Related: Ferreol Surfeur 112 Review (2025): A Playful Powder Shredder

Quick Specs

Playground: All-Mountain Powder Ski, Versatile Backcountry Ski
Length: 188 cm
Dimensions (tip-waist-tail): 137-105-126 mm
Turn Radius: 17 m
Weight per ski: 1820 g
Construction: Poplar Core, Titanal Mounting Plate, Fiberglass/Carbon Inlay
Bindings: Atomic Backland Summit 12 LSH
Binding Mount: Recommended Line
Climbing Skins: Pomoca Tour Pro

Construction

Ferreol also gave the construction a thoughtful update. An aluminum mounting plate adds underfoot rigidity for added strength and confidence when you’re carving at Mach 16. Replacing the full-length carbon layer is a 100-mm carbon strip, boosting durability while trimming down the ski’s carbon footprint compared to the previous version. Skiers will be relieved to see a rubber tail reinforcement with the ever-so-useful indentation onto which climbing skins clip. Needless to say, it’s a no-nonsense solution to the topsheet durability issue of the previous generation, specifically at the tail, observed by a few backcountry skiers. It seems like Ferreol is truly listening to its customer base.

Weight

At 1820 grams per ski, the Ferreol team updated an already lightweight all-mountain powder ski that can easily be hauled around in the backcountry. For how well its multi-layered construction can handle variable conditions, crud and chop, they have no doubt pulled a magic trick on us. The Pionnier 104 handles crud, chop and groomed runs as well as some heavier contenders such as the ever-popular Salomon QST 106 at 2190 grams per ski. Striking a thoughtful balance between weight and performance, the Pionnier is also a great option for slackcountry days where you’ll start your day in the backcountry and finish with a few inbound runs as the sun sets over the peaks.

In the backcountry, the Pionnier 104 2.0, mounted with the Atomic Backland Summit 12 pin bindings, made travel effortless. Sure, the Pionnier is no featherweight, but I prefer that. I’d rather have a supportive ski in the 1700-1850g than a 1500g noodle. Working as a ski guide in all sorts of conditions, I need my skis to handle everything the mountain will throw at me. The Ferreol Pionnier 104 2.0 will do just that.

Downhill Performance

While The Uptrack is mainly focused on ski touring, I’ve spent some time on the Pionnier 104 inbounds, shredding moguls and carving on groomers. One of my biggest gripes with lightweight skis is their erratic behaviour at speed when the tips start vibrating uncontrollably. The Pionnier’s updated construction solves that problem, making it quite damp on groomers. Its damp character, especially for its weight class, combined with the triple-point cambered shape, gave me that extra confidence to carve Super-G turns at supersonic speeds. Its 104mm-wide (105mm in the 188cm model) provided a rather snappy edge-to-edge transition for an all-mountain powder ski.

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In the glades and moguls, the skis, in 188cm length, were agile enough to weave through the terrain. Coming off the Ferreol Surfeur 112 (184cm), the brand’s de facto powder ski, the Pionnier offered an exhilarating, albeit very different experience. Since the ski has less tip and tail rocker, its longer effective edge and much stiffer tail offered greater stability at the expense of feeling a little more cumbersome in tight terrain features. At first, I found it considerably harder to locate the longitudinal sweet spot. I felt the tails were constantly catching in turns. After a few laps of trial and error, I figured out the correct position and had an absolute blast plowing through powder, refrozen moguls and hardpack. As much as we all dream of resort skiing in deep powder, that’s often far from reality. The Pionnier’s increased stability and control when compared to the Surfeur 112 was especially beneficial in variable conditions. This ski definitely requires an aggressive, dynamic stance where you really drive the shovels around. I suspect the shorter length models would allow for a more relaxed skiing style.

Ski Touring Performance

In deep untracked powder, the Ferreol Pionnier 104 2.0 offered a fine-tuned balance between weight, stability and float. Its 104mm-wide waist and large shovels provide plenty of floatation in boot-top to knee-deep powder. I haven’t tried it in snorkel-deep blower, but would most likely prefer the Surfeur 112 if that were the case. I’ve spent a few days on the Pionnier in untouched powder at Balu Pass (Rogers Pass) and in the RMR slackcountry. I was blown away by how well it handled the knee-deep powdery pitches followed by the icy, hardpack bobsleigh track at the valley’s exits. At the end of a tiring day of ski touring, it makes a huge difference. I’d rather avoid crashing on hardpack in the evening. In practice, backcountry skiing isn’t always all powder. Armed with the Pionnier 104 2.0, I’ve had the pleasure of effortlessly slicing through wind slabs and melt-freeze crust. The skis handled those difficult conditions brilliantly. I’ll do some more testing in Spring, but I could definitely see this ski shining on ski-mountaineering trips where conditions are often anything but powder.

On the uphill, the 188cm model is light enough to haul up the mountains. Kick-turn initiation is smooth enough, with the shovels naturally tilting up when needed. Breaking trail, the ski’s wide tip easily surfs on top of the snow, which thankfully spares your hip flexors on the uptrack.

The Brief Rundown

The talented team at Ferreol crafted a lively, confidence-inspiring ski that weaves through tight trees, charges when you ask it to, and adapts beautifully to a variety of snow conditions. Compared to the previous version, it’s got the same pioneer spirit, just sharper, stronger, and ready to chew up terrain.

You could go either way with this ski. Mount it with a downhill binding for a stable, agile tree-skiing machine or with a hybrid binding for maximum versatility on and off piste. Tooled with a lightweight pin binding, the Pionnier 104 2.0 will grant you access to any backcountry terrain with minimal compromise. If anything, I wish Ferreol would offer the ski in an intermediate length between 180 and 188cm. Personally, a 184cm model would be an absolute dream, granting a little more agility and a slightly snappier pivot.

The post Ferreol Pionnier 104 2.0 Review (2025): The Ultimate Quiver Killer appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: The ACMG Ski Guide Certificate: What Does It Take?

What’s The ACMG Ski Guide Exam All About

For those wondering, the ski guide exam is a 9-day, hands-on assessment of a guide’s skills on snow. It is the final milestone in the ACMG ski guide certification. Think of it as an all-around, real-world exam. Small groups of 3 to 4 students take turns leading a rotating group of examiners through complex glaciated terrain. The routes selected often include technical alpine features like couloir skiing, rappels, and roped glacier travel, with the occasional foray into the trees.

Under the examiner’s watchful eye, each student rotates through the guide role by track-setting, assessing hazards, managing the group, and coaching everyone through challenging sections. Examiners may even allow mistakes to unfold to better understand a student’s decision-making and problem-solving skills, stepping in only when it truly matters.

