Big Mountain Ski Camp
Quick Info
Dates March 20-22/ April 17-19
Group Size 8 skiers MAX (2guides)
Skill Level Intermediate+ Backcountry skier, Expert resort skier
Difficulty Challenging, must meet application requirments
Cost $750 per person
BIG MOUNTAIN SKI CAMP
A 3-Day Training Experience on Mt. Washington
Big mountain skiing is the pathway to the places we all dream about — Chamonix, Alaska, Rogers Pass, the lines that live in your head and won’t let go. This 3 day camp is built to give you the skills, judgment, and confidence to finally step into that kind of terrain. If you’ve ever watched a spine run in Haines or a couloir descent in the Aiguilles and thought, someday — this is how “someday” becomes real.
Our Big Mountain Ski Camp is designed for skiers who want more than just to “get down” the mountain. This camp is for those ready to level up their mountain sense, sharpen their technical skiing, and step into bigger terrain with the skills to back it up.
This is three days of learning, exploration, problem-solving, and real movement in the alpine — taught by guides who spend their winters working in this exact terrain.
*Application-Only Enrollment
“High volume of touring and skiing, friendly and knowledgeable. They greatly expanded my comfort and speed of travel in the steeps/side angles, and I left the day feeling much more comfortable in my ability to move in the mountains.”
★★★★★
-Andy G. Portland, ME
What it’s all about
Big terrain demands big skill. The systems we teach here are the same ones used by ski guides and steep skiers in the places people travel across the world to ski. When you can move confidently on Mt. Washington’s steep, wind-torn faces, you’re building the exact skillset you’ll need in the high peaks of Alaska, the glaciated passes of British Columbia, and the iconic couloirs of Chamonix.
This camp isn’t just training — it’s preparation for the trips you’ve been dreaming about.
Big mountain skiing isn’t just about how well you ski — it’s about how well you think. The best skiers in consequential terrain blend technique, judgment, and calm decision-making. Throughout the camp, we blend all three.
You’ll learn to:
Read advanced terrain features — spines, chutes, wind lips, and the subtle clues the snowpack gives you.
Move efficiently in steep or complex terrain, including glacier travel techniques
Manage cornices and understand how wind shapes hazards.
Apply crevasse- and cliff-mitigation strategies used by modern ski guides.
Use steep skiing tactics that keep speed in control while opening more line choices.
Build solid, repeatable rappel systems that save time and increase margins.
Deploy and stow your rope fast — 2x faster than most skiers.
Adapt systems to real avalanche hazard and variable conditions.
Reinforce existing anchors and build new ones with minimal kit.
Equalize multi-piece anchors and create ultralight setups for ski descents.
Keep your vision long, your judgment sharp, and your reactions calm.
This training blends on-snow skiing, hands-on technical systems, and full-day movement in the alpine. You’ll walk away more self-sufficient, more precise, and more confident in bigger terrain.
Why Vertex
Because we don’t teach big-mountain theory — we teach big-mountain reality.
Vertex guides spend their season moving guests through steep, complex, no-fall terrain in the most consequential mountains. We’ve seen the difference between “good skiing” and “good decision-making,” and our curriculum intentionally develops both.
We focus on:
Clear, actionable systems you can repeat on your own.
Movement skills that work when conditions are rough, visibility drops, or the snow isn’t perfect.
Judgment development, not just technical drills.
Small groups and real mentorship, so you get actual feedback, not generic instruction.
You’re not just learning to ski harder lines — you’re learning how to think like someone who belongs in big terrain.
Application-Only Enrollment
To keep the quality of the experience high — and to ensure the entire team is positioned for success — this program is application-only. Every participant is vetted for skiing ability, backcountry experience, and readiness for the terrain we’ll be moving through.
This is so we can build a team where everyone can push, learn, and progress together. Once accepted, you’ll receive a private booking link and your spot in the camp will be unlocked.
This keeps the group strong, the environment supportive, and the training at the level big-mountain terrain demands.
Got Questions?
We’re here to help. Our FAQs or Gear Lists might have the information you’re seeking. But If you’re not finding the information you need, we’d be happy to help!
