#ferdagirls

Tracks of Her Own - Backcountry Guides

is California’s only female guide owned and operated backcountry guide service that focuses on winter backcountry education and ski tour/splitboard adventures for women.

We offer a safe space for high level backcountry education and professionally led ski touring/splitboarding adventures throughout the Sierra Nevada and beyond.

We stand on our morals, and focus on approachable progression at all levels.

We’re here to meet you where you’re at and build confidence through experience and competence.

Our guides are all trained and/or Certified by the American Avalanche Association and the American Mountain Guides Association, hold Wilderness First Responder Certifications, and bring their own extensive resumes of professional and recreational experience in the mountains.

A woman taking a selfie while snowshoeing in a snow-covered mountainous area with blue skies, with others snowshoeing in the background.

We enjoy endless wiggles and glitter and quality snacks, BTW. If that’s your vibe, join us outside

:) <3

A person wearing ski gear and sunglasses standing on snow with ski poles in a mountainous, snowy landscape. There are trees and mountains in the background under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

A person in colorful winter gear, including a helmet and sunglasses, sitting on rocky terrain with snow-capped mountain peaks in the background and a bright blue sky.

Snow-covered mountain slope with ski tracks and rocks, clear blue sky in the background.

Snow-covered mountain range with dense trees, distant lake, and cloudy sky.

A person dressed in pink winter gear with a helmet and sunglasses hiking on a snow-covered slope with a rocky mountain background under a clear blue sky.

Mountaineers ascending a snow-covered slope during sunset with a mountain range in the background.

Snow-covered forest slope with tall trees and a path of footprints in the snow under a clear blue sky.

Person in winter gear digging in deep snow on a snowy mountain slope with snow-covered trees in the background.

Snow-covered landscape with a snow path and distant trees, under a cloudy sky with the sun partially visible.

Encouragement over Intimidation.

Community over Competition.

Empowerment over Ego.

✨ Join A Program ✨

Female Guides. Female Forecasters. Female Search and Rescue Pros. Female Patrollers.

They’re the ones who can teach it best, because they’ve lived it. Nothing teaches better than empathy and experience. And that’s where we come in.

Meet Your Guides

A smiling woman in winter gear, including a green cap, sunglasses, and a black jacket, standing in front of a wooden wall with a snowboard leaning against it.

Sammy Rubin

Lead Guide/Owner

Wears many hats. Favorite is her cow print Skida beanie.

Over 10 years working professionally in the mountains:

AMGA Certified Splitboard Guide Candidate
Public Avalanche Forecaster
Certified Avalanche Instructor
Ski Patroller
WFR Certification
AAA Pro 1/Pro 2 Certifications

Former: Marine Research + Curriculum Development/Experiential Education

Has guided and recreated around the world. Sierra Nevada, Cascades, British Columbia, Alaska, Japan, New Zealand, Chile, and throughout the USA.