Early Summer
May, June
The winter snows are melting at lower elevations, and the mountains are in beautiful renewal. Colorado 14ers start to open up with accessibility improving as lower elevation roads melt out. Spring steep ski mountaineering can be very rewarding in the western US, Canada, as well as Europe and Scandinavia. Once snow cover recedes from skiable lines, early summer mountaineering takes shape, with enough snow smoothing uneven approaches and speeding up day missions or “light and fast” overnight objectives.
European Alps are incredible and empty in late May and June. Neon green lower elevations give way to well covered glaciers and most mountain huts and refuges (as well as lifts!) start to gear up and open for the summer. Mediterranean climbing such as Les Calanques, or Corsica are incredible and offer a wide range of difficulty, dragging or long multi-pitch to jump start your climbing season.
Closer to Crested Butte, the desert Southwest of Colorado and Utah are also in prime shape, where cool nights and warm days are just what our bodies are looking for after a long winter of skiing and short days. Desert sandstone towers, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, or local cragging close to civilization are easy to schedule with short notice and a good weather forecast.
- Custom Trips Available
Mid Summer
July, August, September
Prime summer at higher elevations across the Western US, Canada, and Europe. Ticking off big 4000m Alps objectives and proud US 14ers and the Grand Teton are best in July, when colder temperatures and snow linger, improving safety and speeding up travel across rocky terrain. Summer crowds tend to increase come August, and best to look beyond those classic mountain destinations to more obscure locales. If looking for a unique climbing/biking/ocean objective, in the Norwegian arctic, The Lofoten Islands offer gorgeous orange granite, as does “off the beaten path” European climber-centric huts in the Ecrin of France, Picos de Europa in Spain, and of course numerous other limestone and granite crags across the Alps.
Multi-day camping and backpacking with horse support is excellent in the Wind River Range, and of course there are a lifetime of routes and peaks to climb in the Tetons and the wilds of the numerous Idaho ranges such as the Pioneers, Sawtooths, Lost River, and City of Rocks.
- Custom Trips Available
Fall
September, October, November
Shorter days and crisper nights and the imminent return of winter tend to spark a thirst to maximize the warm days and a summer’s worth of climbing strength. We have had great days climbing high peaks across the western US and Alps as the thunderstorms and daily convective build up and lightning threats ease, and typical high pressure and endless blue skies take hold. Mediterranean climbing also starts to come back into shape as the days cool into late October and November.
Looking southward to the Andes of South America from Portillo and Valle Nevado in the north to Chilean Patagonia further south are incredible destinations to scratch the skiing itch. Lift accessed backcountry as well as heli-skiing can be fickle, but with an eye on conditions and weather forecasts, as well as local contacts that won’t sugarcoat the realities, can be a worth trigger to pull and offer truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure or annual pilgrimage. After October 15th, the world-famous trout fisheries begin to open in northern Patagonia where trophy brown and rainbow trout can be tempted in legendary rivers.
- Custom Trips Available
Winter
December – March
Depending on the season, early season storms may create worthy backcountry skiing opportunities in the western United States or early season strike missions to Canada. The ever-accessible Vancouver or Calgary International Airports and a cheap rental car bring world-class skiing and terrain throughout the winter, with steeper lines typically coming into form late March through May. Heli-skiing and heli accessed ski touring are king in these big, remote Canadian mountains, as well as a vast network of catered, fly-in huts (advanced reservations and planning mandatory).
If the snow is slim or high pressure has taken hold for an extended period of time, ice climbing in Colorado and Canada is the choice. Learn to swing tools, or aim for more advanced objectives.
Closer to the lower 48 states, we can arrange skills workshops, custom avalanche rescue training, crevasse rescue prep for larger ranges, and many other ideas.
- Custom Trips Available
Spring
March, April, May
We specialize in the spring ski adventure. Canada, Alaska, Norway, Iceland, Alps, or beyond. Many years of exploration in the Scandinavian Arctic has given us near-local knowledge of the Lofoten Islands, Senja, Lyngen, Finnmark, Sunnmore and Romsdalen. The combination of reliable snow, variety of terrain, contrast of high peaks and dark blue ocean, and ever-increasingly long days keeps bringing us back year after year. Airbnb and rental car, sea and sail, or catered lodge are all models we have run many years for many guests and budgets. Ski touring is the primary activity in Scandinavia and Alps this time of year, but is helicopter skiing is more what you are after, select locations in the Alps, northern Sweden, and Northern Iceland are your best options and we have deep, and trusted relationships with these operations.
Spring desert climbing also comes back into form by March, but we often keep the skis on our feet until late into spring if given the choice, at least in the morning, and never turn down a dual sport day with afternoon climbing to make it a full-value day!
- Custom Trips Available
Custom Trips
- The World is your oyster!