan – Feb
Prospective students must complete an application and be interviewed before being accepted into the program.
*Tuition dependent on group size: Max 1 Instructor: 5 Students
Private Instruction Available
Equipment: Students will be supplied with a detailed equipment list.
(Tuition covers all classroom instruction, on-snow instruction days, permits, and forestry fees)
*Thunder Dragon proudly partners with Sun Valley Guides as our exclusive outfitter for the on-snow backcountry skiing days in our Zen Masters Winter Program.
“Having endured the discomfort and physical effort, the mental and emotional highs and lows required to make the transformation from beginner to competent backcountry skier is only the beginning – the mountains have far more to teach us than we have time available in this lifetime.”
– ZEN MASTERS Founder, Gerry Moffatt
