Ski Touring

Western Canada is home to some of the best ski terrain on the planet.  The Rockies are famous for grandiose vistas and ski mountaineering, while the Kootenays offer so much thick fluffy white stuff that you'll need to pack a mask and snorkel! If you've been limiting yourself to the ski hill, come and see what the backcountry hubbub is all about. If you're already a backcountry enthusiast, then join us for some unforgettable skiing!

Ski Touring Courses

Intro Ski Touring / Split Boarding

Intro Ski Touring /Splitboarding

Backcountry skiing / boarding is the true essence of the sport. Away from the crowds you can venture into new territory and find your own powder stash to cut fresh tracks in virgin powder! This course will introduce all the equipment and techniques to get you off on the right track. We'll cover preparation, transitions, safe & efficient route selection, track setting, avalanche awareness, group safety gear, navigation, the Buddy System, deep powder techniques and more!

Season: December to April
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Rockies Guided Outings - Day Trips from Canmore

Sunshine Backcountry

Sunshine Backcountry

Just half an hour drive from Canmore lies the Sunshine Ski Resort which sits in the middle of prime backcountry touring terrain. Access is via a single ride pass to Sunshine Village or by touring up Healy Creek.

Quartz Hill, Twin Cairns, Dinosaur Head, Harvey & Healy Passes, and Wawa Ridge offer enough terrain to keep you busy all winter!

Season: December to April
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Kananaskis Country

Kananskis Backcountry

Numerous options exist off the snow belt along the Spray Lakes Rd. southeast of Canmore.

Black Prince, Hero Knob, Burstall Pass, the French-Haig-Robertson Traverse, Commonwealth Creek, Tryst Lakes, Tent Ridge and Mt. Sparrowhawk are some of the more popular tours.

Season: December to April
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Kootenay National Park

Kootenay National Park

South of the TransCanada between Banff and Lake Louise you’ll find several sky scraping peaks like Storm Mountain and Mt. Whymper that sit along the snowy Continental Divide.
These areas along with Chickadee Valley, Boom Lake, Vermillion Peak and others offer great ski adventures.

You’ll also find acres of burnt tree skiing for safer options during heightened avalanche risk.

Season: December to April
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Lake Louise Backcountry

Lake Louise Backcountry

The famous Back Bowls of this world renowned ski resort continue beyond the boundary lines to offer great skiing in Purple Bowl, Redoubt Bowl, Hidden Bowl and The Tylenols, to name a few.

Surprise Pass to the south passes scenic Saddle and Fairview Mountains and then descends 700m down to Lake Louise!

Season: December to April
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Icefields Parkway

Icefields Parkway

At the epicentre of Rockies ski touring, the high concentration of easily accessible peaks along this corridor along with mind blowing views make it a popular destination.

Mt. Hector, Jimmy Simpson, Crowfoot Mtn., Cirque Peak, Bow Summit and Observation Peak are but a few of the many options here.

Season: December to April
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Kootenay Guided Outings - Day Trips from Nelson

Whitewater Backcountry - Lift Accessible

Whitewater Backcountry

In 25 minutes from Nelson you can be at Whitewater ski resort (named by Powder Magazine as having the best powder skiing on the continent). From here it is a short jaunt to a number of great backcountry ski destinations (Mt. Ymir, White Queen, Half Dome, Prospectors and Qua to name a few). 

Whitewater is one of the few ski resorts in Canada that offer lift passes to access the backcountry.  Each single ride pass is $21.  An adult day pass is $69.

Like to sleep in?  This area is so easily accessible, it totally lends itself to half day sessions where you can get plenty of turns in 3 hours!  Half day guiding rates apply.

Trip length: Half or full day
Season: December to April

SEE PHOTOS
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Evening Ridge Area

Evening Ridge Area

20 minutes from Nelson lies easy access to the backcountry powder playground that is away from the lift lines and crowds of the ski hill. 

At an elevation of 1500m the parking lot sits higher than Rogers Pass and offers touring gems like the Whale's Back, Ecstacy, Plumbline, and White Queen.

Like to sleep in?  This area is so easily accessible, it totally lends itself to half day sessions where you can get turns in 3 hours!  Half day guiding rates apply.

Trip length: Half or full day
Season: December to April

SEE PHOTOS
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Kootenay Pass

Kootenay Pass

At nearly 1800 meters, Kootenay Pass is blessed with dumps of deep snow and easy access. Numerous ridges and summits give way to runs of 200-600m from mellow slopes to steep trees and couloirs.  There is even a comfortable warming hut with a wood burning stove for between runs on Cornice Ridge or the apres ski.

