Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Black Mountain of Maine

Key Features:

• A welcoming and accessible touring experience designed to support skiers and riders of diverse backgrounds and experience levels.

• Guidance and mentorship from IST’s trained volunteer guides.

• A post-tour gathering inside hosted by Maine The Way that encourages community building, storytelling, and networking.

After our lap of Black Mountain, join us in the old lodge to recap the adventure. Sharing your high, low, and buffalo of the day has become a favorite tradition of ours, making space to celebrate the joys, hardships, and surprises that surface along the way. 

Should you be interested, food, beverages, and music can be found at the Last Run Pub in the main lodge. We look forward to sharing the day with you! 

Program Cost: $20
(Note: This price does not include an uphill ticket.)

In alignment with our mission, if this presents a financial barrier, IST will cover your event ticket cost. Simply use the code “inclusive2025” at checkout.

When renting gear, you must reserve it in advance. It is your responsibility to confirm your rental reservation, pick up the gear on time, and return it as scheduled after use.

Black Mountain of Maine has limited uphill rentals available through a partnership with Green Machine Bike Shop. These can be reserved by calling the Black Mountain of Maine Rental Shop at 1-207-364-8977 extension 5.

The next closest available uphill rentals are from the Mt. Abram Rental Shop with pick up starting at 8:00 AM. You can reserve gear from the Mt. Abram Rental Shop Here.

9:00 AM: Check-in for your program inside the old lodge at the IST Table (lookers left building from parking lot). There will be an IST Flag out front as a marker.

After checking in, use this time to prepare for the tour and ensure you're ready to be on the snow by 10:00 AM. Volunteers will be available to assist with gear setup, including skins and bindings, and to answer any questions you may have.

10:00 AM: Head outside for introductions, where participants will share information such as their name, pronouns, what brought them to the program, where they typically ski or ride, and any previous ski touring or split-boarding experience. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow participants and build a sense of community before starting the tour.

Note: Timing from this point onward will vary depending on the pace of the group.

10:15 AM: Begin the ski touring and split-boarding ascent. Volunteers will be available to assist as you set off on your uphill journey, ensuring you’re comfortable and confident throughout the tour. The uphill route we utilize offers a steady yet manageable climb, allowing participants to enjoy the surroundings, engage with other participants, and get into the rhythm of the ascent.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Reach the top, then begin transitioning for downhill skiing or snowboarding. This includes removing your skins, adjusting your bindings, and preparing your gear for the descent. Allow approximately 15 minutes for this transition before heading downhill.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Post-tour gathering in reserved lodge space, facilitated by Maine the Way.

Occasionally, cancellations are necessary due to weather and all program dates are subject to change. If your program is canceled, you will be provided a refund.

Participants must be confident in descending blue square terrain while skiing or snowboarding. We are not downhill instructors, and you are responsible for your own safety during the downhill portion. Skiing or snowboarding is done at your own risk.

No Apology: We encourage participants to avoid apologizing during our tours. Instead of saying, “sorry I’m slow,” try saying, “thank you for waiting.” Similarly, replace “sorry I couldn’t figure out my binding” with “thank you for helping me.”

No Drop: No participant will ever be dropped or rushed. IST’s guides and volunteers ensure everyone moves at a comfortable pace and feels supported throughout the experience.

These policies align with our philosophy that everyone deserves to be part of the ski touring and split-boarding community, regardless of skill or pace.