Which Alpine School Is Right for You?
- Jasmine Poblano
- 11 hours ago
- 6 min read
Finding the Right Course
Two courses to help you grow in the backcountry! Here's how to find the course that's meant for you.
SheJumps Alpine School, presented by Arc'teryx, offers two distinct backcountry ski/splitboard courses in British Columbia: Alpine Development School and Alpine Finishing School.
Every year, we get some version of the same question: "I want to do Alpine School, but which one is right for me?"
It's a fair question, and we want to give you a real answer! Here's a guide to help you find the week that's built for where you are right now and where you want to go.
The short version:
If you're already a strong, confident skier or splitboarder, black diamonds and variable snow are no problem, and you've started exploring the backcountry (but you're usually the one following someone else's plan), Alpine Development School will turn you into the teammate who builds the route, not just follows it.
If you're already comfortable operating independently in the backcountry, multiple seasons, real mileage, and multi-day trips, and you want to add glacier travel, rope systems, and ski mountaineering to your skillset, Alpine Finishing School is your next step.
What you can count on with either course:
World-class women guides, ACMG-certified. Every guide holds certification through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, one of the gold standards in the industry. They also happen to be excellent teachers. (Two different skills. Ours have both!)
A curriculum built to connect what you learn to what you live. Whatever you're working on gets tested outside, the map to the terrain, the weather to the forecast, the theory to the decision in front of you. Each course balances classroom and field time differently; more on that below.
Lodge life that's part of the experience, not just a place to sleep. Both courses are based at stunning, women-owned lodges, with real beds (cozy duvets), delicious meals, and the kind of evenings that turn roommates into lifelong friendships. Seven days away with this group has a way of leaving you with more than new skills — most women leave with their next adventure crew, too.
A backcountry setting that's hard to replicate anywhere else — in the words of past participants, this corner of British Columbia does something to people.
Alpine Development School
April 11–18, 2027 | Valhalla Mountain Touring, BC @valhallamountaintouring
Alpine Development School is for advanced skiers and riders who want to learn how to plan big days in the backcountry and level up their decision-making, navigation, and terrain management skills.
We created this course for women who are building their identity as backcountry decision-makers. You may have backcountry experience, perhaps an AIARE Level 1, you get out fairly regularly for backcountry tours with partners, and you are growing comfortable in the mountains. What you're looking for is a structured space to develop the judgment and confidence to become a more capable, self-directed backcountry skier or splitboarder.
By the end of the week, you'll have a stronger framework for reading terrain, assessing avalanche risk, planning routes, and making decisions in the field. More importantly, you'll have practiced those skills in a supportive environment designed to let you learn without pressure.
"I attended SheJumps Alpine Development School to move beyond being a follower in the backcountry and become a more confident contributor. Building on my AIARE Level 1 avalanche certification, I gained confidence in my decision-making and a clearer understanding of how to use weather, avalanche forecasts, and snow conditions to guide safer terrain choices. It was a week I will never forget, filled with laughter and shared with an incredible group of women." - Alpine Development School Participant 2026
Course Rhythm
Average tour day: 6–8 hours
Typical vertical gain: 3,000–6,000 feet
Indoor classroom time: 1–2 hours per day — light on the classroom, heavy on field practice
Lodge Life at Valhalla Mountain Touring
After a full day in the mountains, you'll set your boots on the dryers, shed your gear in the wood-fired dry room, and unwind in the sauna before a hot shower and a cozy bed. The lodge has all the comforts of home, indoor plumbing, Starlink Wi-Fi, and a warm common space, plus meals made with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients that taste like exactly what you need for back-to-back big ski days.
Alpine Development School might be right for you if:
You're a strong, confident skier or splitboarder in resort terrain, black diamonds, variable snow, and steeper lines, and you want to bring that ability into the backcountry with more confidence.
You've got an AIARE Level 1 (or equivalent) and 20+ backcountry days in, but you're usually the one following someone else's route, not setting it.
You want to build real decision-making skills: route planning, terrain reading, avalanche risk assessment, not just survive the day, but embrace every part of the process.
You're ready to go from contributor to leader on your next backcountry outing.
If you've got an AIARE Level 1 and a season or two of backcountry days under your belt, this is the course that turns "I can follow a route" into "I can build one."
