Beautiful Morning in Chamonix France
Last night the peaks recieved some much need snow with the snow line coming down past the Aigulle du plan (2000m). Our objective of the Mont Blanc north face should be coming into shape nicely for next week.
Angles Crest – Squamish Multi-Pitch Climbing
ANGELS CREST
How to belay with a munter hitch – VIDEO
Paul McSorley is at it again showing us some climbing skillz. “How to belay with a Munter Hitch”. A crucial skill to have in case you ever drop or forget your belay device on a multi pitch climb. Dont forget to turn up the video quality to HD. Paul looks good in HD!
Squamish Rock Climbing – Exasperator Crack 5.10c VIDEO
IFMGA mountain guide Crosby Johnston talks about one of his favorite Squamish 5.10 rock climbs the “Exasperator Crack”
One of the best single pitch routes in Squamish located at the Grand wall base. 45m of technical finger crack climbing.
Climbing Tip Of The Week: Top down belaying (multi-pitch climbing)
As the summer climbing season quickly approaches we want to start posting weekly climbing tip videos to help you make this the best season ever!!! Keep your eyes peeled as we have topics from intro to advanced. If there is a skill you want to see give us an email!
Squamish Rock is ready!
Rock climbing is happening right now in Squamish and throughout the Sea to Sky corridor. Unsettled spring weather is giving way to sunny skies and the rock is drying out faster than you can say: “On Belay.”
Spearhead Traverse
We just returned from a 3-day Spearhead Traverse trip with gorgeous conditions. Cruising down 1,000-foot powder to corn runs, bootpacking up an airy ridge, and watching the sun set over the Coast mountains were just some of the highlights. Thank you to everyone for your hard work and making it a fabulous trip to remember!…
Spring skiing is on!!!
We’ve been getting tons of fresh powder here on the Coast from the Duffey Lake to the Whistler backcountry. The tree skiing is all time right now so come join us for a ride you will never forget!
Squamish rock climbing is on!
It’s been a great week for rock climbing in Sqaumish! Sunny skies and fresh temps have dried out single and multipitch climbs from Murrin to the Bluffs. Spring is in the air so come on down and get some!
Angles Crest 5.10c 13 Pitches – January 27th!!!!! yah-Rock Climbing Squamish.
While we wait for this next storm to come in tonight we took the oppertunity to head to Squamish for a route on the might Squamish Chief!! Pretty wild right now how dry the peak is. Normally only a few select route with the right sun and wind exposrue would be possible to climb during the winter month but with this prolonged dry spell and warm temps it has opened the door to to soo many others.
We climbed one of the more classic moderate long routes Angles Crest. 13 pitches of up to 5.10c climbing up alpine like ridges and faces.
Not bad for January 27th!
What is Backcountry Skiing?
Do you have a craving to ski on ungroomed, all-natural snow in some of the most beautiful wilderness mountains' have to offer? If your answer is yes, then backcountry skiing can provide the adventure you're looking for.
Backcountry skiing generally occurs in sparsely populated areas outside designated ski resorts - truly making it an adventure. Human power is frequently the means of access and ascent, but some adventures may require helicopters and ski lifts may be used so long as the land accessed is backcountry.
Types of Backcountry Skiing
According to Wikipedia, backcountry skiing can include:
- Frontcountry: off-trail within ski area boundaries where ski lifts and emergency services are close at hand.
- Slackcountry: terrain outside of the ski area boundary that is accessed from a lift without having to use skins or bootpack. Usually this also includes area with access back to the lift as well. For purists, this could also include where people use a car as a shuttle.
- Sidecountry: terrain outside marked ski area boundaries yet accessible via ski lift. Typically sidecountry requires the skier to hike, skin, or climb within ski area boundaries to reach or return from the sidecountry area, or both.
- Backcountry: skiing in remote areas not within ski area boundaries. Ski patrol, marked ski runs, grooming, snowmaking, and ski lifts are absent.
Want to Try Backcountry Skiing?
Give Altus Mountain Guides a call to start your adventure today +1.604.848.8543
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Altus mountain guides is a group of motivated professionals dedicated to providing our clients with outstanding quality in the mountains with safe adventurous trips. From our base in Squamish and Whistler BC we provide you access to the most amazing mountain experiences the West Coast has to offer. Our exciting itineraries showcase the Coast Range but reach beyond to the interior ranges of the Selkirkʼs and Purcellʼs and onto the Rockies. We also offer trips internationally from the historic and classic European Alps to the windswept wilds of Patagonia.