Kirkwood, CA – Most only get to dream of picking their line down Kirkwood’s most notorious in-bounds area known as The Cirque. Dominating the top portion of Thimble Peak, The Cirque has been off limits to all but the world’s best skiers and snowboarders in sanctioned, resort-sponsored competitions such as the North Face Masters and North American Freeskiing Championships.nThat is, until now. During the 2010-11 season, guides from Expedition: Kirkwood will lead limited tours into the forbidden zone, giving core skiing guests the chance to get their thrills under the watchful eye of snow safety experts.
Weather and conditions permitting, participants in each outing will be guided down The Cirque’s complex, exposed chutes and couloirs. Because of the nature of the terrain, expert level skiing ability is a must. Moving forward, these limited tours will provide the knowledge and logistical answers needed to provide additional guided access to more of this terrain in the seasons to come.
In addition to leading tours into The Cirque, Expedition: Kirkwood provides progressive ski, snowboard and women’s only clinics, on-hill avalanche awareness courses, backcountry powder cat skiing and private guides to point out Kirkwood’s less frequented and most challenging lines.