Beyond Level One Course

You took the in-person avalanche course and still stand at the top of a slope unsure whether today is the day for it. Terrain decisions are the hardest part of backcountry skiing and splitboarding, and they're the part a classroom can't rehearse. So watch 27 different experts talk through their real decisions in detail, out in the field, with their own well-being on the line.

Did Your Avalanche Course Leave You Scratching Your Head?

They preach "avoidance"; we preach "make the best decision".
You are unclear about where you can go to be safe.
You desire practical examples of what works while touring.
You desire real talk, from real pros, about what they actually do.
You love learning from good story telling.

If yes, then this course is built for you:

Learn from raw and uncensored video lessons, from the brains of 27 different backcountry skiing experts.
Watch experts talking about why they're doing what they're doing, while they do it.
Real life examples, as they play out.
Supporting instruction on gear, planning, communication with partners, and more.
Case study interviews provide context for decisions.

Forever Access

No subscriptions. Yours to review from now until AI makes thinking obsolete.

120+ entertaining video lessons

Top Tier Instruction

Taught by internationally certified IFMGA Mountain Guides

What sets this course apart?

Treasure chest of entertaining learning
Filmed in the field, not boring powerpoint.
Your pace, your schedule.
Ask direct questions to Mark Smiley throughout.
Safe learning environment. Be bold with your questions.

Beyond Level One Course Content

Part One - Early Season

1) Teton Pass, WY - Mark Smiley
2) Targhee Ski Resort, WY - Jediah Porter
3) Early Season Snowpack Demo - Mark Smiley
4) Gear: How To Drop Half Your Weight - Mark Smiley
5) Backcountry Skier Zip Code Tool - Mark Smiley
6) Mindsets - Shane Robinson
7) Gear For Montana Riding & Skiing - Beau Fredlund
8) Stop the Glop - Mark Smiley
9) Whistler BC Zone Overview - Eric Carter (Part 1)
10) Whistler BC Zone (The Duffy) - Eric Carter (Part 2)
11) Winter Run - Janelle Smiley
12) Trip Report: Caroline Face, Mt Cook, New Zealand
13) Utilizing Wind Affected Snow in MT - Beau Fredlund
14) San Juan CO Scouting Mission - Doug Krause
15) Data Sparse in WA - Jake Skeen
16) New Areas, Roger's Pass, BC - Mark Smiley
17) Aspen Intro - Colter Hinchliffe
18) Crystal Mountain Ski Area, Washington - Shane Robinson
19) Ice Climbing, Long's Peak, Colorado - Buster Jesik

Part Two - Mid Season

20) Gear Check - Eric Carter
21) Digital Notebook, Teton Pass WY - Jed Porter
22) Guide Consultation RMNP Ski - Buster Jesik
23) Sky Pilot, Squamish, BC - Eric Carter
24) Human Factors, Fingers, Revelstoke - Mark Smiley
25) Thoughts About Ski Touring SOLO - Jed Porter
26) Weather Websites - Jed Porter
27) New Areas, HELP Me GPS - Mark Smiley
28) Considerable Skiing Days - Shane Robinson
29) Totally Blower Storm Skiing - Mark Smiley
30) Storm Skiing Day 2 - Mark Smiley
31) Panel Discussion Part One
32) Panel Discussion Part Two
33) Info Ex: Canada Guide Sharing Site - Pierre Hungr
34) Orthopedic Surgeon Talk - Dr Keith Hollingsworth
35) Decision Competence - Doug Krause
36) Top Down Forever Young Couloir - Mark Smiley
Free preview ▸
38) 5 Snow Types - Jed Porter

Part Three - Deep Mid Season

39) Red Mtn Pass - Doug Krause
40) Steep Skiing Photo Review - Mark Smiley
41) Mt Tom, Eastern Sierra - Ryan Huetter
42) Icefall Lodge Day 1 - Mark Smiley
43) Icefall Lodge Day 2 - Mark Smiley
44) Icefall Lodge Day 3 - Mark Smiley
45) Icefall Lodge Day 4 - Mark Smiley
46) Technical Entrance Couloir - Eric Carter
47) Quick Snow Pit - Polly Layton
48) Taylor Mountain - Jed Porter
49) Training Mindset - Jed Porter
50) Pre-Dad Backcountry Skiing Mindset - Jed Porter
51) Pine Bough Skins - Brian Burger
52) Cornice Breaking Entry - Janelle Smiley
53) Morning Organization - Jed Porter
54) Morning Computing Organization - Morgan Dinsdale
55) Electronic Communication Tools - Jed Porter
56) Big Terrain High Hazard - Janelle Smiley
57) Actual Guide Communication - Jed Porter