Keep Your Head On A Swivel

As a ski guide, you’re constantly monitoring dangers, from avalanche hazards to hidden crevasses. It all boils down to minimizing your group’s exposure to hazards while managing the guests when the hazards can’t be avoided. That’s where backcountry experience in complex glaciated terrain, leading to sound decision-making, is critical. Without a doubt, the avalanche hazard is a major player. Ski guides will spend a considerable amount of time investigating the snowpack to accurately evaluate the avalanche hazard – whether that means sticking our head in the snow or ski cutting unsupported features.

In an exam setting or at work, you’re making hundreds of small decisions, almost every minute, from where you’ll ski down to how you’ll lower guests into a couloir and where you’ll take your snack breaks. All those decisions must work in tandem to complete the objective and deliver an unforgettable experience. Guides in training spend a considerable amount of time completing challenging ski tours to test their decision-making while facing hazardous conditions. Sometimes, you just have to get creative! We’ll “mock guide” our peers and perform a debrief after each day, offering constructive criticism.

The Art Of Track-Setting

On the ACMG ski guide exam, we’re expected to master the art of track-setting, otherwise known as uptracking. You didn’t hit that bench quite right – FAIL! Your uptrack is too steep – FAIL! You didn’t flatten the corners enough for your guests – FAIL! Jokes aside, setting an uptrack as perfectly through dense forest as in convoluted, alpine terrain is challenging. Fortunately, most apprentice guides have 2-3 years of ski touring work to practice those skills. It definitely gets harder when you’ve exclusively heli-skied during your apprenticeship.

Guides aim for an uptrack incline of 12-18 degrees, striking a balance between vertical gain and energy conservation throughout the day. It’s important to maintain a consistent angle across features while minimizing direction changes. I always tell myself: “Use all the real estate you can when setting a track”. Sometimes, it’s important to climb at an aggressive incline or speed up the ascent, such as when crossing crevasse bridges or to escape from sketchy overhead hazards. Like any other guiding skillset, it all comes down to good decision-making. Guides will spend many days purposefully uptracking through difficult terrain in hopes of mastering the art of track-setting.

Nail The Downhill Lines

Like most ski guides, we track uphill to ski downhill. I genuinely love the downhill component. It’s the reason why I spend 60-70% of my winter around helicopters. The ACMG ski guide exam will test your ability to guide your group on the descent in unfamiliar terrain. After all, you’re expected to navigate thoughtfully through zones you’ve never visited before, intending to deliver the best possible ski product. With experience, guides learn how to best manage their guests while avoiding objective hazards or reducing their group’s exposure.

There’s no substitute for hard-earned experience. I’ve been fortunate enough to land a dream heli-ski job early in my career. Heli-skiing allowed me to dial in my downhill guiding, often skiing 10 backcountry runs. Due to Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing’s massive tenure, I get to explore new terrain every day and downhill guide in a variety of weather and snow conditions.

Navigate Glaciers Like A Pro

Glacier travel is one of the core components of the ACMG ski guide exam. It takes years of experience to decode glaciers and understand what’s happening underneath the snow. An unroped crevasse fall is typically our biggest concern. With much practice, guides can determine the strength of a snow bridge based on outside temperature, bridge thickness and snow hardness – sticking our probes in the snow and feeling the resistance. It’s an essential skill when you’re travelling through an icefall.

As guides in training, we’ll spend days traversing icefields in a whiteout, testing our GPS and compass-based navigation skills when we can barely see the tip of our skis. Being able to decipher a sagging crevasse bridge in poor visibility is an acquired skill. Glacier navigation is complicated and inherently high-stakes. A mistake here and you might fall into a gaping hole.

Master The Ropes

Rigging skills are thoroughly tested on the ACMG ski guide exam. We’ll often lower our group into steep lines or belay a guest scrambling on a rocky ridge. Examiners dedicate a day to testing crevasse rescue techniques using various scenarios, including an unroped fall where the victim is unconscious and a rope ascent while passing knots.

I spent several days rehearsing rigging techniques, practicing knots while watching TV and running through diverse rescue scenarios with my peers. A few examples:

• An unroped fall with an unconscious victim
• Ascending a rope with knots
• Rappelling through knots
• Drop loop and z-pulley rescue systems
• Building bomber snow/ice anchors (T-slots & V-threads)

Ever Heard Of The “Backcountry Butler”

The often forgotten component of ski guiding is client care. Sure, when we think of ski guides, we immediately think of powder skiing through an untouched white canvas. What guides don’t tell you is that 50% of our job is about caring for our clients and optimizing their experience. Examiners will judge you on quality-of-life decisions like taking a break in a sheltered location or emphasizing sunscreen use. They’ll even evaluate your coaching skills when working through challenging sections. That’s part of the game, and how a guide gets a great tip at the end of a day!

You might have to teach your clients how to remove skins on a summit while the winds are howling. You might have to sprinkle some fresh snow on an overused uptrack to increase grip. All those small things contribute to the guest experience. At the ACMG, the bar is set high.

A Note On The Ridge Active Insulator

Premium outerwear designer Strafe was kind enough to send me their cutting-edge mid-layer, The Ridge Active Insulator Jacket, for testing. I’ve now taken it on a few ski tours, through old-growth forest, on huge glaciers and far into our backcountry playground. The Ridge Insulator is the perfect replacement for my old, raggedy mid-layer, which was falling apart at the seams. The fleece lining is not only comfortable, but also provides just the right amount of insulation for winter, high-output activities like ski touring or mountaineering. The insulation is strategically placed to maximize breathability. The jacket is also incredibly light, keeping only essential features such as a hood, wrist and waist elastic cinching and a few zippered pockets. The thin, yet durable, Pertex face fabric complements its low weight while granting it some water resistance when the snow starts flying. The Ridge Active Insulator is the only jacket I need for the ascent in mild to moderately cold temperatures. Since the synthetic insulation retains warmth when wet, I simply throw on my shell layer for the descent. The jacket just looks darn good, and the athletic fit is great for my slim, 6ft build in a size medium.

Features:

• Lightweight & air-permeable body mapped Pertex® Equilibrium NetPlus® & brrr° 4-way stretch fabrics
• Exposed body mapped PrimaLoft® Active Evolve insulation
• Fully lined integrated hood with elastic along the opening
• Zippered hand & chest pockets
• Mesh electronics sleeve inside right-hand pocket
• Elastic binding at sleeve cuffs, hood edge, & hem
• YKK® Vislon® & Regular Coil zippers
• Weight: 10.2oz/290g

The post The ACMG Ski Guide Exam: How I Trained For The Ultimate Test appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Balu Pass, Rogers Pass: Old Faithful Ski Tour

Report from November 27, 2025

After two days of heavy rain to 2300m, Freddy and I figured now was a great time to kick-start our ski touring season at Rogers Pass. Fortunately, the tail end of the storm system brought 20cm of dense powder, burying the burly melt-freeze crust. With a forecasted warm spell settling in over the day, we hoped the warm snow would stick to the crust and cushion our turns. We planned on skiing a classic of the Connaught Valley, the Cheops North Bowl.