Learn more and reserve your spot for the 2027 Alpine Development School! Early bird pricing — $250 off your deposit — runs July 14–August 14. Limited to 14 spots. April 11–18, 2027 | Valhalla Mountain Touring, BC
Alpine Finishing School
April 24–May 1, 2027 | Selkirk Lodge, BC
Alpine Finishing School is for advanced to expert backcountry skiers and splitboarders who want to learn ski mountaineering skills in a supportive and encouraging environment.
We started this course 15 (!) years ago for women with solid backcountry experience who are ready to push into bigger, more technical terrain. The focus shifts to glacier travel, ski mountaineering, crevasse rescue, and advanced navigation, the skills that open the high alpine and let you move confidently through more challenging terrain.
The objectives are big. The terrain is demanding. The conversations over dinner run deep. Most courses make their way to Primrose Peak, a reliable and awe-inducing objective in its own right — and when conditions align, some groups go even further, summiting the more committing Justice Peak. Either way, these are the days that build the kind of experience you can't fast-track.
"The absolute highlight was summiting Justice Peak as a team and skiing the length of the spring corn-covered glacier. The [Alpine Finishing School] really honed my big mountain skills, especially glacier travel — and it was amazing to put it all together with the most supportive group of women ever." - Alpine Finishing School Participant
"Finding female mentors in the backcountry can be challenging, and this course felt like the perfect hybrid between learning and mentorship." - Alpine Finishing School Participant
Course Rhythm
Average tour: 2–3 hours
Typical vertical gain: 2,000–3,000 feet
Skills practice and classroom instruction: 3–4 hours per day
One major objective day: 6–7 hours, approximately 4,000 feet of vertical gain
Lodge Life at Selkirk Lodge
Your classroom is the high alpine. Perched on a glacier and reachable only by helicopter, Selkirk Lodge is about as far from ordinary life as it gets — you'll melt snow for water, rely on solar power, and use composting toilets. But off-grid doesn't mean uncomfortable: expect wood-fired heat, cozy bedrooms, a spacious common area, a gear drying room, Starlink Wi-Fi, breathtaking scenery in every direction, and delicious meals that taste better than they have any right to at altitude.
Alpine Finishing School might be right for you if:
You're already comfortable operating independently in the backcountry as a skier or splitboarder — multiple seasons, 50+ days, multi-day trips are familiar territory.
You're ready to add glacier travel, rope systems, and crevasse rescue to your skill set.
You want technical ski mountaineering training, not just more touring days.
Learn more and reserve your spot for the 2027 Alpine Finishing School! Early bird pricing — $250 off your deposit — runs July 14–August 14. Limited to 14 spots. April 24–May 1, 2027 | Selkirk Lodge, BC
At a Glance
Alpine Development School | Alpine Finishing School |
Advanced ski and splitboard touring | Ski mountaineering |
6–8 hour tour days | 2–3 hour tours + skills sessions |
3,000–6,000 ft of vertical per day | 2,000–3,000 ft of vertical per day |
Digital route planning & decision-making | Map & compass, glacier travel, rope systems |
Non-glaciated terrain | Glaciated terrain |
Minimal classroom time | Significant skills practice & classroom time |
Valhalla Mountain Touring — sauna, hot showers, indoor plumbing | Selkirk Lodge — helicopter-accessed, off-grid comforts, hot showers |
Still Not Sure? A Few Questions That Help:
"I have my AIARE Level 1 — which course?" If you completed your certification recently and want to build real field experience, Alpine Development School is a natural next step. If you've been putting your AIARE training to use for several seasons and are ready for bigger terrain, Alpine Finishing School may be where you belong.
"I've done some backcountry but always with others who lead — is Alpine Development School for me?" Yes. Alpine Development School is specifically designed for this: women who are ready to move from following to contributing to leading.
"Can I do both?" We recommend Alpine Development School one year and Alpine Finishing School the next. It's a natural progression — and worth planning for.
Still have questions? Email us at hskildum@shejumps.org — we genuinely love helping people find the right fit!
Both courses fill quickly! Early Bird Pricing is available: enjoy $250 off your deposit from July 14, 2026, until August 14, 2026.