Community, Courage, and Cold Smoke: SheJumps Alpine Development School

For one week each spring, a group of women comes together at Valhalla Mountain Touring (VMT) not just to ski, but to step into bigger terrain, take the lead, and achieve a new level of possibility.

Lucky for me, this was my second year as the “Vibe Guide” at SheJumps’ Alpine Development School. Before the course even started, I felt more confident knowing what to expect, and even more excitement knowing what our participants were about to experience: the expert guides, the extensive terrain, the gourmet local food menu, and the cozy lodge itself. Last year’s course was a huge success, with participants sharing that the experience was both life-changing and deeply satisfying.

I didn’t think Alpine Development School could get better than last year, but I’ve learned never to put our lead ACMG guides, Jasmin Caton and Hannah Kendall, in a box. 

Jasmin is the owner, operator, and lead guide at VMT as well as a humble yet inspiring local legend. When not guiding ski tours at VMT, Hannah leads helisking at various operations out of Revelstoke. Together, they bring a rare blend of calm and confidence, rooted in deep experience and a lifetime of boldness.

Alongside Lael Cashen, an apprentice guide who also works with Shasta Mountain Guides and led a SheJumps Fundraising Ski Descent last year, Jasmin and Hannah worked seamlessly with the weather, snow conditions, and course objectives to deliver an incredible week.

What stood out most were the thoughtful evolutions in how the course was run. Right from the first ski day, participants were practicing essential skills like track setting and terrain management, and revisiting them throughout the week. There was so much space for participants to step into leadership, whether that meant choosing a line of descent or leading a bootpack. The group also split into smaller teams, creating more personalized experiences based on skill level, fatigue, and/or comfort.

Throughout the week, guides regularly checked in, both as a full group and one-on-one, to ensure participants were getting what they came for. It was clear that Hannah and Jasmin were not only leading but truly listening, creating space for participants to help shape the course in real time.

This year also felt more technical. With a strong group and a firm, more challenging snowpack, the terrain opened up in new ways. Participants summited between two and four major peaks, Ruby, Mount Benny, Pyramid Peak, and Big Sister, using ski crampons and transitioning into bootpacking on steeper alpine terrain. It was an incredible opportunity to build skills in real conditions: traveling safely through more complex terrain, making decisions as a team, and gaining confidence on bigger, more committing lines.

And as much as the days were about technical growth, the evenings carried their own kind of magic.

Costumes came out for not one but two dance parties (both ending promptly at 8:45 pm—because everyone was happily exhausted). There was a “beer cooler” and a cold plunge setup next to the sauna created by Mathieu, and a lodge atmosphere that leaned fully into the valley’s incredible local food.

Jasmin’s seven-year-old twins became part of the fabric of the week, handing out handmade bracelets, picking costumes for participants, and decorating the lodge for our final night with SheJumps stickers and balloons. Knowing that the business was passed down to Jasmin from her parents, it was one of those details that quietly stays with you: a reminder that community, and these mountains, span generations and that adventure doesn’t end in motherhood.

Around the dinner table each night, the group created its own rhythm, what we started calling “five-minute TED Talks.” Topics ranged wildly and wonderfully: skin care, muscle recovery, burlesque dancing, books, ski boot care, dating, and more. It became clear quickly that this wasn’t just a course; it was a shared experience and the best type of girls' trip.  

By the end of the week, the group had bonded in a way that’s hard to put into words. They weren’t just ski partners; they were a team. Trust had been built on bootpacks, encouragement echoed across slopes, and friendships formed in the quiet and loud moments in between. Many were already planning future trips together before the week had even ended.

Alpine Development School is not just about learning how to move through the mountains; it’s about learning how to lead in them. And when women build those skills, confidence, and community, it doesn’t end here. It carries forward into future objectives, new friendships, and the people they bring with them next

Feeling inspired and ready to make this season count?

We have one more Alpine School opportunity: Alpine Finishing School. If you’re ready to step into bigger terrain and build real ski mountaineering skills in a women-centered learning environment, say yes to AFS and register today.

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If you are looking for a shorter trip that is in the lower-48, but still want to sharpen ski mountaineering skills? Consider SheJumps’ Shasta Ski Descent Fundraising Climb. Led by AMGA women guides, this iconic peak promises a powerful challenge and an unforgettable reward: a thrilling ski descent down one of the most coveted lines in the country.