We followed the standard Connaught uptrack, aiming to gain Balu Pass. With the low elevation coverage, we stepped over rocks, roots and cautiously maneuvered over gaping streams. In the early season, it’s best to budget some extra time to navigate the valley bottoms. Surprisingly, the fresh rain crust helped shield our skis from the rocks on the trail. After two hours of continuous side-hilling, we gained Balu Pass and stumbled into old friends, Chris and Will, who happened to share the same objective.

We took a breather at the pass, snacking on granola bars and dehydrated mangoes – my all-time favourite in the backcountry. Looking south, we could see the Loop Brook, Asulkan and Illecillewaet Valleys in the distance. It got me excited about our upcoming winter and all the epic terrain at our fingertips. We mosied across Balu Pass, arriving at the foot of the Cheops West Ridge, the next leg of the ski tour.

As we climbed the broad shoulder, I probed for potential wind slabs and evaluated our snowpack. For a heavily wind-scoured feature, I was surprised to find more than 180cm of snow across the slope. Beyond, the alpine was caked in snow. The warm temperature and heavy snow had coated our mountains, filling in boulder holes, open creeks and eroded gullies. Despite the recent rain, that’s a great start for the 2025-2026 season. With Will expertly breaking trail at the front, we gained the distinct bench, marking the entrance of the Cheops North Bowl.

While the crew executed a quick transition, Will (being Will) pulled a beer out of his bag and crushed it on the spot. Not my style, but I can appreciate the effort to haul it up the hill. Will and Chris decided to ski Nicci’s Notch, an advanced line nearby. We dropped into the bowl, ski cutting the convex entrance to evaluate the wind slab’s reactivity. The warm snow offered smooth, groomer-like skiing, thankfully cushioning the crust below. While I wouldn’t call that powder skiing, it was as enjoyable as it was different from what we’re used to at Rogers Pass. The vast alpine terrain was looming overhead, making us feel very small in comparison.

As we approached the traverse under STS Couloir, we noticed a string of avalanche debris emerging from the steep couloir above. The debris had carved out the terrain, leaving great big gullies of tough ice. We carefully descended through the challenging section and raced down to the valley bottom once clear of the debris. In times of better stability and snow quality, I often ski the steep chutes directly below the bowl. They are often loaded by the downflow winds, blowing from the top of Balu Pass.

Route Info

7-8 h	1020m	11 km	1330-2250 m

The post Cheops North Bowl: Great Alpine Skiing Despite Thin Coverage appeared first on The Uptrack.

Quick Specs

Playground: Resort Powder Ski, Powder-Oriented Backcountry Ski
Length: 184 cm
Dimensions (tip-waist-tail): 141-112-130 mm
Turn Radius: 17 m
Weight per ski: 1895 g
Construction: Poplar Core, Titanal/Flax/Carbon inlay
Bindings: Atomic Shift 13 MN
Binding Mount: Recommended Line
Climbing Skins: Contour Guide Pure 2.0

Construction

Sourced from sustainably managed forests located within 100 km of the factory, the Ferreol Surfeur 112 has a carefully crafted poplar core that comes from selective harvesting practices with a focus on forest regeneration. The result is a lightweight but strong and reliable ski. Ferreol added a Titanal mounting plate to increase underfoot stiffness, which results in great stability at speeds and edge hold on firm snow. Along its length, an optimized blend of flax and carbon fibres reinforces the ski, providing added stiffness while maintaining its low weight. In addition to the flax fibres, a biosourced epoxy resin and topsheet incorporate renewable materials, lowering the ski’s carbon footprint while offering exceptional durability.

Weight

While optimizing the carbon and flax fibre mapping within the Surfeur 112, Ferreol produced the perfect 50/50 ski. It’s equally happy hitting the resort slopes on a powder day or exploring our backcountry playground. On one hand, it’s on the lighter end of the resort ski spectrum. Fear not, its lightweight design can definitely hold its own in chop and crud. On the other hand, its 1895g (184cm model) is on the heavier end of the ski touring spectrum.

Mounted with a pin binding, the Surfeur 112 is tailored to ski tourers searching for a downhill-oriented option that can still be hauled up the mountain with a little extra effort. Personally, I prefer a slightly heavier ski that can offer added stability in variable conditions. Let’s be honest, backcountry skiing involves more than just blower powder. Oftentimes, you’ll encounter difficult snow conditions, especially closer to the valley bottom, something that’s easily handled by the Ferreol Surfeur 112.

Downhill Performance

The Surfeur 112 shines in soft snow on the resort or in the backcountry, especially when tree skiing. It’s an incredibly playful, intuitive, and maneuverable ski that can handle powder, tight trees and moguls with ease. Its light tip and softer tail make releasing or smearing turns as effortless as possible without getting thrown around too much when you don’t hit that bump perfectly. It has a progressive mounting point, 7-8cm behind the true center, which helps maintain its agility in tight terrain without compromising on flotation. There’s nothing better than slashing powder stashes all over the resort with the Surfeur 112. There’s no doubt – Ferreol has found an elegant solution to their “surfy” aspirations.

When the terrain opens up, it can keep its composure at speeds or in variable conditions. While it’s not a true charger compared to dedicated 2000+ grams resort straight-liners, the ski will happily rail groomers. Through chop and crud, it’s surprisingly damp and stable for its weight. Thankfully, the poplar core keeps the skiing lively enough. In any case, I’m not looking at a 112mm-underfoot powder ski for carving super-G turns on groomers, but it can handle its own to get to and from your favourite powder stash or if you’re looking for varied terrain after a half-day of powder skiing.

Ski Touring Performance

Having put a few backcountry days with the Surfeur 112 in a variety of conditions, I can confidently say this is my ideal powder touring ski. While there are lighter options on the market, none offer the same blend of agility in all snow conditions, stability at speeds and edge hold on firm snow. On a recent trip to Rogers Pass with more than 60cm of fresh snow, I had a blast surfing waist-deep powder, slashing turns on a whim, and navigating the early-season bush down in the valley. I cannot reinforce enough how well the Ferreol Surfeur 112 floats in the deep stuff, from 15cm of boot-top powder to 60cm of faceshot-friendly snow. It’s by far the most fun I’ve had in years – and that’s coming off the Atomic Backland 109, known for its flotation and playfulness.

