Backcountry Skiing

Backcountry Splitboarding Gear, Techniques, and Training with NOLS

Explore the world of backcountry splitboarding with NOLS! Explore gear, techniques, and backcountry travel for an exhilarating journey beyond the ...

A quinzhee stands in deep snow in front of a mountain while a pair of skis rests outside its entrance.

How To Build a Winter Snow Shelter

Excited to go winter camping? These pro tips and instructions teach you how to build a quinzhee shelter out of snow instead of using a tent.

NOLS kayaks on a sandy beach in Baja with turquoise water and coastal mountains

Spring Break 2020: Get Ready for Adventure

Make spring break 2020 the ultimate outdoor adventure! Join NOLS to paddle the Baja coast, backcountry ski in the Rockies, or rock climb in the ...

Person wearing a backpack backcountry skis down hill toward pines below

3 Mottos I Learned From My AMGA Ski Guide Training

While she's still not sure if she wants to be a ski guide, NOLS instructor Jesse Quillian has some lessons to share from her recent training.

3 Mottos I Learned From My AMGA Ski Guide Training

Person skiing down a snowy slope — Managing loose dry sluffs in "Mozambique." Photo by Mike Poborsky, Course Director.

In Spring 2019, NOLS instructor Jesse Quillian, also the field staffing director, participated in a 10-day AMGA Ski Guide Course based out of Jackson, WY, through the support of NOLS’ Pete Absolon Memorial Endowment and the Field Instructor Development Fund.

Kayakers on the coast with green hills in the background

Winter & Spring 2020 Expeditions Now Online

Don’t let these dates sneak up on you—summer’s going by quickly and winter will be here before you know it.

Person backcountry touring in winter landscape with Tetons in the background

Everything You Need to Know About Winter Camping

NOLS instructor Katie Oram shares everything she knows about winter camping—we mean everything.

Group of four people smiling and wearing touring skis with mountains in the background

Meeting the Experts: NOLS Winter Instructor Kate Koons

Skiing and winter camping are the bread and butter of NOLS winter instructor Kate Koons

Educator Expedition: Winter Exploring

Educator Training: AIARE Avalanche 1 Course

Educator Expedition: Avalanche Training in the Tetons

Educator Expedition: Skiing Alaska’s Thompson Pass

NOLS participant pulling sled looks out across a snowfield to distant mountains while backcountry touring

Our Favorite Winter Photos

Check out our top favorite photos from NOLS winter courses.

Pathfinding on an Outdoor Semester

Read how Matt used his veterans benefits to fund a semester in the Rockies and found the space and direction to consider a career in the natural ...