Rock, Ice, Alpine, Backcountry Ski, Avalanche & Backpacking Trips

Southwest Colorado is home to some of the finest rock climbing, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, backpacking, and avalanche course terrain in the lower 48. We conduct many of our courses and trips in the San Juan Mountains between Durango and Ouray. The San Juans typically have the best mountain weather in the United States, allowing us to concentrate on skill acquisition and climbing, not on miserable weather. From our base in Durango we have access to 14 mountains over 14,000 feet and hundreds in the 13,000 foot range. These attributes make the San Juans a fantastic training ground to learn the basics of alpine mountaineering, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, avalanche avoidance, and backpacking, to beef up your skills for longer and more technical climbing expeditions throughout the world.

2011 Offerings

Rock Climbing Trips & Courses
We offer a combination of courses and private guided trips in the Durango area, as well as the Black Canyon of the Gunnsion, one of Colorado's finest multi-pitch climbing destinations.

Ice Climbing Trips & Courses
We offer a cominbation of courses and private guided trips in the Durango area, as well as Silverton, and Ouray. SW Colorado is the home of ice climbing in the lower 48 and many options are available to you to learn and master the sport of ice climbing.

Alpine Climbing Trips & Courses
With mountain areas such as the Grenadiers and the Needle Mountains, there is no shortage of fine alpine climbing in the San Juans in both the winter and the summer.

Backcountry Skiing Trips & Courses
The San Juan Mountains are host to some incredible opportunites for backcountry skiing. We offer both private guided trips and courses, as well as hut trips, in this mecca of high alpine skiing.

Avalanche Courses
Colorado, and in particular the San Juan Mountains, are widely recognized for their complex and often dangerous snowpack. An avalanche course is a must for all backcountry skiers in Colorado!

Backpacking Trips
The San Juan Mountains, and in particular the Weminuche Wilderness, is host to an incredible array of trails and trips sure to appeal to anyone looking for a non-technical walk in the woods. Great for families or a group of friends!