On the uphill, the 184cm model pivots easily during kick-turns and stays afloat when breaking trail in deep snow. This is most likely due to its mounting point and weight balance. Since I had the ski mounted with the Atomic Shift 13 MN, the sheer weight and ergonomics of the binding did feel cumbersome after some time, but that’s totally an issue with binding choice. This is a compromise I made when selecting a ski that would work for resort, helicopter and slackcountry skiing. I’ve got no illusion. The Surfeur 112, mounted with a lightweight pin binding, would be my perfect touring partner at Rogers Pass.

The Brief Rundown

The Ferreol Surfeur 112 could be a great addition to your ski quiver. It’s an incredibly versatile ski that can be mounted with downhill, hybrid or pin bindings. Its playfulness truly whips the fun back into skiing, and its maneuverability helps tackle a range of conditions. It’s clear to me that the design emphasis is on powder skiing. It really comes alive when surfing on soft, untouched snow. This ski wants to be thrown sideways, hence the French naming “Surfeur”. While relatively damp and stable at speeds and in variable conditions for its weight, it’s no crud-busting resort charger. That’s an acceptable compromise for a ski that can handle the resort and backcountry alike. By all means, look elsewhere if you’re hunting for the best ski to race down a steep resort chute at Mach 1000 or climb 2000 vertical meters up Mt Baker in Spring.

Personally, I would also gladly mount a pin binding on the Surfeur 112 for a dedicated powder touring ski, perfectly suited for locations along the BC powder highway, such as Revelstoke and Rogers Pass. Mounted with a hybrid binding, the Surfeur 112 could be your 50/50 ski for hitting the resort slopes in the morning and ducking the rope into the backcountry in the afternoon. The ski essentially guarantees versatility with minimal compromise.

The post Ferreol Surfeur 112 Review (2025): A Playful Powder Shredder appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: The Early Season Snowpack: How It Affects Your Winter

McCrae Peak

Best time to visit: Mid-October to early November

5-6 h	820 m	10.5 km	1770-2415 m

As far as early-season ski touring goes, the McCrae Peak zone is an all-time classic. Its main glacier, the McCrae glacier, offers an enjoyable yet short descent, with a challenging finish down a windy canyon. For added vertical, you can bootpack up the peak’s west face to its summit (2500m), granting you panoramic views of the surrounding Selkirk Mountains and the Monashees’ Gold Range across the Columbia Valley. Why is this such a popular early-season spot? On one hand, you’ll start your tour at an elevation of just under 1800m at the top of the McCrae forestry road. You essentially drive all the way up to the snowline, skipping the typically heinous valley bottom bushwhack. Since the McCrae FSR is part of the broader Akolkolex forestry road network, bring a VHF radio along to monitor the busy logging traffic. This is an active logging zone, requiring a 4×4 vehicle to access. Check out this post about safety on forest service roads in BC.

Related: McCrae Glacier: Season’s First Powder Turns

On the other hand, McCrae’s west shoulder is a mellow grassy meadow, with more grass than rocks, perfect for some early-season backcountry skiing. For the keen adventurer, you can complete a variety of intricate loops involving alpine bowls and steep chutes as seen in my latest trip up McCrae Peak in spring.

Joss Mountain

Best time to visit: Mid-October to early November

5-6 h	650 m	12.5 km	1490-2150 m

Peaking at 2386m, Joss Mountain is a prime early-season ski touring spot in the Monashee Mountains. The route requires a 4×4 vehicle and a VHF radio to navigate the generally well-maintained Wap Lake FSR. Beware: the journey’s last leg up one of the lesser-used branches is much steeper and rockier than the main artery. The challenging access is worth the effort, however. You’ll be rewarded with classic Monashee-style skiing, including chutes, pillows, booters and pristine alpine bowls. Thankfully, the 1-hour drive from Revelstoke and the harder access make Joss Mountain a lesser-known destination, a hidden gem. You’ll hardly cross anyone on the uptrack.

Related: Joss Mountain: Monashees: Seeking The Halloween Powder

The peak is crowned by an old fire lookout, worth the visit if you can muster the 850m ascent. With a little exploration, you’ll find that the south bowl harbours quality skiing. The ondulating alpine terrain offers a perfect opportunity to ski multiple laps, dust off the cobwebs and get your touring legs under you.

Rogers Pass

Rogers Pass winter permit required

Best time to visit: Early November to mid-April

If you’ve been lurking on The Uptrack for a while, you’ve probably figured it out. Rogers Pass is a world-class backcountry skiing destination that also delivers the goods in the early season. The ski season usually starts in early November in the Connaught Valley when there’s just enough snow for a marginal ascent and a hair-raising descent. I’m not going to sugarcoat this – October/November skiing at Rogers Pass is no joke. You’ll be hopping over sharp rocks, crossing open creeks and bashing alder bushes along the way. Nonetheless, the challenging valley bottom conditions give way to excellent skiing in the alpine bowls.

Most folks begin their season in the Connaught Valley with the Balu Pass ski tour. The gentle valley ascent, combined with the mellow open slopes at the valley’s headwaters, makes for a great first tour of the year. I’ve had some of my finest November faceshots there. For the expert skiers looking for challenging lines, a short climb from Balu Pass up the Cheops West Shoulder gets you to the entrance of Nicci’s Notch and the Cheops North Bowl on the valley’s south slope, two great options for early-season backcountry skiing.

On the north side of the Connaught Valley lies Ursus Trees, offering perfectly spaced tree skiing that can be lapped over and over again. Skiers and snowboarders with a penchant for mountaineering can easily summit Video Peak and ski down its south face. It’s a classic early-season objective. You’ll find some great alpine skiing in the vast Hospital Bowl below the peak. Beware: the valley’s lower slopes are carpeted with thick alder bushes, making progress difficult. Stick to the well-used uptracks below treeline to ease your ascent.

Dusting Off The Cobwebs

Since we’re talking about early-season backcountry skiing, it’s worth mentioning the steps you can take to get ready for the season. My latest pre-season preparation for ski touring post discusses those very steps, ranging from looking over your gear to physical conditioning for the season. I spend considerable time training my avalanche and crevasse rescue response before even clipping into my bindings for the first time of the year. You never know – you might be faced with an incident on your very first day out in the backcountry, and you must be ready for it.

Let’s be honest with ourselves: our first packing party of the year is often a rusty one. I’m slowly packing my backpack in the least effective way possible, often forgetting essential items. Well, look no further. This handy-dandy post on what to pack for a ski tour covers all the gear you’ll need for your first ski tour in October or November.

Lastly, not only is it good advice to practice avalanche safety scenarios before hitting the backcountry slopes, it’s also crucial to review the common avalanche problems encountered in October and November. This post on the early-season snowpack covers the fundamental weather mechanisms and avalanche problems that take shape in the early parts of the winter.

