Stand Up Paddle Climbing Adventure
Today I had the pleasure to guide the sea cliffs of Howe Sound. Like waking up from a dream the view around us at the Squamish Spit was pristine and misty. Garibaldi Mountain and the Chief gave us alpine glow and magic vistas first thing in the morning. This was the environment we paddled in,…
Mt. Habrich Climbing and Flying!
Tony Richardson and I profited from this bombastic high pressure system and managed to tick a wold class climb and flight right above the village of Squamish. Our friend Nathan dropped us of at the boulders on the Stawamus Forest Service road and after a three hour approach we locked horns with Mt. Habrich’s west…
Squamish Buttress 5.10c
What a beautiful day to be rock climbing and guiding the ultra classic Squamish Buttress! The day was perfect. Endless splitter cracks to the top of the Squamish Chief. Rock climbing at it’s finest and only 5.10c. photos by: Crosby Johnston
The Wedge Mountain Whistler BC
Had an amazing trip up to The Wedge with Helen Beynon, we climbed the uber classic NE Arete. The route was in fine condition and the day was sublime. I can’t think of a better way to spend a couple days mountaineering in Whistler! Wedge Mountain 2892 m (9488 ft) photos: Paul McSorley
Canadian Society of Mountain Medicine Diploma Course
We just finished up a fantastic week with the Canadian Society of Mountain Medicine working as instructors and evaluators for this fledgeling program. Spending four days in Whistler and one rockclimbing in Squamish we capped the week off with two days mountaineering in the unforgettable Tantalus Range. The weather was impeccable and the doctors got…
Mt. Robson 3,954m , 12,972ft, Grade IV Kain Face Summit Attempt
Mt. Robson 3,954m , 12,972ft, Grade IV Kain Face. Mt Robson Kain Face Attempt.
On August 27th Ross Berg, Paul McSorley and I used Yellowhead Helicopters to fly into the Dome of Mt. Robson with five clients. Yellowhead Helicopter’s 206 Pilot did a great job flying us into the 3150m Dome landing in 4 flights. What a great place to be flown into to start a guided trip. We were hoping to guide the trip from the highway, however there was poor weather in the forecast so we decided to just fly everyone into the Dome bellow the Kain Face of Mt Robson. We were not able to sneak up to the summit before the poor weather started. The winds increased to over 100km per hour and it ended up snowing about 40cm. All and all it turned out to be a fantastic guided trip with some inspirational guests
Frendo Spur, (D+ / III 4 1200m) Aiguille du Midi North Face, Chamonix, Mont Blanc
Last week I (Crosby Johnston) had the pleasure to guide the Frendo Spur on the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix Mont Blanc. The Frendo Spur is rated (D+ / III 4 1200m) and is on the North Face Aiguille du Midi. However it totals 1600m of elevation from hut to the Aiguille du Midi Telepherique. A perfect day of…
Cosmiques Arete Chamonix and Point Lachenal
Ross Berg and I (Crosby Johnston) had a great day out guiding the Point Lachenal and the Cosmiques Arete in Chamonix just steps away from the Aiguille du Midi Chamonix Mont Blanc: 3842m above sea level. Both climbs are ultra classic route in a stunning location. Photos don’t justify or come anywhere close to capturing the…
Groups: School, Corporate
Groups, School and Corporate Get the Gang Out for a Day on the Rock. We are proud to offer guided rock climbing trips for custom groups throughout the summer season in Squamish or Whistler BC. Our experienced guides will create a day to push and connect your group. Whether it is for youth camps, school groups,…
Guided climbing mountaineering Chamonix Mont Blanc Dent du Geant / Arete Rochefort
Here are some photos from the summer in the mountains around Chamonix. What a fun place! (click for larger high res photos)
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
[contact-form-7 id="531" title="Contact"]
Jump To
Popular Trips
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.