Eisenhower Tower 5.5, Castle Mountain
This past weekend we got out to Castle Mountain located between Banff and Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies. A 4 hour hike/sramble leads to the Castle Mountain Hut high on the goat plateau. This was my first trip to this hut and was soo impressed! The hut it self is nothing more than a…
Fred Beckey climbing at Nightmare Rock!
Fred Beckey still continues to be an inspiration to the climbing world. At 90 something it is truly awesome to see the detection and love of climbing still alive. Gives us all something to look forward to. The grandfather of the first accent world on Granddaddy over hang why not! Always a pleasure to get out and climb with Fred Beckey!
Tantalus Range Haberl Hut again!
What a great trip to one of the greatest destinations on the Coast Range of BC! The Tantalus Range and the Jim Haberl Hut is next to none for a mountaineering destination. One of the coast range’s best kept secrets!
Jim Haberl Hut Tantalus Range
Jim Haberl Hut Tantalus Range, what a place! Over the last two days we had the pleasure of guiding up in one of our favorite locations in Canada. For a first time mountain experience it was the perfect place to get out into the mountains, especially with the luxury of the lovely Jim Haberl Hut.…
Ski Touring Whistler Blackcomb – Disease Ridge
A great instructional ski mountaineering day in the Blackcomb Backcountry! Ski touring Whistler Blackcomb can be a blast even in the spring. Last weekend we managed to get out for some ski mountaineering on Disease Ridge. With the spring conditions and 5 cm of new snow it still fun skiing. We didn’t get lot of vertical in but with the use of the rope we got to enter into some steep terrain!
KINLEY AITKEN
KINLEY AITKEN Growing up on Vancouver’s North Shore, Kinley Aitken has been working in the mountains for 13 years. Although her climbing adventures have included the west coast to the deep south of North America, France, Italy, Greece, Spain and Australia, Kinley can’t think of a better way to spend a summers day than cruising up clean splitter cracks…
Canadian Rockies Climbing – Paper Chase 5.11a, Guides Rock
Back up to Guides rock just outside of Banff in the Canadian Rockies this time of the 5.11a “Paper Chase”. At 5.11a this route packs a punch with tricky gear, steep technical climbing and wild exposure. The rock on this face never ceases to amaze!! Absolutely world class rock. Never mind the ticket to France…
Canadian Rockies Climbing – Sea of Dream 5.10d, Guides Rock
With tempertures pushing 30c my trip in the Canadian Rockies Mountains where amazing!! We managed to sneak in a late afternoon ascent of the Banff multi pitch classic “Sea of Dreams” 5.10d. The 6 pitch bolted sport route when down in a couple hours of beautiful lime stone climbing in the sun! Here are some pics.
Skiing in the Tantalus Range
Skiing in the Tantalus Range If you are lucky enough to nail the weather the skiing in the Tantalus is amazing! Imagine a mini Alaska within minutes of town. Big alpine faces, spines, couloirs and ripping glacier make this the place to be. We offer either day trips into the area via helicopter or overnight trips…
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.