Tahoe’s Only Resort-Based Backcountry Operation, Expedition: Kirkwood, to Expand into New Operating Hub

Kirkwood Mountain Resort one of the nation’s top year round family lifestyle resorts, hosted the grand opening of Expedition: Kirkwood Outfitters on Saturday, January 29th. Expedition: Kirkwood is North America’s first and California’s premiere resort-based high adventure program offering guests a range of specialty clinics, private guiding and intro to backcountry offerings. The flagship product for Expedition: Kirkwood is a Powder Cat tour operation offering cat skiing out of the resort.

The new venue, located just across the street from the Mountain Village, provides E: K with a true hub of operation for all backcountry programs an exciting and high-end big mountain guide environment. E: K Outfitters oozes mountain culture feature a small conference and education facility, the latest technology in backcountry gear as well as providing detailed maps and overview of back country skiing zones in and around the resort.

“We have always been leading the charge in introducing skiers and riders to the backcountry experience in a responsible way that is focused on education” says Jon Copeland Director of Expedition: Kirkwood”. “The E: K Outfitter is another step forward for us providing guests and guides a place to learn more, get the required information backcountry conditions and safety and sign up for programs. This is an exciting step forward,” continues Copeland.

For the past 10 seasons, Expedition: Kirkwood has pushed the envelope with progressive backcountry programs, from guided tours to the full gamut of classroom-based and on-snow avalanche preparedness and safety courses. While backcountry skiing and riding often comes with the stigma of “experts only,” Expedition: Kirkwood promotes awareness and skills development in skiers and riders of all ages and abilities. E:K’s array of avalanche awareness courses—from a single day course to a multi-day AIARE certification—emphasize terrain evaluation and hazard recognition as the first step to backcountry safety and give first-timers and backcountry veterans the necessary knowledge to minimizing risk. All-mountain clinics utilize Kirkwood’s unique and often extreme in-bounds terrain to train skiers and riders for variable backcountry conditions.

While many ski areas, including Kirkwood, open boundaries to allow guests to access the backcountry from resort lifts, these areas are not patrolled—thus, the burden of safety falls completely on the skier or rider. Expedition: Kirkwood aims to give skiers and snowboarders the necessary skills to safely navigate and ride the legendary steeps, chutes and bowls within and just beyond resort boundaries.

Expedition: Kirkwood also operates Powder Cat Tours, Tahoe’s only resort-based backcountry skiing operation. A passenger-ready, heated snowcat transports guests from the Mountain Village (weather permitting) to some of Kirkwood’s best untracked turns on Martin Point or Red Cliffs. While laps in the backcountry generally require one to “earn their turns” with long hikes on unpacked trails, each cat tour promises four epic runs and requires minimal effort. Expert guides accompany each tour, providing insight to choice lines and a watchful eye to minimize safety hazards.

Inspired by and dedicated to exploring less charted territory, Expedition: Kirkwood Outfitters is a pioneering effort in the resort-based backcountry experience. Unparalleled in the Tahoe region and matched by only a handful of resorts in the ski industry, Expedition: Kirkwood invites and encourages adventurers to choose their own playground, and to know how to do so safely.

About Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Kirkwood Mountain Resort is one of the nation's top year-round family destination lifestyle resorts. Located just 177 miles from the Bay Area along scenic Highway 88, its base elevation of 7,800-feet assures skiers more annual snowfall than any other Tahoe resort. Kirkwood is recognized by winter purists and national media alike for the quality of its snow and terrain variety. Known for its pristine beauty and action-packed expeditions and events, winter fun includes skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, sled dog tours, and backcountry expeditions. An ideal location for weddings and corporate meetings, the Kirkwood Village includes boutique shopping, live music and dining. Resort real estate ranges in size from condominiums and townhomes to luxury slopeside residences. For more information about Kirkwood Mountain Resort, log on to www.kirkwood.com or call 209.258.6000.