For those folks who have already skied the Haute route, or are wanting a more skiing focused trip with smaller huts, better food and a flexible itinerary, the Ortler tour is the answer.  We spend several nights at a few of the huts on this circuit, allowing us to focus on going out in search of great skiing each day as opposed to just having to make it to the next hut.  With amazing Italian food and wine, Cappucino and hot showers at every hut and amazing glaciated terrain, this has become one our favorite trips each year.

We love skiing. It’s that simple. If you can relate, the Backcountry Season Pass is for you. This is our way of rewarding your love of skiing and providing what we think is the best deal going to get you out there! Whether you are looking to develop your backcountry skills, or just want to get the powder goods when it's going off, this program gives you the flexibility you need to make the most of your winter. The BC Season Pass is valid in both our Washington Pass and Steven's Pass programs, and most weekends are now available for BC Season Pass holders!   

Stevens Pass is home to some of the deepest snow and best tree skiing in the Pacific Northwest and is located only one and a half hours from downtown Seattle.  North Cascades Mountain Guides offers traditional backcountry skiing trips, “Out-of-Bounds” skiing at Stevens Pass Mountain Resort and Snowmobile-Accessed backcountry trips out of Stevens Pass, Lake Wenatchee, Leavenworth and Blewett Pass.   

A short and fun snowmobile ride up the spectacular North Cascades Highway provides access to the best backcountry ski and splitboarding terrain in the state. With the annual closure of the North Cascades Highway in the late fall thanks to heavy snowfalls, the season for backcountry skiing adventure starts lasts well into April. The touring opportunities in this zone are plentiful, and superb by any measure.

NCMG Owners Jeff Ward, Larry Goldie, and Josh Colle are instructors and examiners for the American Mountain Guides Association guide training and certification programs.  

We often get requests from guides going through the AMGA training program for either additional training for advanced courses or structured preparation for an exam.  If you would like to prepare for an upcoming course or exam please get in touch with us as soon as possible.  Their schedules fill up quickly, especially right before the alpine and ski exams (late summer and late winter).

Whether you have just taken your first avalanche course or have been skiing avalanche terrain for decades, this course can help take your terrain assessment skills to the next level.  Terrain assessment is the most important skill for moving through avalanche terrain safely and being able to choose the right slope to ride given the avalanche conditions of the day.