Part Four - Super Deep Winter

58) Whiteout Day - Mark Smiley
59) Canadian Rockies Wind Slab Hunting - Taran Ortlieb
60) New Hampshire Snowpack - Marc Chauvin
61) Touring in Alaska - Joe Stock
62) Calculating Risk - Billy Haas
63) Dealing With Uncertainty - Billy Haas
64) Stepping Out With Persistent Weak Layers - Billy Haas
65) Pillow Poppin' - Jeff Dobronyi
66, 67, 68) VHF Radio Talk - Marc Chauvin
69) Track Parser - Marc Chauvin
70) Double Couloir Day - Beau Fredlund
71) 10K Day - Mark Smiley
72) Dike Snowfield Couloir Debrief - Jed Porter
73) Pre-Dug Compression Test - Mike Wachs
74) Pre-Dug Extended Column Test - Mike Wachs
75) Banana Couloir - Janelle & Mark Smiley
76) Snow Pits, Really Not That Valuable? - Jed Porter
77) Dealing With Windslab - Jed Porter
78) Tricky Ridgetop Conditions - Jed Porter

Part Five - Early Spring

79) If You Have An Issue, Say Something - Jed Porter
80) Wicked Warm Isothermic Snow - Jed Porter
81) Glacier Travel Tips - Mark Smiley
82) How Trees Help & Near Surface Facets - Jake Skeen
83) Hunting Corn on Buck Mtn - Jed Porter
84) Melt Freeze Metamorphosis - Jed Porter
85) Corn Hunting Disappointment Peak - Jed Porter
Free preview ▸
87) Deville Chimney Bypass Beta - Mark Smiley
88) Ursus Minor Pinner Couloir - Mark Smiley
89) Low Low Low // STS Couloir - Mark Smiley
90) Dad Thoughts - Jed Porter
91) Bagherra Mountain, Techy Stuff - Mark Smiley
92) Begbie Summit Day - Mark Smiley
93) Winter Is Back - Jed Porter
94) Wind Speeds & AM Flow - Zeb Blais
95) Donner Summit Debrief - Zeb Blais
96) First Descent, Part 1 - Mark Smiley
97) First Descent, Part 2 - Mark Smiley

Part Six - Late Spring

98-101) Unknown Unknowns - Joe Stock
102) Lofoten Norway - Shane Robinson
103) Alaska Sized Bergshrunds - Mark Smiley
104) Bottom Up Snow Assessment in Alaska - Mark Smiley
105) Foreshortening & Glacier Travel - Mark Smiley
106) Upside Down Snowpack - Mark Smiley
107) 10K Day, Tired Decisions - Mark Smiley
108) Rappel Setup and Beacon Search Feedback - Mark Smiley
109) STS Couloir First Tracks - Mark Smiley
110) North Face, Swiss Peak - Mark Smiley
111) Speed Dutch Bowline - Mark Smiley
112-113) Spring Warming Details - Jake Skeen Interview
114) Bagheera Black Panther - Mark Smiley & Matt Ruta
115) The Shelf - Mark Smiley
116) 3mm Tagline
117) The Sickle, Mt English - Janelle Smiley
118) Belaying Skiers - Mark Smiley
119) Cornices Move Quick - Mark Smiley
120) Partnerships: The Four Agreements - Janelle Smiley

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am unhappy with the course?

We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

Who is Mark Smiley?

Mark Smiley's passion for adventure has taken him on 30+ expeditions on five continents. He and his wife, Janelle, are the only people who have attempted to climb all 50 Classic Climbs of North America (48 successfully). He was part of a team to set a world record skiing across the entire Alps Mountain Range (1,100 miles and 292,000 vertical feet) in a mere 36 days.

His avalanche safety training style is fun, mellow, and easy to understand. As an IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide, Mark Smiley is among the world's elite guides to have reached this status. More important than this certification is his candid style of conveying the best avalanche skills training techniques that will benefit you the most.