March Magic: Mother Daughter Hut Based Backcountry Ski Camp Recap!
We recently hosted our second ever Mother-Daughter camp in Cooke City, Montana! Our all-time crew consisted of two guides, Lindsay and Nina and three mother-daughter pairs- each bringing unique perspectives and experiences from three different states. With the goals of safety, learning, teamwork, and fun in our back pocket, the group set off with a palpable tone of excitement and a sense of adventure in the air.
Kicking off the weekend with an educational mindset, the walk into the Woody Creek cabin was spent discussing potential avalanche hazards, snow conditions, and getting familiar with new gear. For those who were less practiced, learning to put on skins and use touring bindings was a fun challenge that everyone picked up quickly.
The group was excited to learn and quickly dove into a high-spirited discussion surrounding our ‘controllables’ and best practices in avalanche terrain. It was great to hear different perspectives on risk and led nicely into a companion rescue clinic that first afternoon. Many of the group members who attended our Mother Daughter Avalanche Level One last February remarked on the significance of continued education and how many new skills they picked up in this second camp. Approaching backcountry skiing with a lifelong learner’s mindset and continued practice with mentors is so valuable! We hope to continue empowering and supporting this group’s progression and skill development as backcountry travelers through future camps. (and because skiing with all-women in the backcountry is just SO fun)
After a cozy first evening settling into the cabin, day two consisted of a longer tour, terrain assessment discussions, and the most beautiful sunshine we could ask for! Due to stable avalanche conditions and a motivated collective spirit, everyone got to ski an exciting chute called Krumholtz Alley. With contagious excitement, we decided to enjoy a second lap of pow turns on a ridge run off Upper Hayden. Tired legs and big smiles prompted the walk back home to the Woody Creek Cabin. Luckily, the adrenaline of skiing engaging new terrain helped with group’s inevitable fatigue after a long day of exploring and challenging breakable crust conditions on the slog back. During the entirety of this camp, we were impressed with this group’s willingness to debrief each day with thoughtful reflections. Talking through observations and avalanche conditions is a great way to identify what you may have missed and how you can better prepare for the next adventure!
We rounded the weekend out with a small morning tour on day 3 and a few fun rescue-based relay races before walking back out to the cars. It was a great way to solidify the group bond, skills learned, and trip takeaways. One of our rockstar guides shared a few of her reflections on the camp:
“This camp is always a highlight of my guide season and every year I look forward to it. Teaching young women and their moms how to backcountry ski, but also doing so with good mountain style is pretty rad. I love working these camps with Lindsay as my co-guide. I learn a lot from her and we work really well together as a team.
We had an amazing weekend with great students and perfect weather. Day 2 of the camp was memorable–we skied two runs and found amazing, cold powder on a sunny, spring day. I’m so proud of the girls for challenging themselves, maintaining good attitudes, asking great questions, and working together as a team. The mountains around Cooke City are special, and I’m psyched to be able to share this place with a group of wonderful women and girls.” -Nina Marienthal
