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Backcountry Ski Guide Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Eleven Experience

Snow Safety Manager

Crested Butte, CO · On-site

$6.0K/mo

At each destination our guided backcountry adventures await guests of all ages and skill levels ... Minimum of 5 years ski industry supervisory experience * Minimum of 10 years professional snow ...

Forest Service

Meteorological Technician

Jackson, WY · On-site +1

$19.52/hr

Experienced guiding paying clients in avalanche explosive mitigation work, or providing avalanche ... ski area; Maintained seasonal records of snowpack, weather and avalanche observations for ...

Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center

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Respiratory Therapist

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

$30 - $43.75/hr

For details about our benefits, visit our Benefits Guide. Ready to join our team? Explore current ... In the winter there are designated snowmobile routes and backcountry skiing. Monarch Ski ...

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Backcountry Ski Guide information

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How much do backcountry ski guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for backcountry ski guide in the United States is $19.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.70 and $19.95 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a backcountry ski guide?

To thrive as a Backcountry Ski Guide, you need advanced skiing skills, avalanche awareness, wilderness first aid knowledge, and extensive outdoor experience, usually supported by certifications like AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) and WFR (Wilderness First Responder). Familiarity with avalanche beacons, GPS navigation, radios, and route-finding apps is essential for maintaining group safety and effective trip planning. Excellent communication, risk assessment, leadership, and decision-making skills help guides manage client needs and ensure group cohesion in challenging conditions. These competencies are crucial to lead safe, enjoyable, and well-coordinated backcountry trips in remote and often unpredictable mountain environments.

What does a backcountry ski guide do?

A Backcountry Ski Guide leads skiers through off-piste terrain, ensuring safety while providing an enjoyable experience. They assess weather and avalanche conditions, plan routes, and offer instruction on skiing techniques and backcountry safety. Guides must be skilled in navigation, first aid, and avalanche rescue. Their job is to minimize risks while delivering a rewarding adventure in remote and challenging environments.

What does a typical day look like for a backcountry ski guide?

A typical day for a Backcountry Ski Guide begins with monitoring weather and avalanche forecasts, planning safe routes, and preparing necessary gear and safety equipment. Guides meet with clients to review the day's objectives, provide briefings on safety protocols, and conduct equipment checks before heading out. Throughout the trip, they lead group navigation, manage pace, assess snow and avalanche risks, and offer instruction on skiing techniques as needed. Collaboration with other guides or rescue personnel may be required, especially in more challenging terrain or larger groups. Each day brings variety and requires adaptability, as conditions can change rapidly in the backcountry environment.

What are the most commonly searched types of Backcountry Ski Guide jobs? The most popular types of Backcountry Ski Guide jobs are:
What states have the most Backcountry Ski Guide jobs? States with the most job openings for Backcountry Ski Guide jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Backcountry Ski Guide jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Backcountry Ski Guide jobs are:
Backcountry Ski Guide jobs near you
Infographic showing various Backcountry Ski Guide job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,987 per year, or $19.7 per hour.

Snow Safety Manager

Eleven Experience

Crested Butte, CO • On-site

$6.0K/mo

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

About Us
Eleven is like no other place. We're an adventure travel company with a diverse portfolio of intimate, extraordinary adventure lodges in remote locations around the world. We strive to give every one of our guests the best day of their life everyday, whether heli-skiing near the Arctic Circle in Iceland or casting for bonefish on a remote island in the Bahamas. At each destination our guided backcountry adventures await guests of all ages and skill levels. Our lodges, chalets, and beach houses combine five-star accommodations with incredible cuisine. To our guests we are trusted, down to Earth, smart, innovative, discrete and fun. To our international team, we are a community with genuine camaraderie, and we value creativity, work ethic, kindness, and strong communication. Our success is dependent on our employees' well being, and we continue to evolve more programs and benefits to support work life balance, and remain open to ideas, feedback, and new sustainable approaches. We take pride in promoting employees from within who prove to be committed, valuable, and have a genuine desire to grow.
Position Summary
Irwin Backcountry Guides is seeking an experienced Snow Safety Manager to lead avalanche mitigation and snow safety operations in Crested Butte, Colorado. This role is responsible for developing and executing snow safety programs, monitoring weather and snowpack conditions, managing hazard mitigation activities, and helping ensure the safety of guests, staff, and operations in mountain environments. The ideal candidate has strong avalanche knowledge, leadership experience, sound judgment, and the ability to perform in dynamic winter conditions. This is a full-time, season position offering a salary of $6,000 per month. The Winter season runs mid-November through mid-April.
Position Purpose
The Snow Safety Manager is a member of the Irwin Guides leadership team with primary responsibilities focused on avalanche forecasting, assessment, mitigation, training, and documentation. The Snow Safety manager supports the Mountain Manager and Guide Manager with operations supervisor and guiding duties as needed.
Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks
Daily
  • Lead avalanche forecasting, assessment, and hazard mitigation efforts
    • Manage the snow safety portion of AM & PM guide meetings.
    • Manage all run openings and closings
  • Work as a certified Blaster-in-Charge during avalanche mitigation
  • Perform operations manager and/or guiding duties as required

Ongoing
  • Oversee weather, snowpack, and avalanche database entry
  • Oversee daily observations submission
  • Collaborate on snow safety scheduling
  • Produce avalanche incident documentation
  • Purchase, store, and document explosive usage per Colorado and ATF requirements
    • Maintain current State and Federal explosives permits and licenses.
    • Serve as an ATF Responsible Person

Seasonal
  • Develop and manage the explosives training program
  • Develop and manage snow safety mentorship and training programs
  • Manage the boot packing program
  • Create the snow safety portion of the End of Season Report
  • Oversee revisions of Avalanche Rescue and Snow Safety Operating Plans

Preferred Qualifications
  • Pro 2 Avalanche Certification or equivalent.
  • Minimum Wilderness First Responder & CPR Certification.
  • Colorado Type 1 Explosives Permit or the ability to obtain one
  • Minimum of 5 years ski industry supervisory experience
  • Minimum of 10 years professional snow safety experience
  • High level operational weather and avalanche forecasting skills
  • High level operational risk management skills
  • Strong organization and communication skills
  • Strong work ethic, teamwork, and dynamic decision making skills.
  • High level self and social awareness
  • Experience with professional mentoring and training

Special Position Requirements
  • Must be comfortable traveling in complex avalanche terrain
  • Must be comfortable transporting, storing, assembling, and detonating explosives

Work Requirements
  • Expert skiing skills
  • Must be able to snowmobile to/from Irwin in all conditions
  • Must be able to work all day in a high elevation extreme winter weather environment
  • Must be able to lift 50+ pounds repeatedly.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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