Backcountry Skiing At Soldier Mountain (Video)

The first thing that comes to mind if you think of backcountry skiing at Soldier Mountain is the cat skiing. Located above the ski resort, the snowcat accesses nearly another 3,000 vertical feet of terrain filled with glades, cliff bands, chutes, and plenty of bowls to play in. It’s definitely worth the price of admission. But on our last trip to Soldier Mountain, it wasn’t that what caught our eye and made my mind wander. It was the vast playground of mountains surrounding it. Peaks without a single ski track as far as the eye could see. As we returned to explore the backcountry terrain surrounding the sleepy ski area of Magic Mountain, we made a point to make it up to Soldier Mountain and explore their backcountry.

Fairfield – What Ski Towns Used To Be

When you visit Soldier Mountain, the closest place to stay is Fairfield Idaho in the Camas Valley. It’s the epitome of an old school American town you heard your parents talk about. Things move a bit slower. If the owners can’t work, they just close up shop for the day. If you expect things to run like a Rolex, you probably won’t like it… but if you’re a person that loves being in a welcoming place where the owners care and want to know your name, this spot’s for you. Like your favorite pair of slippers, you’ll love this relaxed slower paced style. It’s also filled with surprisingly great food including a spot featured on Diners, Drive-In’s & Dives!

Prairie Inn Our Basecamp

For the trip, we posted ourselves up again at the Prairie Inn. The owners understand how crucial it is to have a great night’s sleep, and their beds are better than most chain hotels. After a cup of fresh coffee and a scrumptious breakfast burrito at the Musher’s Mug, we drove out of the sleepy streets of Fairfield towards Soldier Mountain.

Local Knowledge Is The Best Knowledge

The sky looked angry. The quick moving clouds bunched up against each other creating a grey colored marshmallow casserole. Nearing Soldier, light snowfall began to fall out of the heavens. One of the things you’ll always hear when it comes to backcountry skiing is it’s crucial to understand the local snowpack and what’s going on. We did our homework and read the Avalanche Forecasts about the Soldier Mountains on the Sawtooth Avalanche Center’s page. In addition, we hooked up with Cameron Fields who manages their backcountry zone called Bridge Creek Area. Today’s plan was to get some recon before we really got after it.

Planning For The Next Few Days

We spent the morning looking over topographical maps on Fatmap and Caltopo to plan our next couple of days. With a basic plan, we geared up and headed towards the lift. The light snow transitioned to big fat flakes. Due to it being in the low 20’s, they didn’t stick to us. Instead, they swirled around us as if they were ballerinas in the Nutcracker. At the top of the Bird’s Eye lift, we checked in with ski patrol.

A Quick Taste Of Bridge Creek Area

For those unaware, Soldier Mountain has an entire lift-accessed backcountry zone that’s just to the south of the ski area called Bridge Creek Area. Accessed via the top of the Bird’s Eye lift, you’ll find a playground of surfy topography featuring multiple 600 vertical foot shots that you can yo-yo. For today’s mission, we did the quick skin up to the top of a run that’s been named “Die Hard.” With it snowing heavily and visibility becoming a challenge, we decided to call it for that day and head back.

Sunshine And Lots Of Pow In Bridge Creek Area

The next day dawned bright with not a single cloud in the sky. The Soldier Mountains were canvassed in over a foot of fresh snow. With a basic lay of the land, we bee-lined back to where we were yesterday. Cresting over the ridgeline, we looked down at the bowl. The tracks we laid down yesterday were gone. An entire blank canvas ready to be ripped!

Relax Theo… It’s Christmas!

We ripped off our skins and dropped onto a south aspect. Big plumes of snow shot behind as we carved through the virgin snow. I grinned. How was this even possible?!? In Tahoe, the idea of hitting a south facing aspect on a sunny mid-winter day is a rare treat. But here, due to the temps hovering in the 20’s and the low sun angle, south aspects are actually in play even on a sunny day. At the bottom, we slapped high-fives at what we had just skied. Up next – Nakatomi Plaza.

From the bottom of Die Hard, it was a quick thirty minute easy skin to the next run. Instead of due south, the southwest aspect was even better. Sean, our backcountry partner, giddily bounced turns through the soft but playful snow milking every last bit of it.

Goonies Never Say Die!

