Ski Touring
Western Canada is home to some of the best ski terrain on the planet, and some of the best snow conditions can be found right here in the Kootenays! 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
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
Scheduled Dates:
Dec. 8, 2012
Jan. 5, 2013
Feb. 2, 2013
$135
Guided Outings - Day Trips from Nelson
Whitewater Backcountry - Lift Accessible
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 $20. An adult day pass is $62.50.
Like to sleep in? This area is so easily accessible, it totally lends itself to half day sessions where you can get turns in a 3-4 hour session! Half day guiding rates apply or combine a half day of ice Climbing for a Full Day of "Powder & Ice".
Trip length: Half or full day
Season: December to April
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Pricing, Rentals & Contact info
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 a 3-4 hour session! Half day guiding rates apply or combine a half day of ice Climbing for a Full Day of "Powder & Ice".
Trip length: Half or full day
Season: December to April
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Pricing, Rentals & Contact info
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
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Pricing, Rentals & Contact info
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
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Pricing, Rentals & Contact info
Mount Brennan - Goat Range
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
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Pricing, Rentals & Contact info
London Ridge - Goat Range
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 JAN. 11, 2013 Contact us for details
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Pricing, Rentals & Contact info
Secret Stash
The Kootenays near Nelson hold numerous secret powder stashes that only the locals know about. Let us tailor a day for you where we venture into the back backcountry and unlock the most virgin lines.
Guided Outings - Ski Traverses
Bonnington Range Traverse
Just southwest of Nelson 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.
$550/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.
$725/person
Dates: March 8-11, 2013
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.
$900/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 $35/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 4-6 hrs.
View Bonnington Traverse in a larger map
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Wapta Traverse
Canada's classic "Haute Route". This hut to hut traverse crosses the expansive Wapta Icefields past majestic peaks with a remote feel although the next comfortable hut is never far away.
The Classic traverse starts at Peyto Lake and utilizes the Peyto, Bow, Balfour, and Scott Duncan huts to reach West Louise on day 5 although a 4 day option is possible bypassing Bow Hut. Some may prefer to spend 2 nights at Bow Hut 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 - $650/person, 4 Day - $825/person, 5 Day - $1000/person, 6 Day - $1175/person
All prices include guiding services & hut accommodation. Meals can be provided for an additional $35/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
Guided Outings - Lodge Based Trips
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 2 spots left
$1925 + HST - includes helicopter access, accommodation, catering & guiding
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 lod
ge. 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 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
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Ruby Creek Ski Week
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 and 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
