Beacon Guidebooks

Beacon Guidebooks Backcountry skiing books, maps, and apps. Responsible | Reliable | Beautiful.

Always a ridiculously fun time, and perhaps the best way to show your support for an organization that keeps us vertical...
11/17/2025

Always a ridiculously fun time, and perhaps the best way to show your support for an organization that keeps us vertical. See you there!

Your ticket purchase supports the CAIC forecasts and avalanche safety in Colorado! This is the 18th annual kickoff party to fundraise for avalanche safety and celebrate the backcountry community.Join us on Saturday, November 22nd, at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge for the season's biggest and....

Just in time for the storm! Join us at the release of the fourth edition from . We’ll have some pretty big prizes, food,...
11/13/2025

Just in time for the storm! Join us at the release of the fourth edition from . We’ll have some pretty big prizes, food, and drink! Stories will be told, tips will be given.

11/04/2025

New Release from our most prolific author, . Tahoma Ski Map. Big, beautiful, lightweight and reliable.

11/01/2025

Silverton’ 4th edition is here!

Join Fort Collins backcountry ski community events this fall -
10/30/2025

Join Fort Collins backcountry ski community events this fall -

Join the CMC Northern Colorado Group for an evening of fun and companionship. Take part in social time with complimentary beer and wine from Odell Brewing, savor a delicious dinner, recognize volunteers, and enjoy an engaging presentation by Beacon Guidebooks author, Rodney Ley. Reservations require...

When someone asks you where you went, what’s the responsible way to describe the way? When it’s a friend, a colleague, o...
01/29/2025

When someone asks you where you went, what’s the responsible way to describe the way? When it’s a friend, a colleague, or a stranger? An expert vs. beginner? That’s our never ending conversation, and the subject of this podcast episode by . Give it a listen and if you like what you here/read, consider supporting them by subscribing. It’s the same price as a few voile straps, yet just as versatile and day-saving! https://share.transistor.fm/s/dea6fae2

Would you call this slope: Simple, Challenging, or Complex? Intermittent exposure managing a single path, 35°, mostly pl...
12/18/2024

Would you call this slope: Simple, Challenging, or Complex? Intermittent exposure managing a single path, 35°, mostly planar slopes, risk of impact into trees and rocks, isolated starting zones with size 3 potential, a selection of choices of varying exposure, options exist to avoid avalanche paths. = ATES 2 CHALLENGING

Photo: dropping in above the Refugio Lopez, Argentina

Terrain tip of the day: practice guessing slope angles. Along your route, play “guess that angle” with your partners. Ma...
12/01/2024

Terrain tip of the day: practice guessing slope angles. Along your route, play “guess that angle” with your partners. Make your best guess, then put your slope meter tool on the slope to verify. Why get better at guessing the angle? Well, while I don’t want to completely trust my guess to make or break a decision, I have found it’s a good way to hone my gut instincts. I want little alarms to go off in the back of my head if I’m entering a slope that’s steeper than I expected.

Thankful for these incredible mountains at Team Beacon this week. Get outside, stay safe, smile. ☮️
11/29/2024

Thankful for these incredible mountains at Team Beacon this week. Get outside, stay safe, smile. ☮️

Address

PO Box 1703
Gunnison, CO
81230

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Beacon Guidebooks posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Beacon Guidebooks:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Our Story

Five years ago, AIARE launched "Project Zero" which ambitiously calls on all the industry's professionals and recreationalists to do their part to put an end to all avalanche deaths (inspired by Sweden's "vision zero"). Understanding that terrain is one the most important elements for safe backcountry travel, I wanted to be a part of the project and do something for the cause, so I invented my terrain style atlas. Our team has since created a terrain exposure rating system that can be applied to all tours, and a consistent way to describe terrain-based hazards for each area. Today, local guides and avalanche educators use my atlases for their classes and tours. We now publish a total of 7 books, with more on the way. Each guidebook has proven to be a success, and we hope you will join us this season by becoming part of the Beacon Guidebooks experience.

-Andy Sovick, Founder and Publisher