The Pass is also a fun overnight destination as the Ripple Cabin is an easy jaunt from the highway and provides great access to Lightning Strike Peak and Ripple Mountain.

Trip length: Single or multiday trips from Nelson or the Ripple Ridge Cabin.
Season: Late November to Early May

SEE PHOTOS
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Snowcat Assisted Touring

Snowcat Assisted Touring

Want to get up high to the good virgin pow without the extra effort? With a snowcat assist you can climb 1000+m over 8km in about an hour to access 300-700m runs in the Bonnington Range just south of Nelson. A variety of aspects offer gladed and open skiing from mellow to steep in several drainages.

Trip length: Day trips from Nelson
Season: Mid December to Late April
Cost: Add $240 (to be divided among your group) to the Guiding Fees

SEE PHOTOS
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Mount Brennan - Goat Range

Mount Brennan

With a deep snowpack, long fall line runs and spectacular views, Mount Brennan is truly a classic with all the requisite ingredients for a great adventure. The panorama from the summit over the Selkirks and Purcells is world class and the ski terrain is endless. You will want to keep coming back for more!

This is a big day with as much as 6200 ft. of elevation gain (if the access road has not been ploughed or melted out). But even if conditions or trip length do not allow us to reach the top, there is still great skiing to be had lower on the mountain. Mid season, when the days are shorter, a great option is to camp overnight at treeline by some small lakes and get some laps in as well as the summit.

Trip length: 1-2 Days
Season: December to Mid May

SEE PHOTOS
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

London Ridge - Goat Range

London Ridge

This area provides lots of fantastic skiing from lower angled tree glades, to steep trees, to large open slopes and bowls. Different aspects are available off of the ridges and you are guaranteed to have fresh tracks!

Located about 1:20 hrs. from Nelson, London Ridge makes for a great day trip.

Trip length: Full Day
Season: December to Early May

SEE PHOTOS
Pricing, Rentals & Contact info

Guided Outings - Ski Traverses

Wapta Traverse

Wapta Traverse

Canada's classic "Haute Route".  This hut to hut traverse crosses the expansive Wapta Icefields of the Canadian Rockies past majestic peaks with a remote feel although the next comfortable hut is never far away.

The Complete traverse starts north of Lake Louise at Peyto Lake and utilizes the Peyto, Bow, Balfour, and Scott Duncan huts to reach the Great Divide Lodge on day 5 although a 4 day option is possible which bypasses the Bow Hut. Some may prefer to spend 2 nights at Peyto or Bow Huts allowing for some ski mountaineering along the way.

The Mini Wapta is a shorter and less taxing option that crosses from the Bow to Peyto huts in 3 or 4 days.

Trip length: 3-6 days 
Min. group size: 3+guide
Season: Early January to Mid April
3 Day - $675/person, 4 Day - $850/person, 5 Day - $1025/person, 6 Day - $1200/person
All prices include guiding services & hut accommodation.  Meals can be provided for an additional $40/day.

*You will be required to carry a multiday backpack with a light sleeping bag and food.  Direct travel times between huts are typically 4-8hrs. and 4-6 hrs. for the Mini Wapta.


View Wapta Traverse in a larger map

VIEW DISTANCES & ELEVATIONS
Contact us for details

Bonnington Range Traverse

Bonnington Range Traverse

Just southwest of Nelson, BC lies one of the greatest little hut to hut trips around!  Fantastic north aspect ski lines from subalpine bowls, high scenic ridge traverses and adorably quaint cabins make for an unforgettable experience.  Three options are available:

3 days - The Quickie 
Overnight at the Grassy and Steed huts, then drop into Erie creek to gain the Empire/Dominion col and out Barrett Creek.
$575/person

4 days - The Classic
Amazing skiing into the north end of Erie Creek, leads to the Copper Hut on night 3 and then traverse the scenic ridges over Territory, Colony, and Empire peaks on day 4.
$750/person

5 days - The Complete Traverse
Either traverse over Dominion Mountain or climb up from Barrett Creek to reach the Huckleberry Hut on day 4.  The last day enjoy great skiing on Midday and Cabin Peaks before skiing out Barrett Creek.
$925/person

Trip length: 3-5 days. 
Min. group size: 3+guide
Max group size: 5+guide  
Season: Early January to Mid April
All prices include guiding services, hut accommodation and shuttle.  Meals can be provided for an additional $40/day.