To get a real appreciation of how big the zone is, we decided to do the full tour and exit via what is called “Goonie’s Ridge.” From the top of Nakatomi Plaza, it’s a gentle descent down the ridgeline which is the backbone of the Bridge Creek Area. It’s so gentle that as a splitboarder, it wasn’t worth the time to transition. Instead, it gave us an opportunity to practice our telemark turns.

One Last Pow Run

Finally at the top of Goonie’s Ridge, we transitioned and dropped. The wide-open face sprinkled with a few trees allowed you to let the board run and make some luscious hippy pow turns. As we descended down to the Bridge Creek Area, we eyed our exit to cross the water which has been affectionately called “Monkey Crack.”

Fun Zone And A Word Of Caution

Although there aren’t any big 2,000 vertical foot shots, there is a TON of low angle terrain that is fun especially once the ski resort is tracked out. And the entire time we were out there, we were the ONLY ones skiing it. One word of caution: if you don’t side traverse a lot, be aware that the exit from the Bridge Creek Area is over ½ a mile of side hilling to get out and back to the resort.

Time To Step Up Our Game

Our next day’s plan was to head north of the ski resort. While a lot of the big terrain here requires a sled to access, there are a variety of 1,000’ vertical foot shots that you can access via human power.

Island of Misfit Toys

Looking at the avalanche forecast, the snowpack was healing and trending stronger. Although a persistent slab was there, we were going to give avalanche terrain a wide berth. Yet again the day bloomed with a blue sky and only a few straying clouds. Parking at the end of the Soldier Mountain resort lot, we glided our way northward on the snowmobile groomed track to the Island of Misfit Toys.

Soldier Mountain Ski Area Makes Its Debut

With our legs warmed and our spirits high, we made it to our marker that tells us it’s time to veer left – a blank brown sign that’s used for summer camping info. Quickly we gain elevation up the ridgeline. Soldier Mountain Ski Area begins to appear to our left. The skiers and snowboarders look like tiny ants dancing down the trails. Looking upward, we see the huge peaks of the cat skiing operation looming over us.

We Meet Some Locals

As we near the knuckle of the initial ascent, we meet up with one other group of people. These two are already on their 2^nd lap and will probably do another two before the day is done. Chatting with them, we come to find out that this is a “busy” day. The only backcountry skiers are a handful of their friends and that’s it. And they’re about to meet up with them. I’m shocked!

Views And Virgin Snow

Onward we continue each step providing more views of the surrounding mountains. Kicking up the final climb, we reach our destination. We take a moment to take in our surroundings. Even though there are taller peaks around us, it does provide uninterrupted 360-degree views of the area. Looking down yet again, another blank field of virgin snow is laid before us.

Oh So Good!

We let Cam descend first. He points his splitboard fall-line gaining speed and leans back to make a huge heel-side turn. A massive plume shoots overhead behind him. He then quickly transfers his weight to toe side. Yet again another wave of snow explodes. Watching him take huge turns on the fresh snow makes me yell out loudly, “YEEEWWWW!!!!”

Turns I Yearned For

It was now my turn so I point it and let it go. The board rises out of the snow and floats up to the top as I lean into a toeside turn. A grin comes over my face. All that work was worth it as I take turn after turn floating in the driest snow I’ve skied this season, finally rolling up to Cam. As the crew rolls up, we give each other high-fives out of pure stoke.

A WOOMPF So Deep It Makes My Stomach Turn

We communicate our next plans which is for us to traverse a bit before we descend again. As Cam does a 180 to set himself to face downhill, a deep WOOOMPFFF resonates over us and the entire snowpack. Jaime’s face goes white. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I suddenly realize that the persistent slab in the snow gave way. My stomach gets into knots as I survey our surroundings. If we would’ve been in avalanche terrain, we could’ve remotely triggered an avalanche! But as we had planned already, we were not.

Coming Away With More Respect

As we finished up for the day and sipping on a cold beer at the Soldier Mountain bar, my mind processed our backcountry tour. Even with taking multiple avalanche courses and doing my research, time on the snow is crucial. It fortified the thought that while an avalanche forecast may say “Considerable”, it’s the details that can kill you. The types of avalanche problems, where they’re located, and how likely they are to be reactive is critical to ensure you come home safely. In the end, I gained even more respect for the mountains and to always give them space when they need it.

As my backcountry mentor always says, “There are bold mountaineers and there are old mountaineers but there are no bold AND old mountaineers.”

If you’re keen on exploring this tour and other adventures in the southern Idaho mountains, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide available on Visit Southern Idaho’s website: You can find it here.