Deep & Steep
Austria
Freeride touring in the Austrian Alps for intermediate to advanced freeriders: steep couloirs, deep powder and terrain you won't find alone. Five days in a small group, led by a UIAGM mountain guide or local ski guide (Skiführer). We don't follow an itinerary. We follow the snow.
- 5
- Freeride touring days
- 6
- Max riders — small group
- Salzburger Land
- Base area
- 48°
- Max steepness (Wildseeloder)
- DOWN
- Demo available
Deep & Steep Austria is Snowbusters' flagship freeride camp: full days of guided freeride touring across the terrain of Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn. Couloirs, powder fields and high-altitude descents that most riders will never find on their own, reached on touring kit far from the resort crowds. Led by a UIAGM mountain guide or local ski guide (Skiführer), in a small group for maximum attention and safety.
Each morning the guide analyses conditions to target the day's best snow and terrain. What may be on the menu: the Schusterkogel (2207m), the Wildseeloder with slopes of up to 48°, the 2000m vertical descent from Kitzsteinhorn to Niedernsill, Hoher Sonnblick, Sport Gastein's backcountry and Freeride World Tour faces. These are examples, not a fixed programme. Routes maximise descent time and minimise unnecessary climbing.
The camp also builds your backcountry skills (avalanche safety, mountain travel and freeride technique) while opening up more technical terrain step by step. How steep and how far we go is decided by the conditions first, then by the level and wishes of the group.
- 01
- Terrain You Won't Find Alone
- 02
- We Follow the Snow
- 03
- Max 6 Riders
- 04
- UIAGM or Local Guide
- 05
- Be Ready for the Mountain
- 06
- DOWN Freeride Demo
Steep couloirs and powder fields chosen daily for the conditions, up to the 48° slopes of the Wildseeloder when the snow and the group allow. The kind of terrain you only reach with a local guide.
No fixed itinerary. Every morning the guide reads the snowpack, the weather and the avalanche bulletin, then picks the best and safest objective for the group.
A small group means better lines, faster decisions, more personal attention and more safety.
Led by a UIAGM mountain guide or a local ski guide (Skiführer), with terrain knowledge built over years in these mountains.
Up to 600–1,000m of ascent, 3–5 hours of skinning and 6–8 hour days. These are maximums: every day is adjusted to the conditions first, then to the level and wishes of the group.
Test DOWN's freeride and powder skis on real steep terrain through the DOWNSKIS DEMO programme, and know which ski to buy. Agree your demo setup with us in advance.
Other Dates
Dates & Pricing
- Jan€1,390
Trip Gallery
Freeriders F2 to F3 ← This Camp
You already ride off-piste and are comfortable in varied snow. Some familiarity with avalanche gear and touring equipment helps, and you are ready to ride with a guide at a good pace. The terrain is matched to the group, not the other way round.
Powder Hunters ← This Camp
Resort riders ready to explore the backcountry, F2 freeriders looking to level up, and powder enthusiasts willing to earn their turns for untouched lines. The guide opens doors you can't open alone.
Piste Only or F1 — Not Ready
Off-piste experience is required. If you are still building your off-piste technique, our Improve Your Off-Piste Riding course is the right starting point before this camp.
Terrain You Won't Find Alone
- Guided access to steep couloirs and powder fields
- Daily condition-driven route selection — always the best option
- High-altitude approaches not accessible without a guide
- Local terrain knowledge built over years in the Austrian Alps
Safety at Every Step
- Daily snowpack assessment and avalanche bulletin review
- Companion rescue refresher on Day 1 — mandatory for all
- Avalanche safety theory, big-mountain riding safety and tour planning
- One-at-a-time descent protocol on all exposed steep terrain
Freeride Technique
- Steep entry techniques — kick turns, high-angle jump turns
- Speed and line management in sustained steep terrain
- Powder technique in deep, light, north-facing snow
- Reading terrain from above — line selection under pressure
Read the Mountain, Plan the Week
Day 1 opens with a full avalanche briefing and companion rescue refresher — even for experienced riders, this is non-negotiable on a camp like this. The guide then takes the group on a first off-piste tour, reading conditions and calibrating terrain to the group's actual ability, not their stated level.