*You will be required to carry a multiday backpack with sleeping mat, light sleeping bag and food.  Direct travel times between huts are typically 5-7 hrs.


View Bonnington Traverse in a larger map

SEE PHOTOS         VIEW DISTANCES & ELEVATIONS
Contact us for details  

Guided Outings - Lodge Based Trips

Ice Creek Lodge

Ice Creek Lodge

Ice Creek Lodge was built in true “Kootenay” style; quaint grandeur with relaxed comfort. The backcountry ski and snowboard lodge was hand-built from local timbers. Thus, creating an intimate atmosphere in the two-story, post-and-beam lodge.

Large, picturesque windows surround you on every wall, giving you spectacular views of the Selkirk and Valhalla mountains. These views, coupled with high ceilings in the common room, allow guests to feel the great expanse of the outdoors, while enjoying the cozy comfort of the common room couches.

Ice Creek accesses some of the best big mountain terrain in the province right out the front door. This lodge is well situated with much of its terrain being on north facing slopes which is great for maintaining snow quality.

The thing that separates Ice Creek from a lot of places is the varied terrain. They have everything from high alpine big lines, to great glades through the tree’s, mellow lines, pillow lines, cliffs, pretty much everything you could ever want.

For more info visit icecreeklodge.com

Ice Creek skiing

Scheduled Dates:
Jan 22 - 29, 2016   1 - 2 SPOTS LEFT
$2350 + GST - includes helicopter access, accommodation, catering & guiding

SEE PHOTOS
Contact us for details

Payment options

Sentry Lodge

Sentry Lodge

Located in the Esplanade Range of the Selkirks near Golden, Sentry Lodge sits at treeline with easy access to Sentry Mountain and the surrounding acres of open alpine slopes and ridgelines, along with almost unlimited phenomenal tree skiing with runs up to 600 vertical metres!

The area offers great views of Mt. Sir Sandford to the west and Mt. Columbia and Bryce to the east. The lodge is surrounded by skiable terrain in all directions from the cruisy open slopes of Rampart Ridge, to the long powder stashes of the Archer Trees and the Dragon’s Layer, to the steep drop out the front door into The Siege. There are great links ups over the ridges from one bowl to the next with tonnes of terrain to discover and adventure to be had. There is literally something here for everyone.

The newly built 2012 lodge is “an elegantly simple and sustainable new era backcountry alpine lodge designed to inspire”. Renewable micro hydro power generates 120V AC electricity throughout the lodge. Two heat efficient fireplaces keep this snow savvy structure nice and warm. Running hot and cold water, water free urinals and spacious interior are just some of the design elements waiting to be discovered.

Scheduled Dates: Sentry skiing
Jan 31 - Feb 7, 2015   TRIP IS FULL
$2300 + GST - includes helicopter access, accommodation, catering & guiding

SEE PHOTOS
Contact us for details

Payment Options

 

Mistaya Lodge

Mistaya Lodge

Deep snow in the remote high country and the warm coziness of Mistaya Lodge combine to make a Mecca for backcountry skiers, from mid-December to early May. Located on the west slopes of the Canadian Rockies, the frequent up slope snowfalls and dry powder provide excellent ski touring. The close proximity to extensive glaciated terrain as well as glades and open tree skiing, provides plenty of variety for novice to expert backcountry skiers. An unforgettably scenic 18 minute flight by helicopter from Golden, BC will introduce you to this magically beautiful basin in the Rockies.

The extensive alp lands and glades on the east facing slopes near the lodge, being relatively gentle and free of avalanche hazard, are ideally suited to intermediate skiers with limited back country experience. The glaciated terrain on the north and west aspects is much more varied and provides a vast mélange of exciting options for intermediate to advanced skiers. Several of the peaks over 9000 feet (2700m) which surround the basin are accessible via straight forward ski and scramble routes. On those snowy days when visibility is limited on the glaciers the basin is blessed with abundant and varied tree skiing. No helicopter skiing or snowmobiling takes place anywhere near the area. The powder is all yours!

Scheduled Dates:
Feb 9-16, 2014   TRIP IS FULL
Mistaya skiing$2150 + GST - includes helicopter access, accommodation, catering & guiding

SEE PHOTOS
Contact us for details

Sol Mountain Lodge

Sol Mountain Lodge

Located in the mega snow belt of the Monashees, Sol Mountain Lodge boasts a seasonal snowpack of 4-5 metres!   In 2012 they already have over 3m of settled snow before Christmas! Light, fluffy powder is the currency here and with 5 zones of terrain that measures nearly 130 km2 (50 square miles) it is impossible to ski it all in one trip. Expect a wide range of terrain to satisfy all tastes and abilities from mellow rollers to old growth forest with perfect glades to long open summit to valley runs, to steep shots and gullies between rock bands.
Located on the edge of, and touring into Monashee Provincial Park, guests can expect a solitary experience undisturbed by helicopter traffic from competing mechanized operations.

