Trips and Skill Classes

Call 406-243-5172, email or visit us in person for more information. The Outdoor Program is located on the northeast corner of the Fitness and Recreation Center.

Classes are open to the public, while trips are open to the UM community only.  All pretrip meetings are held in the Outdoor Program.

Land

Date: March 19th - 25th

Cost: $415

Spring Break! You cannot find a better way to spend your break than in the beautiful dessert of Capitol Reef National Park. You will navigate your way through narrow slot canyons and high desert walls, while backpacking through a remote section of the National Park. Cost includes transportation, camping and park fees, some group gear, and trip leaders.

Register here!

Dates: Apri 4, 6, 11, and 13; 6-8pm at the ODP

Cost: $50

Register here!

Rock

Dates: Every Tuesday from 5-7pm between September 6 - October 25

Cost: $15

This is a great clinic to learn what it takes to rope climb on the wall. Gear, knots, belay techniques and more will be covered.

Register here!

Dates: March 3rd, 2-4pm & March 4th, 1-4pm

Cost: $40

A two-session clinic at the Climbing Wall to teach you how to lead climb. If online registration is closed please call the Outdoor Program at (406) 243-5172 or stop by to register in person.

Register here!

Dates: April 30

Cost: $32 for members, $40 for non-members

 

Register here!

Snow

Date: February 1, 6-7pm at ODP

Cost: $15

Hands-on instruction tuning your gear up for the winter season. If online registration is closed please call the Outdoor Program at (406) 243-5172 or stop by to register in person.

Register here!

Date: February 15, 6-7pm at ODP

Cost: $15

Hands-on instruction tuning your gear up for the winter season. If online registration is closed please call the Outdoor Program at (406) 243-5172 or stop by to register in person.

Register here!

Date: March 4th (9am - 5pm) and March 5th (1 - 4pm)

Pre-Trip Meeting: March 1st, 5-6pm at the Outdoor Program

Cost: $95

An introduction to mountaineering. We will be teaching trip planning, self arrests, rope travel and how to build basic snow anchors.

Register here!

Date: January 21st, all day

Pre-Trip Meeting: January 18th, 5-6pm at the Outdoor Program

Cost: $50

Great for all levels, this cross-country ski outing will take you to Lolo Pass. Our instructors will teach the techniques needed to be confident on cross-country skis, while exploring the trails around Lolo Pass. Price includes instruction, equipment, and transportation. Contact the Outdoor Program at 406-243-5172 if you have any questions.

Register here!

Date: January 28th, all day

Pre-Trip Meeting: January 25th, 5-6pm at the Outdoor Program

Cost: $50

Great for all levels, this cross-country ski outing will take you to Lolo Pass. Our instructors will teach the techniques needed to be confident on cross-country skis, while exploring the trails around Lolo Pass. Price includes instruction, equipment, and transportation. Contact the Outdoor Program at 406-243-5172 if you have any questions.

Register here!

Date: February 11th, all day

Pre-Trip Meeting: February 8th, 5-6pm at the Outdoor Program

Cost: $50

Great for all levels, this cross-country ski outing will take you to Lolo Pass. Our instructors will teach the techniques needed to be confident on cross-country skis, while exploring the trails around Lolo Pass. Price includes instruction, equipment, and transportation. Contact the Outdoor Program at 406-243-5172 if you have any questions.

Register here!

Date: February 17th -20th

Pre-Trip Meeting: February 15th, 5-6pm at the Outdoor Program

Cost: $375

Presidents Weekend Trip! Stay three nights at the North Fork Hostel along the NF Flathead River. Enjoy cross-country skiing and exploring this beautiful area of Glacier National Park. Lodging, transportation, equipment and trip leaders included.

Register here!

Date: February 25th, all day

Pre-Trip Meeting: February 22nd, 5-6pm at the Outdoor Program

Cost: $50

Great for all levels, this cross-country ski outing will take you to Lolo Pass. Our instructors will teach the techniques needed to be confident on cross-country skis, while exploring the trails around Lolo Pass. Price includes instruction, equipment, and transportation. Contact the Outdoor Program at 406-243-5172 if you have any questions.

Register here!

Date: March 4th, all day

Pre-Trip Meeting: March 1st, 5-6pm at the Outdoor Program

Cost: $50

Great for all levels, this cross-country ski outing will take you to Lolo Pass. Our instructors will teach the techniques needed to be confident on cross-country skis, while exploring the trails around Lolo Pass. Price includes instruction, equipment, and transportation. Contact the Outdoor Program at 406-243-5172 if you have any questions.

