2026 SheJumps Alpine Finishing School | BC | Presented by Arc'teryx

This course is designed for advanced to expert backcountry skiers and riders who want to grow their technical skill set, move more efficiently in challenging terrain, and build trust within a rope team while chasing backcountry ambitions. It's about sharpening the skills you already have—and adding new ones that open up bigger objectives. At Alpine Finishing School, you’ll practice ski mountaineering skills and advanced decision making in complex terrain.

• Recognize terrain features that matter. Refine in your ability to read complex alpine terrain to support route planning and reduce exposure to hazards.
• Navigate confidently in glaciated and technical environments. Use a map and compass with confidence, including adjustable declination, to find your way in complex environments.
• Travel smart on a rope. Practice roped travel techniques, identify and avoid hazards, and stay connected through clear, effective communication.
• Level up your technical toolkit. Use ice axes, crampons, harnesses, belay devices, and hauling systems for crevasse, self- and partner-rescue scenarios.
• Be a solid mountain partner. Contribute to a supportive, capable group—where everyone’s learning, leading, and showing up for each other..

This is where advanced backcountry experience meets true alpine progression. You’ll come away with practical mountaineering skills, more confidence in technical terrain, and the ability to be a solid partner in big mountain environments. If you’re looking to take your backcountry skills to the next level, this course is built for you.

The 2026 SheJumps Alpine Finishing School is led by ACMG-certified ski guides, in collaboration with SheJumps, a US public charity (68-0662227) dedicated to increasing the participation of women and girls in outdoor activities.

This is not an intro course. Alpine Finishing School is for experienced backcountry skiers and splitboarders who want to level up in complex terrain, rope systems, and glacier travel. At a minimum, you should have AT LEAST three prior seasons (50+ days total) of human powered backcountry skiing/splitboarding experience. A minimum of a level one recreational avalanche certification(AST 1, AIARE 1, or comparable) is required. To get the most out of this program—and to support a strong, cohesive group—you’ll need a solid foundation of experience, fitness, and avalanche education before you arrive.

The lodge sits at 7,200 ft (2,200 meters) and serves as home base for all tours. That means comfort moving and living in a high-altitude environment is a must. Come prepared—and we’ll help you unlock new levels of skill, confidence, and self-reliance in the mountains.

• Avalanche Education: Completed AIARE 1, AST 1, AAI Level 1, or equivalent avalanche course.
• Experience: At least three seasons and 50+ days of human-powered backcountry skiing or splitboarding.
• Fitness: Ability to ski 3,000 vertical feet (1,000 meters) per day with a 20 lb pack, multiple days in a row—no rest days. Be prepared to push 6,000 ft on bigger days.
• Skill Level: Expert skiing or riding ability. Confident on 35° slopes in all types of snow including powder, windboard, breakable crust, chunder, icy conditions, and spring mash.
• Equipment Proficiency: Efficient with your gear—especially boots, skins, bindings–and can transition quickly.
• Multi-Day Touring Experience: Previous experience on multi-day backcountry trips, with back-to-back big days, not just one-off tours.
• Pre-Course Learning: Commitment to learning basic knots and rope systems through provided materials before the course begins.
• Recommended: Previous participation in SheJumps Alpine Development School or similar backcountry education is strongly encouraged.

Please read the FAQs or contact us if you have questions on skill level.

Expect a balance of skiing and learning. This isn’t about stacking vert or chasing big lines—it’s about building skills. Our goal is to ski everyday (sometimes just half days), with classroom sessions woven in. Topics include glacier travel, crevasse rescue, navigation, route planning, and more. As always, weather and avalanche conditions are outside of our control and will dictate where we can go, and there is a chance that we may not be able to ski some days or venture too far from the lodge. Conditions will guide our plans, but over the week we typically summit peaks, travel on big glaciers, and score some epic descents. For a look into past year's Alpine Finishing School courses, check out this video of the SheJumps Alpine Finishing School Presented by Arc'teryx and this write up from Spring McClurg about the 2017 course.

LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE? If you have less than three seasons of backcountry experience but are ready for big days in the mountains, check out our . If you are looking to experience deep winter skiing conditions in a learning environment, check out our course.

The TOTAL cost of the course is $3,950 USD. A $500 USD non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space. You will receive instructions on final payment (less your $500 USD non-refundable deposit) upon acceptance of your application. (If you are paying in CAD, please pay your deposit in USD, and then contact us to pay your balance in CAD.) Half of the payment ($1,725 USD) will be due on October 15, 2025, and the remaining tuition amount ($1,725 USD) is due January 15, 2026. Payment plans are available. If you sign up for the course after the midpoint payment date of October 15, 2025 and are accepted, you will be invoiced for 50% of the course fee, due within 10 days of acceptance.

This price includes equitable wages for guides and lodge staff, helicopter transportation to and from the lodge, all meals and snacks, guiding, course instruction, and lodging. Gratuity for the guides/lodge caretakers is not included. It's customary to tip the guides at the end of the trip, and we recommend 10-15% of the trip price. All tips are shared by guides, and lodge staff. Please note that you are under no obligation to tip, but it's highly recommended.

Once you are accepted into the course, your deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel your reservation more than three months from the start of your trip, we will refund your payment, less the non-refundable deposit. If we receive your cancellation request within 31 to 90 days of your start date, we will retain 50% of your payment and refund the balance. If you cancel within 30 days of your start date, or fail to appear, you are responsible for and will be charged/billed the full amount of your trip.

**We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance for this event.** Previous years have included medical helicopter evacuations from the lodge and last minute cancellations due to injuries or unexpected family obligations. We always hope that everything goes smoothly, but it's best to be prepared for the unexpected.

