Info & Access

Shames Mountain Ski Corporation does not in any way condone or promote any backcountry endeavors.

Should you choose to journey beyond the ski area boundary remember, there is no direct rescue available and should you require a rescue you may be required to pay rescue fees and/or other related costs.

NO ONE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU EXCEPT YOURSELF.

Rider Mike Talstra

Welcome to the land of the steep and deep!
Shames Mountain’s terrain leasehold is 7,800 acres, only 225 of which are patrolled-this means backcountry options are truly endless. Backcountry travel opens up a whole new world of adventure. There’s nothing like exploring seemingly endless terrain filled with an abundance of untracked powder, adventure and challenge.

Venturing into the backcountry can be a transformational experience and thousands of people are figuring that out. Backcountry snow travel has become exponentially popular over the last few years, especially as more ski areas open their boundaries to allow access to terrain that goes on as far as the adventurer is willing to travel.

Backcountry groups departing from Shames Mountain should be led by experienced people. The leader should have planned the trip with adequate safety equipment, knowledge of avalanche danger, the terrain and the current weather forecast.  Backcountry travel is for expert skiers/snowboarders who are physically fit and have avalanche training. Each group should evaluate the current snow stability and avalanche danger and make decisions in regard to route and backcountry objectives.   Avalanche conditions can change rapidly and with little warning.  Shames Mountain Ski Corporation is unable to verify avalanche conditions in the backcountry.

This is the responsibility of the backcountry traveler.

Backcountry Access

The Shames Mountain backcountry is expert terrain and avalanches can be triggered anywhere outside the ski area boundary.   Access is from the top of the T bar, the bottom of Deliverance or the rarely used route going up from Big Bunny.  Trips into the Shames backcountry vary from a short 5 minute bootpack accessing fantastic glades; to overnight trips into tree-line and high alpine where you can drop 3000 vertical down into bowls, chutes or glades. 

From the top of the T Bar hike the bootpack up the ridge to the 1st Knoll (about a 5 minute hike) where you can head off left to connect with Deliverance or head right into the V (of Love) and come out on Terminator.  Carry on along the ridge to the 2nd Knoll, where the terrain is more open and steep (which means more avalanche prone).

From the 3rd Knoll you can stay on the ridge until you reach the bottom of  “The Dome,” to the right towards the ski area are the Fay-zars, half a dozen steep chutes that lead into The “V”.  Hike right up “The Dome” and ski back the way you came, or drop in to the North Bowl on the left side. 

That's just the tip of the iceberg... so to speak. To venture further a field you should find a knowledgeable local to get you to the real goodies like Zymbuktu, Zymbuktu and a Half, or Zymbuk-3, Hidden Lake, Cherry
Bowl, Perma-Grin Bowl, Super Bowl, No Dogs, The G-Spot, Thunder Bowl and many more mind-blowing lines.

If you plan to travel the Backcountry, be sure to read our page on Safety which covers the following topics:

• Recommended Equipment for Backcountry Travel
• Layers
• Flotation
• Avalanche Assessment
• Don’t Forget Your Head

Photo Credits: Justin Spearing