Register here!

Dates: January 3 - 8, 2023

Cost: $520

Click Here to Register

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Format:

2 part classroom component + 2-day field component

Classroom Component | Tuesday 1.3.23 & Thursday 1.5.23 | WEBCAST 6pm-10pm | 8 hours Total

Field Component| Saturday 1.7.23 & Sunday 1.8.23 | Rattlesnake Wilderness 8am-4pm | 16 Hours Total

THIS SEASON’S FEMALES ONLY “SAVY” (She’s Avy Savy) LEVEL 1 COURSE IS DESIGNED FOR CURRENT AND ASPIRING FEMALE BACKCOUNTRY TRAVELERS. THIS COURSE FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING A SOLID FOUNDATION IN AVALANCHE KNOWLEDGE AND BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL SKILLS. THIS COURSE FOLLOWS THE AMERICAN AVALANCHE ASSOCIATION (A3) CURRICULUM. INSTRUCTORS COVER INFORMATION GATHERING AND DECISION-MAKING STRATEGIES FOR STAYING SAFE IN THE WINTER BACKCOUNTRY. FORTY PERCENT OF THE COURSE IS CLASSROOM-BASED AND THE OTHER SIXTY PERCENT IS FIELD-BASED. PARTICIPANTS WILL TRAVEL IN THE BACKCOUNTRY, IN AND AROUND AVALANCHE TERRAIN.

This course focuses on the following:

  • Basic avalanche terminology
  • Recognizing avalanche terrain
  • Travel procedures in avalanche terrain
  • Formation of the mountain snowpack
  • How weather changes the snowpack
  • Human factors and how they can influence decision-making
  • Interpreting the avalanche forecast and advisory
  • Tour planning
  • Avalanche transceiver use and rescue skills
  • Field observations of terrain, snowpack, and weather
  • Use and interpretation of stability tests
  • Prioritizing information, working as a team, and minimizing possible human factor traps
  • Next steps

Courses Include:

  • All Workbooks and Instruction
  • Lift Tickets if Accessing the Backcountry from a Ski Area
  • Participants must Provide:
  • Their own Backcountry Skiing or Splitboarding Equipment
  • Avalanche Beacon, Shovel, Probe
  • Transportation to the course location
  • Their own Food on Field Days

Classroom: All classroom session presentations will be provided over Zoom or Crowdcast. You will be provided login information after registering.

Field Days: To help facilitate smaller touring and field learning group sizes these classes will now be taught by 1 lead instructor and 2 additional instructors. Groups will split in half for each field day and one group will practice avalanche rescue, beacon skills, group dynamics, and snowpits, and the other group will focus on touring decisions, group dynamics, terrain selection, and snowpits and snow stability evaluation. This change will increase our cost to run these courses substantially, but we value your health, safety, and want your experience to lead to the best possible learning outcome.

Cancelation Policy:

STANDARD POLICY – If notice of cancellation is received within 30 days of the course we will offer a full refund. If notice is received 14-30 days before the course we will offer a 50% refund of course costs. If notice of cancellation is received within 14 days of the course no refund can be given.

Dates: January 17 - 22, 2023

Cost: $520

Click Here to Register

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Format:

2 part classroom component + 2-day field component

Classroom Component | Tuesday 1.17.23 & Thursday 1.19.23 | WEBCAST 6pm-10pm | 8 hours Total

Field Component | Saturday 1.21.23 & Sunday 1.22.23 | Lost Trail Ski Area 8am-4pm | 16 Hours Total

The level 1 course is designed for current and aspiring backcountry travelers. This course focuses on developing a solid foundation in avalanche knowledge and backcountry travel skills. Following the American Avalanche Association (A3) curriculum instructors cover systematic approaches for sorting and prioritizing information in the complex environment of decision-making in the backcountry. Forty percent of the course is classroom-based and the other sixty percent is field-based. Participants will travel in the backcountry, in and around avalanche terrain.

This course focuses on the following:

  • Basic avalanche terminology
  • Recognizing avalanche terrain
  • Travel procedures in avalanche terrain
  • Formation of the mountain snowpack
  • How weather changes the snowpack
  • Human factors and how they can influence decision-making
  • Interpreting the avalanche forecast and advisory
  • Tour planning
  • Avalanche transceiver use and rescue skills
  • Field observations of terrain, snowpack, and weather
  • Use and interpretation of stability tests
  • Prioritizing information, working as a team, and minimizing possible human factor traps
  • Next steps

Courses Include:

  • All Workbooks and Instruction
  • Lift Tickets if Accessing the Backcountry from a Ski Area
  • Participants must Provide:
  • Their own Backcountry Skiing or Splitboarding Equipment
  • Avalanche Beacon, Shovel, Probe
  • Transportation to the course location
  • Their own Food on Field Days

Classroom: All classroom session presentations will be provided over Zoom or Crowdcast. You will be provided login information after registering.

