BUENA VISTA GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Sawatch Splitboard Club — Practice Avalanche Judgment and Hunt Sawatch Powder with Local Mentors
A full-day guided splitboard course out of Buena Vista that pairs hands-on avalanche-safety practice with guided riding in the Sawatch Range; this guide explains what to expect, prerequisites, and what to bring.
Sawatch Splitboard Club — Practice Avalanche Judgment and Hunt Sawatch Powder with Local Mentors.
This guided program places experienced splitboarders in a focused, field-based learning environment: certified professionals lead daily discussions on the avalanche triangle, supervise transceiver/probe/shovel drills, and mentor riders as they explore new zones around the Sawatch Range while enjoying powder turns.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Field-based avalanche decision-making
Expect daily, instructor-led discussions about the avalanche triangle combined with practical exercises—transceiver searches, probe-lines, and decision-making drills—so you can move from theory to confident field practice.
Explore new zones of the Sawatch Range
Alongside mentors and a professional instructor you’ll travel into nearby Sawatch terrain to ride powder lines chosen to reinforce safe route-finding and on-snow technique.
Local instructors and group mentorship
The course is taught by a certified professional instructor with local mentors who emphasize progressive learning and guided practice—an ideal format for riders who have completed an introductory avalanche course and want to deepen skill and judgment.
What the day feels like
What a day in the club feels like
A typical day runs from a focused morning briefing into on-snow practice and guided laps: instructors lead discussions about the avalanche triangle, you practice critical rescue and travel skills in a controlled setting, then apply those skills while exploring powder lines under mentor supervision—returning each afternoon for debrief and reflection.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this program suits—and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Full-day sessions run 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on scheduled dates (examples listed include 1/8, 1/22, 2/5, 2/19, 3/5).
Personal layers appropriate for backcountry winter conditions, water (a hot beverage is recommended), snacks, and a lunch.
Meeting location is determined per trip and will be communicated 24 hours prior to the outing.
Participants must have completed an Intro to Backcountry course (or equivalent experience) and be competent on black-diamond terrain.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What are the prerequisites to join?
You must have completed an Intro to Backcountry course or have equivalent experience, and be a competent rider on black-diamond terrain.
How long is a typical day and when do sessions run?
Sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on scheduled dates (sample dates include 1/8, 1/22, 2/5, 2/19, 3/5).
Where do we meet?
The meeting location is determined for each trip and will be communicated to participants 24 hours prior to departure.
What should I bring for the day?
Bring personal layers, water (a hot beverage is recommended), snacks, and lunch.
What will I learn on the trip?
The course focuses on practicing avalanche-safety skills in the field—daily discussions about the avalanche triangle, hands-on rescue and search drills, and applying decision-making while riding in Sawatch terrain under instructor guidance.
Who operates the program?
The Sawatch Splitboard Club is operated by the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center.