The lodge is an impressive 3 story timber frame building with 25 beds in 10 rooms that boast fantastic mountain views from nearly every window.  A separate building houses the sauna and additional beds.  A massive drying room, indoor toilets with running water and hot showers, comfortable living space and even a scenic yoga\stretching room are all just part of the experience that make your stay complete. 

Scheduled Dates:
Feb 3-9, 2013   TRIP IS FULL
$1925 + HST - includes helicopter access, accommodation, catering & guiding

SEE PHOTOS
Contact us for details 

 

Valkyr Naumulten Lodge

Valkyr Naumulten Lodge

Seeking phenomenal skiing in the lap of luxury? Look no further. Located in the heart of powder country, the Valkyr Naumulten Lodge features electricity, indoor plumbing with hot and cold running water, toilets and hot showers. There’s a fully outfitted kitchen, a large dining table, a games table, a drying room for boots and gear, and wireless Internet!
The lodge can accommodate 12 guest in six separate guest bedrooms. Rooms have double bed / twin bunk combinations capable of sleeping a couple or two singles and beds have quality linens and down duvets. For relaxing your tired muscles at the end of the day check out the Sauna Hut. It features a change room, sauna and bathroom complete with toilet and shower with hot running water!

What about the skiing you say? The lodge offers access to 7 unique zones covering all aspects and offering a wide selection of terrain to choose from. In the cirque surrounding the lodge there are countless open treed runs, suiting a variety of conditions and abilities. The ridges and folds of the mountain make for interchangeable and interesting runs. Most tours end with a ski down Naumulten’s west face to the lodge. Timed right, it can be just as the sun sets over the Monashees bathing the basin in alpenglow.

Within a short tour of the lodge there are many attainable ridges and peaks. The variety of aspect, incline and length of run found here can 

Valkyr Naumulten Lodge

accommodate most ski touring agendas. The views are expansive and majestic from all vantages. The north and east aspects offer big alpine bowls, steep couloirs and exciting treed skiing that the Selkirk’s are renowned for. The south and west facing slopes are mellower inclines with endless open treed glades. Enjoy epic riding in some of the most pristine wilderness that BC backcountry has to offer!

Scheduled Dates:
Jan. 30 - Feb. 6, 2012   TRIP IS FULL
$2100 + HST - includes helicopter access, accommodation, catering & guiding

SEE PHOTOS
Contact us for details 

 

Ruby Creek Ski Week

Ruby Creek Lodge

Join us for a week of fun and great skiing in the Valhalla powder that the West Kootenays are famous for!!

Located in the heart of the Selkirk Mountains, just north of Valhalla Park, the ideal mix of temperature, snowfall and mountains create some of the best skiing and riding on earth.
With moderate winter temperatures and abundant winter snowfall, you can expect 3 meter snow depths by mid-winter. 40 square km (25 square miles) of alpine bowls, glades and chutes is just a skin track away from the lodge, allowing you to venture someplace new every day of your trip.
The peaks and ridges soar to 8,500' providing for continuous descents of over 2,000' back down to the lodge at 5,800'. Beginners, intermediates and experts will find plenty of terrain to keep busy.

As for the lodge? Few in the backcountry can rival Ruby Creek. Its exquisite timber frame construction provides 6 private bedrooms, an indoor flush toilet and a spacious living area complete with a large dining table, leather sofas (with lazy boys!), stereo, a fully equipped kitchen, standard electricity that operates 24 hours a day, wireless internet Ruby Creek Skiingand running hot and cold UV filtered water. All sheets, pillows and down duvets are provided.
At the end of your day a large wood-fired sauna, hot shower, flush toilet and large drying area await you.
The terms "hut" and "cabin" just don't do it justice. This is truly a lodge with all of the comforts of home, and world 

class skiing out your front door!

Each day your guide will offer up a new skiing itinerary based on conditions and the needs & desires of the group.  As the hut is surrounded by great terrain, the option often exists to return for lunch or opt for a half day of skiing when the legs need a break.

Scheduled Dates:
March 20-27, 2011   TRIP IS FULL
$1400 + HST - includes cat access, accommodation & guiding

SEE PHOTOS
Contact us for details