The post Best Early-Season Backcountry Skiing Near Revelstoke, BC appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Packing For A Backcountry Hut Trip: Tips For A Great Ski Tour

The Ski Touring (Splitboarding) Essentials

Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe: This is the first thing that I pack. Going in the backcountry without the potentially life-saving avalanche equipment is a big no-no. While the shovel and probe live in my daypack, I usually stuff my avalanche transceiver in my “car” bag (a simple grocery bag) along with my climbing skins, a pre-hydration water bottle and some snacks.

Touring skis, ski boots, poles & skins: They are all bundled together so I don’t forget anything. Make sure your touring skis have workable bindings and ski boots, a selectable walk mode. I prefer two-piece adjustable poles, since they can be shortened when bootpacking and easily strapped to my pack. To avoid cold fingers, pre-mount your climbing skins in the comfort of your home.

Related: How To Choose Touring Skis, Bindings, Boots and Skins

Backpack: A well-fitted, comfortable backpack makes your day fly by. After conducting extensive research over many years, I’ve identified the key features to look for in a backpack suitable for ski touring day trips. I’ve found a 35-40L backpack works best for standard day trips, while a 40-45L pack, for technical ski-mountaineering missions. For a deeper insight into backpack features, check out How To Get Into Ski Touring (Backpacks).

Ski googles: On a wintery day, ski googles are a must when I pack for a ski tour. Bring an appropriate lens for the expected weather. On most days, I carry a low-light lens in the Interior British Columbia as it works for overcast days and skiing in those shady, north-facing bowls. By springtime, I’ll bust out the sunny lens. Nowadays, unless I’m expecting snorkel-deep powder, I wear “visor-like” sunglasses such as the Smith Wildcat with a photochromatic lens and low-light lens. The ski googles stay at home until it’s truly storming out there. Those sunglasses are lighter, more packable and work as well in knee-deep powder as your typical googles.

Skin Wax: On a warm spring day, moist snow will tend to pack under your climbing skins, hampering your glide. Skin wax is essentially a waterproof coating for your skins, making it harder for snow to stick to those prickly hairs. While it reduces grip slightly, having an unimpeded stride is far more important. Pro-tip: apply skin wax across the entire skin base, at the trailhead, before the climbing skin gets saturated with water. I usually leave the wax at home until mid-February when the temperatures soar.

• Avalanche transceiver
• Avalanche shovel
• Avalanche probe
• Touring skis (or splitboard)
• Touring boots (with walk-mode)
• Touring poles (adjustable ideally)
• Climbing skins
• Backpack (35-45L)
• Ski Googles (or visor-type sunglasses)
• Skin wax (optional unless expecting warm weather)

The Clothing

Base layers and socks: It’s hard to forget the base layers when you pack for a ski tour. You’ll hopefully be wearing them. I heavily recommend merino wool base layers. While they dry slower than their synthetic counterpart, they breathe well, wick moisture effectively, and don’t hold on to body odour. Also, I’d avoid driving to the trailhead with your ski sock. Do your best to keep those heavenly foot bags dry until you begin your ski tour. Slipping wet socks into your ski boots at the start of your tour is the absolute worst! You’ll know when you make that mistake.

Midlayer “active” jacket: This midlayer goes under your outer weatherproof shell. Since you’ll often be wearing this jacket on the uphill, it’s best to choose a midlayer that’s lightly insulated, breathable and wind-resistant. Striking the balance between warmth, breathability and wind-resistance involves much trial and error with different brands and models. It depends on how your body manages heat and sweat during high-output exercise.

Uphill and downhill gloves: Why carry two pairs of gloves? For starters, you’ll need a backup pair when the first one eventually wets out. You also want to avoid soaking your downhill gloves in sweat to maintain their insulating property. Since I get clammy hands, my uphill gloves are breathable, quick-drying and dexterous. I also get cold fingers, so my downhill gloves are ultra-warm and relatively water-resistant. As for ideal material, I favour leather treated with a waterproofing wax such as Nikwax. Leather offers a great balance of durability and dexterity.

Puffy jacket and pants: When it’s truly arctic out on your ski tour, you’ll want to pack a large puffy jacket (either synthetic or down). While down tends to pack smaller, synthetic insulation such as PlumaFill (Patagonia) retains heat when wet. Nevertheless, I always carry a light, midlayer puffy jacket. The puffy pants are entirely optional, and whether you get cold legs. I don’t see a need for it unless I’m winter camping in frigid weather.

• Synthetic or wool base layers (top & bottom)
• Synthetic or wool ski socks
• Midlayer “active” jacket (preferably wind-resistant)
• Weatherproof puffy jacket (down or synthetic)
• Weatherproof ski shell & pants (waterproof/breathable membrane)
• Neck warmer (Buff)
• Neck warmer (Buff)
• Brimmed “active” cap and toque (wool or synthetic)
• Light uphill gloves
• Warm downhill gloves (weatherproof outer shell)
• Puffy pants or shorts (optional)

The Personal Items

Sunglasses: Sport sunglasses with a lens of at least category 3 rating are an important part of the ski touring quiver. You’ll find yourself wearing them on overcast days, as the sunlight gets amplified by the reflective snow surface. As previously mentioned, I favour visor-like sunglasses since they provide optimal coverage for both the ascent and descent and shelter from the wind. On a truly deep day, the googles will come out of my bag.

Sunscreen and lip cream: Even in the dead of winter, the solar radiation can still pierce through the clouds and affect your skin. It’s crucial to apply sunscreen, with a minimum rating of SPF 50, regularly throughout your ski tour. Zinc-oxide paste becomes especially handy during spring ski tours to protect your face, neck and arms from a nasty burn. You’ll always find a small tube of SPF 50 sunscreen at the top of my pack.

Insulated water bottle: With temperatures dipping below -15 °C regularly during our Canadian winter, water will freeze in a bare water bottle, and you’ll be left with nothing to drink. A quality insulated bottle will keep your tea or water warm throughout the day. There’s nothing better than a hot tea in bitterly cold weather. When spring rolls around, my water intake goes through the roof. Instead of my usual 1L, I tend to drink about 1.5-2L of water, especially when the blazing sun is beating down on my neck. I pack a 500mL-1L Nalgene to supplement my 1L insulated mug.

Repair Kit: Slip a repair kit at the bottom of your bag when you pack for a ski tour. While we all want to avoid being stranded in the backcountry, your equipment will fail at some point. That’s where the repair kit comes in handy. A simple collection of zip ties, bailing wire, pole splint, binding screws, pocket screwdriver, ski straps and gorilla tape will get you back to the trailhead.