Field Days: To help facilitate smaller touring and field learning group sizes these classes will now be taught by 1 lead instructor and 2 additional instructors. Groups will split in half for each field day and one group will practice avalanche rescue, beacon skills, group dynamics, and snowpits, and the other group will focus on touring decisions, group dynamics, terrain selection, and snowpits and snow stability evaluation. This change will increase our cost to run these courses substantially, but we value your health, safety, and want your experience to lead to the best possible learning outcome.

Cancelation Policy:

STANDARD POLICY – If notice of cancellation is received within 30 days of the course we will offer a full refund. If notice is received 14-30 days before the course we will offer a 50% refund of course costs. If notice of cancellation is received within 14 days of the course no refund can be given.

Dates: January 24 - 29, 2023

Cost: $520

Click Here to Register

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Format:

2 part classroom component + 2-day field component

Classroom Component | Tuesday 1.24.23 & Thursday 1.26.23 | WEBCAST 6pm-10pm | 8 hours Total

Field Component | Saturday 1.28.23 & Sunday 1.29.23 | Rattlesnake Wilderness 8am-4pm | 16 Hours Total

The level 1 course is designed for current and aspiring backcountry travelers. This course focuses on developing a solid foundation in avalanche knowledge and backcountry travel skills. Following the American Avalanche Association (A3) curriculum instructors cover systematic approaches for sorting and prioritizing information in the complex environment of decision-making in the backcountry. Forty percent of the course is classroom-based and the other sixty percent is field-based. Participants will travel in the backcountry, in and around avalanche terrain.

This course focuses on the following:

  • Basic avalanche terminology
  • Recognizing avalanche terrain
  • Travel procedures in avalanche terrain
  • Formation of the mountain snowpack
  • How weather changes the snowpack
  • Human factors and how they can influence decision-making
  • Interpreting the avalanche forecast and advisory
  • Tour planning
  • Avalanche transceiver use and rescue skills
  • Field observations of terrain, snowpack, and weather
  • Use and interpretation of stability tests
  • Prioritizing information, working as a team, and minimizing possible human factor traps
  • Next steps

Courses Include:

  • All Workbooks and Instruction
  • Lift Tickets if Accessing the Backcountry from a Ski Area
  • Participants must Provide:
  • Their own Backcountry Skiing or Splitboarding Equipment
  • Avalanche Beacon, Shovel, Probe
  • Transportation to the course location
  • Their own Food on Field Days

Classroom: All classroom session presentations will be provided over Zoom or Crowdcast. You will be provided login information after registering.

Field Days: To help facilitate smaller touring and field learning group sizes these classes will now be taught by 1 lead instructor and 2 additional instructors. Groups will split in half for each field day and one group will practice avalanche rescue, beacon skills, group dynamics, and snowpits, and the other group will focus on touring decisions, group dynamics, terrain selection, and snowpits and snow stability evaluation. This change will increase our cost to run these courses substantially, but we value your health, safety, and want your experience to lead to the best possible learning outcome.

Cancelation Policy:

STANDARD POLICY – If notice of cancellation is received within 30 days of the course we will offer a full refund. If notice is received 14-30 days before the course we will offer a 50% refund of course costs. If notice of cancellation is received within 14 days of the course no refund can be given.

Water

Date: March 19th - 25th

Cost: $535

Spring Break! Spend a week canoeing the Labyrinth Canyon of the Green River in Utah. What is considered by some to be one of the premier canoeing trips in America. Canoe 45 miles from Ruby Ranch to Mineral Button with several side hikes along the way.

Register here!

Study Abroad

Take the trip of a lifetime!

Mountaineering in Peru

Campus Recreation is an equal opportunity service provider that conducts certain activities under special permit with the US Forest Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Bureau of Land Management. The University of Montana's Campus Recreation trips are permitted on the Lolo, Bitterroot, and Clearwater National Forests (Clause VII.B.). The UM Outdoor Program is partners with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and a member of the American Canoe Association, Trout Unlimited, The Access Fund and the Professional Ski Instructors of America.