Conditions Report | 12/27/2019
Winter Update | December 27th, 2019 Where that champagne powder at? With Santa forgetting to deliver our usual meter of fresh champagne powder this Christmas, we’ve been experiencing some unique conditions this season. In case you missed out on our most recent newsletter (subscribe at the bottom right of this page!), we’ve included our most…
Revelstoke Backcountry
Revelstoke Backcountry Powder from the Selkirks to the Monashees Four days of backcountry skiing based out of Revelstoke BC. With a maximum group size of 6, we will check out the local backcountry goods between Roger Pass and the Monashees. Accommodation, Transportation, Guiding (Ross Berg), and All Meals (chef on hand) are included. You just…
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Sea-to-Sky Transportation
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5 tips to get into backcountry ski touring
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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.