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• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen and lip cream (minimum SPF 50)
• Insulated water bottle (1 – 1.5L)
• Wide-mouth water bottle (1L)
• Food (stored in a lightweight bag)
• Pocket knife
• Repair kit (for boots, bindings and poles)
• First aid kit (with pain & blister care)
• Headlamp (with spare batteries)
• Smartphone & camera
• Toilet paper

The Group Gear

Some equipment can be shared between your group, which spreads some heavyweight items across your party.

Emergency toboggan: Not many backcountry skiers or splitboarders carry an emergency toboggan. To be fair, they are expensive, and you’re probably never going to use a toboggan. Think again! The reality of ski touring in the high mountains is that a helicopter rescue may be impossible in some locations. You’ll be travelling through complex, unforgiving terrain. The only solution is to drag the injured person using a toboggan to an area where an air rescue works or back to the trailhead.

Emergency shelter: Using the same line of thought, you’ll need an emergency shelter to cover the injured person while waiting for a rescue or to spend the night in the backcountry. Some products, such as the Ski Guides Rescue Tarp by Alpine Threadworks, can double as a toboggan.

Bush saw and fire starter kit: If you’re spending the night in the mountains, you’ll want to make a fire. Staying warm is paramount. A bush saw that doubles as a snow study saw and a fire starter kit will go a long way to keeping you alive in an emergency.

• GPS
• Emergency satellite comunication device
• Emergency toboggan & shelter
• Snow/bush saw
• Fire starter kit
• Map (paper or digital), altimeter & compass
• Snow study kit (optional)

The Ski-Mountaineering Gack

Ski-mountaineering rope: You’ll bring different ropes depending on the objective. Glacier travel, rappels or even lead climbing introduce specific requirements on your rope systems. Gone are the days when you’d have to haul a burly 11mm single rope up a mountain. During most ski-mountaineering trips, I’ll bring a 6mm glacier cord for glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and sometimes rappelling (depending on the complexity of the rappel). If I’m expecting complex scrambling or technical climbing, I’ll bring a lightweight 9mm single rope to belay my partner or short rope.

Glacier harness with gear: While a regular climbing harness works fine, a lightweight ski touring harness will help reduce your pack weight and size. While not the most comfortable if left dangling above a crevasse, the harness will hold your weight. For the most part, you’ll forget you’re wearing it as you slide along the glacier.

Ski crampons: Nobody enjoys wearing ski crampons. They slow down your stride, but they’ll get you out of an uncomfortable situation in a pinch. They are useful – especially in Spring – when you’ll often travel over wind-scoured ridges and refrozen crusts. Verify that the ski crampons are compatible with your bindings and fitted tightly to your skis while moving freely around their pivot. Trust me – too wide of a crampon will ruin your stride – and your day.

Boot crampons: Boot crampons are critical when bootpacking up icy or wind-scoured slopes. While backcountry skiers can often get away with kicking in steps, snowboarders on soft boots are left in the dust. Avoid those heavy steel crampons like the plague. Nowadays, hybrid designs, such as the Pezl Irvis Hybrid, combine the durability of steel front points with the weight savings of aluminum construction and packability of a flexible spine. Some opt for full aluminum boot crampons. Keep in mind that they will wear down quickly when scrambling on rocks.

Related: Spring Ski Touring Gear: The Essential Goes A Long Way

• Ski-mountaineering rope (for rappelling and glacier travel)
• Glacier harness with gear
• Ice axe
• Helmet (can be ski helmet)
• Ski crampons
• Boot crampons

How To Pack Your Backpack

Packing your backpack smartly will get you further up the mountain. It’s crucial for comfort, balance and both uphill and downhill efficiency. In the long run, it’ll help avoid nasty back injuries. Let’s divide the backpack into three sections: the main compartment, top lid, and side pockets (if available).

Main compartment in three layers from bottom to top:

• First aid kit, pocket mask (for CPR), repair kit, rescue toboggan (which doubles as a tarp shelter), and spare accessory cord at the very bottom of my bag. Some would argue that the emergency gear should be stored at the top of your pack. I’ve heavily trained with my emergency gear, and am pretty quick at getting to them. I would rather locate its bulk at the bottom of the pack, right above my hip belt.
• Food, an insulated bottle, and googles in the middle of the main compartment.
• Spare gloves, jackets, and a neck warmer at the top of the main compartment. The lightest items are stored at the top, where there’s the most side-to-side sway.

Top Lid: The top lid houses small, light items such as the sunscreen, granola bars and toilet paper. An emergency satellite communication device, such as a Garmin InReach, also lives in the top lid.

Side & Accessory Pockets: Some bags have side or accessory pockets, perfect to store all the other knick-knacks.

Packing Tips:

• Make sure externally strapped items are secured to your pack so you don’t drop key gear on the uptrack or, even worse, lose it in an avalanche.
• Avalanche safety tools should always be stored internally, ideally in a designated quick-access pocket.
• Store your water bottle in an internal pocket to avoid the water freezing.
• The water hose on Camelback-type hydration systems will freeze in sub-zero temperatures.
• Adjust your pack so that it’s comfortable during your tour.

The Complete Checklist

After all this talk about specific equipment to pack in your bag, I’ve compiled an interactive packing list that you can use every time you go out in the backcountry.

The post What To Pack For A Ski Tour: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Ski Touring In Rogers Pass, BC: All You Need To Know

The Mountains and The Backcountry Terrain

The town of Revelstoke is nestled between two idyllic mountain ranges, the Monashees and the Selkirks, both sub-ranges of the Columbia Mountains. To the West, the Monashees are known for their incredible tree skiing, crammed with natural booters and steep chutes. The thick snowpack and deep powder make landing large features a breeze.

To the East, the Selkirks are better known for their ski-mountaineering potential, offering an unforgettable alpine skiing experience (glaciers, bowls and craggy peaks). Nonetheless, there’s some excellent tree skiing to be found, especially in virgin old-growth forests. On clear days, I’d rather spend my time in the Selkirks, bagging peaks and skiing alpine couloirs. For the unacquainted, Rogers Pass, another world-class ski touring mecca, is located in the Selkirks, just a short 45-minute drive from town.

The terrain’s accessibility and variety are what set Revelstoke apart from other ski touring destinations. From old-growth forest to wide-open, alpine bowls, its ski touring scene is the full package. With a valley at 500m and glacier-capped peaks cresting at 2750m, most backcountry skiing routes offer an impressive vertical, offering quad-burning powder skiing. It goes without saying: a good fitness level is required to complete most routes. Thankfully, the lift-accessed backcountry, beyond the rope line of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, opens up a plethora of friendlier alternatives.

