The backcountry is for everybody. Well, it should be for everybody, but a slew of obstacles—both personal and societal—make it easier for some groups to hit the skin-track than others. 

That’s where VNTRbirds (pronounced "venture birds"), a Colorado-based adventure company, comes in. Co-founded by sisters Leanne and Kelley Wren, the outfit offers outdoor sports courses for women and femme folks. This includes AIARE courses, avalanche safety refreshers, and, after the snow melts, mountain biking classes. For the past few years, VNTRbirds has also hosted Venture Out, a backcountry skiing and snowboarding festival.

The Wrens’ overarching goal? Get women outside, and make the backcountry more accessible.

Together, the sisters and VNTRbirds were profiled in the third episode of Peaks & Passages, a web series that chronicles the quieter, soulful corners of snowsports. See the episode below, and keep reading for our conversation with the Wrens.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

Watch: VNTRbirds, Peaks & Passages, Season 3, Episode 3

VNTRbirds Peaks & Passages (6:26)

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What have you learned being a backcountry educator?

Kelley Wren: I think something that we've learned is that you can't just have a cut-and-paste course. Every person is different, every clinic is different. The weather is always different. So you have to learn to pivot, adjust, say things a little differently, depending on your group, their vibes, how they're feeling about being out there, whether they're excited or really nervous, if it's a group of friends or if it's all strangers. That's our biggest thing is being able to meet people where they are, match their energy, or kind of uplift them while they're out there.

Leanne Wren: I also feel like every time that I go out and teach, I learn something from the crew. I can't think of a specific thing right off hand, but I feel like being an educator is also kind of continuing my education, whether it be I get asked a challenging question that maybe I don't 100% know at that time, or just learning about people's individual histories, and that sort of thing. You're always constantly learning.

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Do you guys have any memories or fun anecdotes from teaching your courses?

KW: I would say we have so many fun memories and anecdotes. When we're out there, we strive to show people that, yes, being in the backcountry, it's serious. You have to know what's going on and be aware of what your group is doing, but also, we're out there to have fun. You're out there to get laps or get your exercise. But in the end, it's about connection, it's about your community, and it's about having fun.

There was one time we were digging a pit in the backcountry for an AIARE level one course. And these two sisters were in our course with us, and we're digging this pit. And before we filled it back in, I was like, ‘You know what else a pit is good for? You can pee in it really quickly and be hidden from everybody else up here.’ And they were like, ‘we're gonna do that!’ And they peed in this pit. And then we buried the pit like we were supposed to, and we packed it all down, and we realized one of the sisters lost her phone when she peed in the pit. And we had to dig it back out. And we actually used our transceivers to find it.

LW: After you go out into the backcountry, having a debrief is a really good practice. So we get everyone together, we have our debrief, and we're like: What did we do well? What can we work on next time? That sort of thing. We also do what we call our highs, lows, and kudos. So people will take the clinic as a whole, or the workshop as a whole, and talk about what they felt like they did really well at, and what is something that they could take home and potentially work on. 

And then we give kudos to people in the group, and those moments, having our entire crew together after a long weekend, and seeing that people have created special friendships and connections with the other people in their group. Those moments are really special. So I think that's my favorite part, typically of the whole course, after we're teaching them, is having those debriefs with our groups.

If there was one thing that you could change about backcountry riding, what would it be? 

LW: If I had control over the snowpack in Colorado, I would change things. If it were up to me, it would not start snowing in Colorado until like December 15. But then, the moment December 15 rolled around, it would just turn on and be on until about March 15. And then we get these awesome spring days until the end of the season, or whatever. You know, the snow pack that we deal with in Colorado is very tricky, and there isn't a lot of room for error.

KW: Something that is a goal that VNTRbirds is doing is trying to change the stigma of gatekeeping in the backcountry, like, let's make this education way more accessible. And having that confidence being out there, whether you decide to travel alone or in a group of folks that have the confidence that you can be out there and you can be self-reliant and responsible.

If you could give some advice to a person who’s interested in the backcountry, what would it be?

KW: If they're already a skier and a snowboarder, and they love going to the resort, and they're looking to venture out a little bit more, I always say, start small. Don't be scared to be a beginner. It's really tough to be a beginner, especially as an adult, but it's worth it. It's worth the effort. 

And once you are out there, and I always say, you know, do it properly, like gain that knowledge. But also, remember to have positive self-talk, right? You might not always have the best day out there. You might be moving a little bit slower, or you feel nervous just being out there. You might have imposter syndrome, but just keep talking yourself up, because the more you go out there, the more you'll have this identity of being this outdoor athlete or a backcountry skier. And it just takes time, and it takes practice, and yeah, positive self-talk, and then that nervousness will become excitement every time you go out there.

What prompted you to make VNTRbirds focused on women and femme folks?

LW: I think that we're still seeing that people come into these learning environments, especially women and femme folks, and they are intimidated just learning something new. So we have these affinity spaces that are just really kind and open and welcoming. It’s definitely special to get a group of women and go out into the backcountry and learn together, asking questions, encouraging questions, encouraging learning, challenging each other. Yeah, it's a pretty unique space, and in general, people leave just feeling like rock stars. So that's pretty great.

KW: I think we just needed more exposure that there are women and femme folks out there doing these things. And there are women and femme folks in leadership roles doing these things. You don't always just have to follow your partner. Go ahead and make your own backcountry friends and your own backcountry partners; you can gain that knowledge just like anybody else.

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