Upon submitting your $500 deposit, you will be asked a series of questions pertaining to your skiing/splitboarding abilities and experience in the backcountry. You are also required to provide a couple of references; these should be people with whom you have spent time in the backcountry. SheJumps staff and the course guides screen all applicants prior to acceptance into the course to ensure the course maintains a similar skill level between participants. However, please keep in mind when signing up for this course that we do our best to screen, but on large group trips, ability levels will likely still vary.

Upon acceptance into the course, we will then provide you with a comprehensive gear list and logistical information to help you plan your trip.

Kate Devine, ACMG Ski Guide, Owner/Operator of the Selkirk Lodge: Kate Devine was born into a mountain lifestyle. Her family built the Selkirk Backcountry Lodge near Revelstoke, BC and she started ski touring there as a kid with her parents. Kate went on to pursue a guiding career, passing her first guides exam at 24. Kate is a great role model for young, independent mountain women. She has been teaching for the Alpine Finishing School since its inception and brings an amazing amount of experience to the course. She has an incredibly thorough knowledge of the terrain surrounding the lodge and is passionate about sharing it with people from all over the world.

Christine Feleki, ACMG Ski Guide: Based in Ucluelet, B.C., Christine is one of the hardest working women in the industry. An ACMG hiking guide in summers and Canada’s first woman to be certified as a snowboard guide; no matter the season, she is teaching safe backcountry travel. Christine is ahead of the game in so many ways, behind her friendly smile lies a calculated and driven mind that will get you to the goods without sacrificing a good time. Her passion for sharing the mountains with other inspired women is only outmatched by her ability to out-ride most of the guys out there. In 2021, Christine became the first fully certified female ACMG splitboard guide in Canada.

Shannon Werner, ACMG Ski Guide: As soon as Shannon could walk her parents put her on skis. The Lake Louise Ski Resort became her stomping grounds. Over the years, Shannon dabbled in different competitive aspects of skiing including racing, mogul, big mountain, and, she shyly admits, ballet competitions. She quickly discovered her heart belonged to ski touring and ski mountaineering, seeking those endless powder turns in the backcountry with her passionate partners in crime.

Shannon spent just over a decade Ski Patrolling for Lake Louise & Revelstoke Mountain Resort, and then ventured to the Southern Hemisphere to work as an Avalanche Forecaster in New Zealand. In 2010, Shannon started working for Avalanche Canada as a Public Avalanche Forecaster and coordinates the Youth Program. She became an ACMG Ski Guide and fully enjoys sharing mountain experiences with others. This combined with avalanche education and enabling people to have confidence in decision-making, and enthusiasm for mountain sports and culture is what drives her.

Q: How strong of a skier/boarder do I need to be to take this course?

A: You need to be able to ski or snowboard in a variety of backcountry snow conditions. For example, that doesn’t mean you need to be shredding flawless turns in breakable crust, but you would need to be able to negotiate breakable crust relatively efficiently.

Q: How fit do I need to be?

A: You need to be able to climb and ski a MINIMUM of 3,000 vertical feet/1,000 vertical meters with a 20lb backpack, comfortably, for multiple days in a row. Can push 6,000 vertical feet for a big day. The reason we say minimum is because if this amount of skiing pushes you to your limit, it will be difficult for you to focus on the learning objectives.

Q:How much backcountry skiing experience do I need to have?

A: You should have a minimum of 3 years, totaling AT LEAST 50 days. Be an honest judge of your skills and experience level when it comes to basic ski touring objectives. If you are feeling maxed out most of the time, then you may benefit from waiting one more year.

Q: Is an avalanche course a prerequisite?

A: Yes. You must have completed AIARE/AAI/AST level 1 course or equivalent. It is expected that you have a solid understanding of avalanche types and familiarity with your local avalanche bulletins. We will be reviewing avalanche rescue basics, however it will be just that, a REVIEW. We will be talking about terrain management, decision-making, and risk management so it will be necessary to have prior avalanche education.

Q: What is Selkirk Lodge like?

Tucked into the heart of the Selkirk Mountains, Selkirk Lodge offers a warm and welcoming retreat after a day in the alpine. With cozy bedrooms—ranging from private singles to shared rooms for up to four guests—all outfitted with fluffy down duvets and comfortable beds, you'll feel right at home. The lodge is fully equipped with indoor plumbing, a hot shower, solar electricity, and even internet access, so you can stay connected (or unplug completely).

Each morning begins with the rich aroma of locally roasted coffee and a hearty, delicious breakfast to fuel your adventures. After a full day exploring the mountains, unwind with a tasty après ski snack while the chefs prepare another unforgettable dinner. It’s the perfect blend of comfort, connection, and mountain magic.

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Facility information: There are gender neutral restrooms available. This is not an ADA accessible trip.

Gear and logistics information: Upon acceptance into the course, we will then provide you with a comprehensive gear list and logistical information to help you plan your trip.

We want to support all participants in enjoying this event to the fullest. Please let us know if you have any accommodation requests ahead of the event and we will provide accommodations as we are able to.

Questions? Contact Heidi at aHNraWxkdW0gfCBzaGVqdW1wcyAhIG9yZw==

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All participants must sign the r prior to participating in this event.

Spanish version of our waiver: Todos los participantes deben firmar la antes de participar en este evento.

To prioritize the health of our community, please do not attend a SheJumps event if you are experiencing any cold-like symptoms.

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SheJumps increases the participation of women and girls in outdoor activities to foster confidence, leadership, and connection to nature and community through free and low-cost outdoor education.

SheJumps is an inclusive organization. We welcome all women and girls—transgender and cisgender, as well as non-binary people.

SheJumps strives to fight against racism and acknowledges that our events and programs take place on traditional, unceded Indigenous lands.

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