Your first day in the Yosemite winter backcountry
The Out & Back Day-Trip is the entry point to the Yosemite Mountaineering School's backcountry program. A single day's guided ski tour from Badger Pass — skinning up to terrain off the groomed track, skiing back down, returning to the lodge by evening. No camping. Best entry-level option if you've never been into the winter backcountry but want to try.
Skill prerequisites
You need to be able to ski blue (intermediate) terrain at a resort comfortably. The "down" part of the day involves real off-piste terrain — irregular snow, unexpected conditions, sometimes tighter line choices than groomed runs. You don't need to be an expert, but you can't be a true beginner either.
For the "up" part, the guide teaches skinning technique on the day — most people figure it out within the first 30-60 minutes. The endurance demand is real though; a backcountry day uphill at 7,000-8,500ft is a workout.
Gear
AT (alpine touring) skis with skins and touring bindings, plus a beacon, probe, and shovel for avalanche safety. The school can rent the full setup (book camping equipment rental — same shop) or you can bring your own. Confirm with the booking which option works for you.
What you'll come away with
- The skinning motion — uphill ski travel on a one-direction-grip fabric
- Avi awareness — what the guide is reading, what the snowpack tells you, where to ski and where not to
- A real day of backcountry skiing — turns made on snow nobody else has touched
- Enough context to decide whether to pursue this discipline further (or whether resort skiing is plenty for you)
