Flowstate Backcountry is a SOF founded guiding and avalanche safety provider in Lander, WY. We believe the old guiding business model is outdated and ineffective. Today’s adventurers don’t always want to be dragged to the top. They seek independence, authenticity, and freedom.

Flowstate Backcountry exists because we believe the deepest learning and most valuable experiences happen in the flow state; the intersection of skill and challenge. We provide the mentorship, information, and framework for you to find that intersection quickly and safely.

In the “wicked” learning environment, mistakes and confirmation bias can become catastrophic. However, under careful mentorship, we can hack the “wicked environment” and rapidly grow your skills and confidence. Flowstate Backcountry is built around mentorship and education rather than ego. We’re here to help you find your true potential. You will feel respected, seen and valued, while you step out in ways that will surprise yourself and your peers.

Our ultimate goal is helping folks tap into what psychologists call the flow state—that sweet spot where your skills are challenged, but not overwhelmed; attention sharpens naturally, and learning accelerates without force. Your guide will be right next to you, keeping you focused on what’s important, acting as your sounding board, and providing a crucial safety margin for you to operate in.

Research shows that people retain more, perform better, and feel more connected to their experience when they find flow. That’s what we’re offering, honestly: mountain days designed explicitly to help you find Flowstate.

Our style isn’t about loud talk or chasing bragging rights. We keep things approachable, and collaborative. You will always know why we’re making decisions, what your role is, and how to level up your own mountain thinking. Mentorship is the backbone of what we do, whether it’s a short tour, an avalanche course, or a bigger objective. The aim is to give you tools, judgment, and confidence you can carry into your own days—not just a guided hit of adrenaline.

At the center of Flowstate Backcountry is a simple idea echoed in Zen thought: when effort and awareness move together, everything becomes attainable. Alan Watts once said, “When you’re truly awake, you don’t get the sense of doing things; you get the sense of letting things happen.” That’s the vibe we’re after. Not passive — Present. When people tap into that space on a ski tour, a route, or in a classroom session, the day opens up. That’s where real learning and life altering experiences happen, and that’s why Flowstate Backcountry exists