Improve Your Backcountry Decision Making

BACKCOUNTRY SEMESTER

Understand Stability I Make Better Decisions I Develop Rope Skills

SUPPORTED BY

A 3 MONTH IMMERSION INTO LEVELING UP YOUR BACKCOUNTRY EDUCATION:

UNDERSTAND STABILITY

MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

DEVELOP ROPE SKILLS

Backcountry semester is a season-long education and mentorship program for human-powered skiers and riders, taught by the Big Mountain Snow Safety Team. Our goal is to help you better understand stability, process risk and make decisions. Weekly live calls on 10 separate modules, followed by engaging assignments to deepen your understanding with an instructor-led chat.

REVIEWS FROM BIG MOUNTAIN SNOW SAFETY (BMSS), OUR 4 DAY IN-PERSON COURSE

A PERSONAL LETTER

Hi my name is Z,

Hi, My name is Z, I’m an IFMGA guide, a Patagonia ski ambassador and a passionate backcountry adventurer. In 2010 I was teaching a level 2 course, and I noticed that some students were learning to put skins on, and others wanted to know how to assess stability in Teton couloirs. The class was helpful for some students. It built an important awareness of risk, and the complexity of snow. But when it comes to the art of making high-consequence decisions surrounded by risk, some students needed more.

The 2 things that have taught me the most about decision-making are my mistakes and my partners. In the Backcountry Semester, I will share them both with you.

Personally, I have made more mistakes than I deserve to have gotten away with. But so much of what I do now is because of the hard lessons that those mistakes have taught me. Backcountry Semester is where we share our mistakes, so that you get the lessons, without the scars.

WE HAVE RUN COURSES FOR:

INTRODUCING BACKCOUNTRY PRO:

BACKCOUNTRY SEMESTER + ATHLETE TEAM

Imagine building groundbreaking backcountry fitness and strength to go into the winter with a sharp mind and a strong body.

Level up even further by bundling Backcountry Semester with an Athlete Team subscription. Upgrade to Backcountry Pro for the ultimate winter preparation.

WHAT MORE DO I GET WITH BACKCOUNTRY PRO?

Backcountry Semester, plus Athlete Team. Imagine going into the winter feeling strong in your body, and with clarity in your backcountry decision-making process.

Athlete Team members get:

12 week personalized Samsara backcountry training plan
Weekly live workouts with the team on zoom
Weekly coaching calls
4 additional backcountry-specific skills workshops
Elevate your performance in a community of backcountry athletes
PLUS 20% off Backcountry Semester

BACKCOUNTRY SEMESTER

PRICE: $900

11 WEEKS OF BACKCOUNTRY EDUCATION
ACCESS TO A TEAM OF ELITE BACKCOUNTRY INSTRUCTORS
ENGAGING ASSIGNMENTS TO DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING
JOIN A COMMUNITY OF BACKCOUNTRY ATHLETES
LIFETIME ACCESS TO CALL RECORDINGS

Right now save 20% with Early Bird Discount

EARLY BIRD CODE: BCS20OFF

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BACKCOUNTRY PRO

REGULAR PRICE: $1950.

BACKCOUNTRY PRO PACKAGE PRICE: $1770

BACKCOUNTRY PRO IS THE ULTIMATE BACKCOUNTRY PREPARATION FOR WINTER: GET FIT & SHARPEN YOUR AVALANCHE SKILLS.

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USE EARLY BIRD CODE: BCP40OFF

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Meet the Backcountry Semester Instructors

Aaron Diamond

is a big mountain snowboarder, an avalanche educator, forecaster and an AMGA splitboard and rock guide based in Jackson, Wyoming. He has made numerous first descents in the Tetons, Alaska Range, and the Andes. Aaron is one of the most highly respected avalanche educators having taught professional avalanche education at the highest level.

Adam Fabrikant

is one of the most prolific big mountain skiers alive today, and the most prolific Teton ski mountaineer of all time. In 2024, he skied Buck Mountain, Wister, the South, Middle and Grand Tetons, Mt. Owen and Teewinot in 20 hours, mostly by headlamp. Adam is also an IFMGA guide, forecaster and educator.

Billy Haas

is a legendary ski guide and an elite big mountain skier. His passion for snow-covered mountains has taken him to all the major ranges, and with Adam he completed an alpine-style descent of Gasherbrum I and II without oxygen last summer. Billy is longtime avalanche educator and IFMGA guide.

Morgan McGlashon

is the best skier of the bunch! After years of professional freeski competition, she turned her attention to adventure skiing in her home range of the Tetons. She is the youngest woman to ski the Grand Teton. She is a seasoned ski guide with Exum Mountain Guides, and an excellent educator.

Zahan Billimoria

a lifelong skier, climber and mountain guide. Z was the Lead TGR Guide in the Tetons, and guided Jeremy Jones on the Otterbody Face of the Grand Teton. His personal ski adventures have taken him to Bolivia, British Columbia and the Alps. His intimate relationship with risk is captured in a 2020 documentary Solving for Z. He is an IFMGA guide, and the founder of Big Mountain Snow Safety program.

WHAT YOU GET WITH BACKCOUNTRY SEMESTER

15 part Pre-Course Video Series
10 Live Instructor Led Sessions, followed by Q&A
Engaging weekly assignments to deepen your understanding
Access to students & instructors in our online classroom
4 online spaces to connect, engage & build new partners

COURSE SCHEDULE:

Level Up:

JOIN BACKCOUNTRY PRO

No thanks, I don’t want fitness & strength training

JOIN BACKCOUNTRY SEMESTER

FAQ

Answers to our Most Common Questions

How long will it take?

You will have a 1 hour call per week. Assignments are estimated to take another hour. However students who have the capacity to go deeper will have ample opportunities to do so.

When are the calls hosted?

The calls are 5:30-6:30pm every Thursday from Oct 2- Dec 18. (Except Thanksgiving)

Will I get the recordings?

Yes! We will send you the recordings to download and keep.

What if I miss a call?

This is a live course, not a series of recordings, so attending the calls is important, if you want the full experience. We also understand that you lead busy lives, and we will make sure you have the recordings to catch up soon after each call.

OUR GUARANTEE

If you are not happy, we are not happy.

Simple as that. We want to deliver an insanely good educational experience. If you attend at least 9 of the calls, and engage at least once a week in the chat, and you are not satisfied, just email us, and we will give you your money back.