Into the Couloirs — First Real Commitment
Day 2 moves into steeper, more committing terrain if conditions allow. The guide introduces the first proper couloir entries: managing exposure, kicking steps and making decisions at the top of steep lines.
The Steepest Day, If Conditions Allow
When snowpack stability and conditions allow, the guide picks the steepest objective of the camp: high-altitude access, narrow couloir entries and gradients of up to 40°+. The guide is with every rider through every section. If the conditions or the group say no, we ride something else that suits the day.
Untouched Snow, Big Open Lines
After the steep intensity of Day 3, Day 4 shifts to wide-open powder descents — north-facing aspects holding the best preserved snow of the week. Long, sweeping lines through untracked terrain. The guide looks for the stashes nobody else has hit.
Steep Entry, Deep Landing
Day 5 brings the week together: where conditions allow, a steep entry opening into a wide powder field below. The guide picks the final objective to suit the snow and the group, and the week ends with a group lunch.
Steep Terrain,
Serious Safety
Safety First. Always.
Deep & Steep Austria runs under the strictest safety standards Snowbusters applies. Your guide, a UIAGM mountain guide or local ski guide, assesses the snowpack every morning, reviews the Austrian avalanche bulletin and makes every go/no-go decision.
No pressure to perform. The mountain decides, the guide decides, and you never have to prove anything. The steep terrain described on this page is the maximum, not a promise for every week: conditions come first, then the level and wishes of the group.
Skiing and snowboarding insurance is not included. We recommend Austrian Alpine Club (Alpenverein) insurance — valid across all Alpine countries and covering mountain rescue.
Your Guides
Meet your guides
Accommodation & Logistics
Accommodation & Logistics
Accommodation is not included in the price. We find basic shared accommodation for the group (apartment or bed and breakfast), unless you arrange something different.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included in the price. We find basic shared accommodation for the group (apartment or bed and breakfast), unless you arrange something different.
Food and drinks are not included. Lunches on the mountain are at your own cost.
Getting There
- Airport Arrivals: Fly into Munich or Salzburg airports
- Rental Car: Most economical and flexible option, allowing exploration at your own pace
- Hotel Shuttles: Direct service to slopes available from some hotels at premium prices
- Assistance Available: We'll help you select the best transportation option for your budget and convenience needs
Kit & Included
What You Need
& What's Provided
- Guided freeride touring every day of the camp, with a UIAGM mountain guide or local ski guide
- Equipment introduction and use in practice
- Off-piste ski/snowboard technique tips
- Avalanche safety theory
- Big mountain riding safety
- Tour planning
- DOWN Skis demo (agree your setup in advance)
Not included
- Ski/snowboard rentals (possible, agree in advance)
- Ski pass (can be purchased on arrival)
- Accommodation (we find basic shared accommodation for the group unless arranged differently)
- Travel expenses
- Skiing/snowboarding insurance
- Food and drinks
Lunches on the mountain are at your own cost. Accommodation is not included in the price: we find basic shared accommodation for the group (apartment or bed and breakfast), unless you arrange something different.
Avalanche beacon, shovel and probe *
Mandatory every day
Helmet *
Mandatory — no exceptions
Freeride skis with touring bindings, or a splitboard
95mm+ waist strongly recommended · rental or DOWN demo possible if agreed in advance
Touring boots, climbing skins and adjustable poles
Backcountry backpack (30–40L) and headlamp
Headlamp with spare batteries
Layered technical clothing, goggles, spare gloves
For variable conditions
Freeride: F2 to F3. Touring: T1. Not sure what that means? Read our guide to rider levels.
DOWN Ski Demo included
Reserve Your Place
Ride It
Deep,
Steep & Down
Five days. Small group. January powder in Austria.