The Climate and Snowfall

The climate is ideal for ski touring in Revelstoke. The area is the world’s only inland temperate rainforest. The snow gods love Revelstoke, dumping anywhere between 12 and 18m (40-60ft) of high-quality snow throughout the winter. Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) often sees slightly lower snowfall amounts, averaging about 10m at the start of Spring. This is not the dense concrete that typically falls on the coast. The mountains around Revelstoke typically get near-champagne powder, which is quite the feat given the snow amounts that hammer the area. It’s not uncommon to find a snowpack height of 2-4m in the alpine, perfect for covering all those nasty rocks. What might be a cliff in the summer becomes a smooth slope come mid-winter.

Let’s put it that way: powder skiing and endless faceshots in the Revelstoke backcountry are guaranteed. Due to storms tracking west to east across BC, starting from the Pacific and orographic lifting, the Monashee Mountains (west of Revelstoke) see 20-30% more snowfall than the Selkirk Mountains (east of Revelstoke). After a large storm, I usually head straight for the Monashees to revel in exceptionally DEEP powder skiing and strenuous trailbreaking.

Being an inland temperate rainforest, the temperatures in town typically hover around the 0C mark. Most seasons, my shovel gathers dust in the shed’s corner. However, the picture is a little more complicated. As you rise in elevation, the temperatures tend to drop. Typical alpine temperatures range from -5 °C to -15 °C, with the odd February cold snap delivering a shivering -25 °C. Essentially, be prepared for a wide range of temperatures as you’re ski touring in the Revelstoke area.

A Long Ski Touring Season In Revelstoke

The ski touring season in Revelstoke starts in mid-October for the true keeners out there. With the forestry road network reaching as high as 1800m, you can park right by the snow in places like the McCrae Glacier or Joss Mountain. The forest service roads near Revelstoke are typically pretty rough and require a high-clearance, 4×4 vehicle equipped with a UHF radio and tire chains. It’s easy to get caught in a storm mid-tour and come back to steep, snow-covered roads. Beware of the rock sharks hidden under the shallow snowpack at that time of the year. I purposefully seek out spots with a smooth summer ground cover to avoid patching my bases like a full-time ski tech.

Related: The Early Season Snowpack: How It Affects Your Winter

The backcountry ski season ends in mid-April, though some avid adventurers drag it into May around high mountain passes such as Rogers Pass. You’ll need good hiking shoes, ski crampons and skin wax for those warm, late-spring ski tours. Expect valley bottom approaches to be extra icy. The ski resort is operational from December to late April. Its ski lifts allow you to access its amazing backcountry terrain.

Related: Planning A Spring Ski Tour: Optimize Your Peak Pursuit

The Town & The Community

Just off the Trans-Canada Highway, the town of Revelstoke is equal parts vibrant and quaint. Now with a population of more than 8000, it has a rich 130-year history as the epicentre of the logging and the railroad industries in the British Columbia Interior. Its downtown core is lined with heritage homes and restored buildings, adding to the quaint atmosphere. The Revelstoke Museum & Archives is a great place to plunge into the town’s history, starting with its foundation in 1885 during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Its walls are covered with an impressive amount of old photos and literature.

You’d be wrong in thinking Revelstoke is quiet – this town is no slouch during our busy season. It’s bustling with everything from eager adventurers to eclectic hippies. You’ll find a bustling art scene, with the visual arts center and a community gallery. Revelstoke’s downtown is complete with a diverse array of restaurants, bars and even a distillery, Monashee Spirits. A few minutes out of town, you’ll stumble across the Begbie Brewery, our local beer producer. Revelstoke somehow strikes the perfect balance of adventure, amenities, and serenity, an ideal spot for adventurers and foodies alike.

The Avalanche Hazard

The avalanche hazard is always on my mind when ski touring in Revelstoke. The combination of steep terrain and considerable snowfall results in a higher avalanche likelihood. Unlike the ski resort, the Revelstoke backcountry is uncontrolled and wild! It’s no surprise that the two bodies that delve into the recreational and professional avalanche sector, Avalanche Canada and the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA), decided to call Revelstoke home. Revelstoke sees by far the most avalanches in Canada. Consequently, its complex terrain and high avalanche likelihood make backcountry travel a serious endeavour, requiring expert terrain management and avalanche skills. In a perfect world, all backcountry skiers and splitboarders would have avalanche and first aid training. Short of that, I recommend hiring an ACMG ski or mountain guide to explore our challenging playground. They know the area best and where the powder skiing might be found. Trick statement – it’s nearly everywhere you look.

As with any other mountain range, the Selkirks and Monashees will harbour the classic avalanche problems such as storm/wind slabs and cornices. However, you’ll also find an especially nasty snow grain: surface hoar. Formed during clear, cold and relatively calm weather, surface hoar forms at the – you guessed it – snowpack’s surface in areas where there’s no tree cover. Surface hoar often appears at treeline and below treeline elevations (approximately 1400-2100m) as it requires all of the factors to grow. In the avalanche world, this leads to a persistent slab problem that can lurk for weeks, if not months and can produce large, destructive avalanches.

The Ski Touring Zones

If you’re not already sold on the great skiing around this town, here’s why. Revelstoke is surrounded by four distinct ski touring zones that consistently deliver the good times. They are either accessible by road or ski lifts, and each adds a different flavour to the ski touring or splitboarding experience. If you’re looking for a wicked ski-mountaineering trip, I recommend you pay Rogers Pass a visit.

Mt Macpherson Backcountry

I sometimes think the slopes of Mt Macpherson rose from tectonic activity for the sole purpose of offering skiers an ideal playground. Along with Mt Begbie, the two summits of the Monashees preside beautifully over Revelstoke. A short drive down Highway 23S will lead you to the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Lodge, where the adventure truly starts. With a parking lot at 650m, the skiing here begins after Christmas when the climate is cold enough for the lower slopes to be caked in snow. Most of the accessible ski touring routes are located on the peaks’ E-NE flank.

Related: Ski Touring Mt Macpherson: Glacial Day In The Womb

To the South, you’ll find the Fingers and The Womb, two very popular routes for good reasons. The Fingers offers a short approach with some featured open path skiing. By far, the most accessible route in the area, it’s very popular for pre-work ski touring laps with the dog in tow. The word says it all. Those treeless hallways are avalanche paths with frequent activity. Keep that in mind when spending a considerable time in the area. Accessed by climbing up the Fingers, The Womb is a fulfilling run consisting of a large avalanche path flanked by classic Monashee tree skiing, chock full of backcountry booters and hidden chutes. Once at its top, the summit of Mt Macpherson is an hour’s climb away – an extra 350m of vertical gain up its SE face. The two lines can be linked to form a 1560m descent.

