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Photos: Beau Fredlund
Photos: Beau Fredlund
Hungry to ride the big lines but hesitant to take the next step? Welcome to the 2025 Big Mountain Snow Safety Event. For over a decade Samsara has helped skiers and riders develop a systematic approach to climbing & riding in the high alpine.
From expedition leaders to film crews, professional athletes, to everyday adventurers – the Big Mountain Snow Safety Event is designed to help you develop an intimate understanding of snow, and a toolbox of technical skills to navigate the mountains.
What’s the course like?
This is not a ‘stand-around and talk about snow’ course! Expect a ‘go-shred big lines with your crew’ kind of course! We look forward to long days in the Tetons, on the move, learning from every moment. You and the other participants will be in the lead, assessing the mountains, and implementing strategies to manage the hazards. Your instructor will be right behind you, helping you to evolve as a high mountain traveler.
Your Instructors are some of the most accomplished ski and snowboard adventurers, having pioneered first descents from the Himalaya, to the Andes and the Alaska Range. We are a group of passionate big mountain riders.
What’s unique about the Big Mountain Event?
Beyond the snow and technical skills, the BMSS event is a gathering of the mountain community. We create space to explore through story-telling the often-hidden aspects of the big mountain experience; grief, loss and how to navigate risk through the changing chapters of life.
We have room for up to 16 students, with 4 Instructors. (4:1 ratios). We will be all together for the clinic sessions, and skiing in the mountains in small groups according to level.
01/30 – 60min Pre Course Prep Session – Live & Recorded on Zoom at 6pm MST
02/26 – Pre Course Kick Off Dinner: Location TBD (cost not inc.)
02/27 – Backcountry Day 1: Learn to Lead
02/28 – Indoor Workshop: Snow Science, Risk Curriculum, Technical Rope Systems
03/01 – Ski Mountaineering Mission: Technical Systems
03/02 – Ski Mountaineering Mission: Steep Ski Mission
03/02 – Send Off Dinner: Location TBD (cost not inc.)
Pre-Course Requirements:
Step 1: Complete registration form (click ‘Apply Now’) with ski/ride resume. We review all applications, and send out replies in a timely manner until the course is full.
Step 2: Once you are accepted, complete $865 payment to Samsara. Please ONLY pay once you have been approved for the course by Z. There are no refunds or cancellations on this payment.
Step 3: You will receive instructions to call Exum to pay your final $1130. ONLY once this final payment has been made will you be considered registered for the course. If you don’t pay the Exum fee, you are not registered, and someone else may take your spot.
Your $865 Samsara fee is a non-refundable deposit, but it is transferable.
If you need to cancel for any reason, let Susan know. You are responsible for finding your replacement, but we will fill your spot with waitlist athletes when possible. A $100 admin fee will apply for all registration transfers.
From ‘Being Home’
“Zahan is that rare breed of modest mountain expert; he has decades of experience navigating avalanche terrain, and yet no matter your skill level, your input is accepted without judgment. When in the field with Z, it is not just that all are welcome at the table—all are required. Unlike some of my past guided experiences, with him there was never any posturing or condescension.”
“The lessons from Z’s course have stuck with us, etched themselves into our decision-making models. We are on our own, decisions and consequences wholly ours to manage, and that space feels good.”
-Emilé Zynobia
“Zahan is a true Jedi Master when it comes to big mountain training. His passion and knowledge of the mountains is second to none. Zahan brings a modern approach to the evolution of big mountain travel.“
Aaron is a big mountain snowboarder, an avalanche educator, 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. “The Big Mountain Snow Safety Course is a chance for me to impart what I have learned to a new generation of adventurers,” he says. “I draw from my personal experience of remote expeditions and first descents, combined with my ongoing study of snow—these are the ingredients I rely on, and am passionate to share with high-level skiers and riders.”
In his constant pursuit of learning and personal growth, Adam has clocked an absurd amount of time in the alpine environment while climbing and skiing the world’s greatest mountain ranges. Based in the Tetons, he is an IFMGA-certified guide and professional avalanche forecaster. “Skiing in the high peaks involves a high level of uncertainty. Over the years I’ve made mistakes and seen firsthand the consequences of poor decision making,” he says. “By sharing what I’ve learned from my own failures and successes in the mountains I hope to impart the nuances of decision making and ultimately give you the tools to navigate a lifetime of adventures in the wildest of places.”
Zahan is a passionate big mountain skier based in Jackson, Wyoming and the owner of Samsara Experience. He has spent his life in constant pursuit of a deeper understanding of how to survive the dangerous game of high-alpine skiing and riding. Z is also an IFMGA-certified mountain guide. “I started the Big Mountain Snow Safety Program in 2013 to train high-level independent skiers and riders on their path to adventure in the greater ranges of the world,” he says. “This program is where we share everything we’ve learned. We teach from the heart, we share from our mistakes, and we do our absolute best to prepare you to make your own decisions in the uncertain world of big mountain riding.”
A lifelong Teton resident and skier, Morgan is a passionate teacher, mountain guide, and steward of the Tetons. She is a passionate Big Mountain skier and guide based in the Tetons. Morgan has completed ski mountaineering descents and human powered adventures around the world that have helped build a niche skillset for moving through terrain and skiing in wild places. “I love spending my time in the snow with others and hope to instill confidence and competence in anyone who wishes to be there," she says. "The Big Mountain Snow Safety Course is an incredible venue to share stories and lessons learned from a life in the mountains.”
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