Private Rock Climbing Instruction
Private Rock Climbing Instruction The Fast Track to Learning All the Rock Climbing Skills You Need. A day of private rock climbing instruction is arguably the best way to accelerate your rock climbing skill and confidence. Spend either a full or half-day with a highly trained and experienced rock climbing guide to cover whatever you feel…
Rock Rescue Course
Rock Rescue Crucial Skills to get Yourself out of a Pickle! Rock Rescue skills are essential for any rock climber who ventures into multi-pitch terrain! High angle rock rescue skills are the focus of this intensive single-day course. Learn the skills to help yourself, your partner, or an adjacent party halfway up a multi-pitch route.…
Rock Evolution Course
Rock Evolution All the Need to Know Rock Skills in One Tight Package Everything you need to know to confidently tackle a wide range of climbing objectives all over the world. Our Rock Evolution course is designed to take a new climber with limited to no outdoor experience through the evolution of rock climbing: top…
Challenge the Chief
Think you have the muscle to climb the Squamish chief? Prove it! Two days we will train you the skills of rock climbing and attempt to summit the Squamish Chief by the main face climbing route – Squamish Buttress. If you are successful you will be entered into the draw for a crack at an alpine summit attempt, climbing gear to get you started on your own personal climbing journey and $250 to spend with us on any further course.
Squamish Splitter Camp
The Squamish Splitter Camp is a two day turbo boosted tour of crack climbing in one of the world’s great sites: Squamish. Join our expert guides and pro athletes for a high end look into crack technique from thin to offwidth, protection strategies and advanced tips for succeeding on your project or just upping your game. We will visit crags that are off the beaten path and get into some obscure classics guaranteed to challenge any climber regardless of their abilities. The concept of this Camp is to make you a better all around crack master.
Run Chilcotins
Run Chilcotins Hut to Hut Alpine Running Experience the Southern Chilcotin range by foot. Remote and spectacular, this is a secret destination in BC. This adventure is a great introduction to the world of fastpacking. All meals and accommodations in backcountry rustic camps are provided. The days will be long, and we will tackle some…
Run the Dolomites
Run Patagonia The proper way to ski Whistler – Blackcomb Explore one of Patagonia’s finest gems as we circumnavigate the Torres del Paines circuit in true fastpack style. More info on this trip of a lifetime coming soon. The Skiing / The Terrain / What’s Included / Trip Add-Ons / Dates & Prices The Goods Length: 3 days…
Navigation Skills
Summer Navigation Skills Where are you going? Everything you need to know to be confidently tackling a wide range of climbing objectives anywhere in the world. This 4 days course is designed to take a new climbing with limited or no outdoor experience through top rope anchors, sport climbing, trad climbing, multi-pitch skills and finally rock rescue in…
Scrambling Skills
Scrambling Skills All the need to know rock skills in one tight package Everything you need to know to be confidently tackling a wide range of climbing objectives anywhere in the world. This 4 days course is designed to take a new climbing with limited or no outdoor experience through top rope anchors, sport climbing, trad climbing, multi-pitch…
Run Esplanades Traverse
Run Esplanades Traverse Alpine Hut to Hut Running! If you are searching for a true high alpine running adventure in the remote mountains of BC, then join us for a 5-day HUT to HUT on the Esplanade Traverse. Enjoy a scenic helicopter flight direct to our first lodge. From here, we will spend the entire…
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.