To the North, Burnt and Fuzzy Knob, two obvious bumps, offer a mix of open path and pleasant tree skiing. The fun terrain justifies the longer trek up one of Mt Macpherson’s skid roads. Burnt Knob’s slightly longer approach rewards you with two wicked avalanche paths that can be skied in decent snowpack stability. It’s a great place to visit during a storm when the higher elevations are shrouded in fog.

Related: Burnt Knob, Revelstoke: The Perfect Macpherson Slidepaths

Mt Begbie Backcountry

Mt Begbie is by far the town’s most recognizable summit. Its vast SE shoulder, the Begbie Shoulder, is a prime ski touring zone, with quality Monashee-style glades of old-growth forests, steep treeline chutes and open cut blocks. The snowpack is typically much deeper here than across the Columbia River in the Selkirks. However, the amazing terrain comes with a downside. The access isn’t for the faint of heart. Reaching the shoulder requires at least a 1300m vertical gain. Most folks access the zone by riding a snowmobile up the Begbie Forest Service Road (FSR) and ski touring from a high point.

Related: Begbie Shoulder: Skiing A Revelstoke Classic

Climbing Mt Begbie is an absolute classic. The 2743m peak, towering over Revelstoke, can be conquered in a day on foot starting at the Mt Begbie Trailhead, but most residents benefit from using a snowmobile to climb the Mt Begbie FSR and skip the low-elevation bushwhack. Without a mechanized crutch, it’s a considerable ski-mountaineering achievement with a 2070m elevation gain. Thankfully, you’ll be rewarded with incredible summit views, a short rappel, and a fun ski descent down the Polar Bear Glacier.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort Lift-Accessed Backcountry

It’s paramount to visit the RMR backcountry when ski touring in Revelstoke. Beyond Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s rope line, located below the south slopes of Mt Mackenzie, you’ll find flawless backcountry ski terrain offering endless possibilities. From Montana Bowl to Ghost Peak, there’s something for everyone. You’ll be weaving through trees in South Bowl and skiing large alpine slopes in Montana Bowl & Kokanee Bowl. Below Montana Bowl, you’ll find some man-made tree skiing, Montana Trees, remnants of a defunct cat ski operation, which closed its doors when the resort saw its first visitors. You’ll have to purchase a lift ticket at the resort’s base to access its backcountry terrain. Beware: the avalanche hazard inbounds is controlled by professionals, while the out-of-bounds (backcountry) slopes are not! Avalanche training is paramount in such terrain.

Related: Montana Peak, Revelstoke: Big Mountain Lines For Christmas

North of the main ridge, formed by Mt Mackenzie, Montana Peak and Kokanee Peak, lies Highway Bowl. The alpine cirque offers steep, technical lines for the daring backcountry skiers and splitboarders. This also comes with its fair share of hazards. The ridge’s north aspect is crowned by a large cornice, which has caused numerous accidents over the years. Across Mt Mackenzie and the in-bounds Greely Bowl, you’ll find Greely Trees. The zone offers ultra-fun tree skiing in old-growth forest. The forest here is magical.

Related: Highway Bowl, Revelstoke Mountain Resort: Chasing Big Lines

Far from the crowded slopes of Montana Peak, you’ll stumble across Ghost Peak. Not only is its name fundamentally cool, but the summit sticks out of the landscape like a sore thumb. The day trip is not for the faint of heart. The ski-mountaineering endeavour involves a 17km, 1500m round-trip trek to its summit, crossing most peaks within the Revelstoke Mountain Resort backcountry. The ascent up its SW face typically requires ski crampons as it gets hammered by prevailing winds. It’s a classic that most Revelstoke ski bums aspire to complete.

Related: Ski Touring Ghost Peak, Revelstoke: Counting Minutes

McCrae Peak Backcountry

Located 22km SE of Revelstoke, McCrae Peak is a great early-season ski touring area when you need your powder fix in October. It’s also a fantastic option for late Spring corn turns. Accessed through the Akolkolex FSR network, the hour-long drive requires a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle equipped with a UHF radio and tire chains. Radio communication on the forestry road network is paramount to avoid potentially fatal collisions. As long as the road is snow-free, you’ll be able to access McCrae Peak’s vast backcountry terrain.

Related: McCrae Glacier: Season’s First Powder Turns

Even better, the parking lot is located at 1800m, making the area even more accessible with our scrawny early-season legs. The forested slopes offer exciting tree skiing, weaving through ancient forest. The peak is crowned by the McCrae Glacier, accessed by ascending its mellow west ridge. The ridge is bounded by smooth, grassy slopes, offering safe skiing in shallow snowpack conditions.

Any Questions?

From the ultra-accessible, uncontrolled slopes beyond the resort to the Mt McCrae’s early season hotspot to chase those October turns, ski touring in Revelstoke triggers the adventurer in all of us. If you’re unsure about the terrain ahead or lack the crucial avalanche management skills, hire an ACMG ski or mountain guide for the day. They’ll suss out the good snow and minimize your exposure to all mountain hazards. If you’re looking for accessible ski-mountaineering, I recommend driving to Roger Pass, famous for its crevassed glaciers and long alpine descent from the 3000-meter summits.

Related: 1. Rogers Pass Top Runs: Best Bang-For-Your-Buck 2. Best Couloir Skiing In Rogers Pass For All Skill Levels

I love questions about Revelstoke and Rogers Pass. Please message me through my Contact Page or via Instagram. I’ll do my best to fulfill your requests promptly and accurately! Next winter, I hope I’ll see you cruising through our stunning backcountry playground.

The post Ski Touring In Revelstoke, BC: A Backcountry Skiing Mecca appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: 1. Spring Ski Touring Basics: Weather, Corn Skiing and Avalanches 2. Spring Ski Touring Gear: The Essential Goes A Long Way

Live For The Alpine Starts

The dreaded alpine start involves waking up around 3-5 AM to get an early start on your day. It’s brutal but necessary, making it essential to planning a spring ski tour. Snow conditions start to deteriorate drastically with solar input around 10-11 AM, depending on the weather conditions. For instance, start your tour early in the morning if your route involves crossing underneath a large, solar slope. Potentially, you may want to bag a peak and ski down an eastern aspect just as the freeze-thaw crust gives way to corn skiing. In that case, grab your headlamp and head out before sunrise. If you arrive too late in the day, the avalanche conditions or sloppy ski quality may turn you away from your objective. It takes plenty of experience and humility to determine when to turn around. Remember: the mountains will always be there.

The alpine start is necessary when expecting a long approach to reach your day’s objective. A detailed route plan using conservative travel estimates goes a long way in calculating approach times.

Play The Aspect and Elevation

Strategically playing the aspect and elevation is one of the many ingredients to planning a spring ski tour. A little tidbit on astronomy, the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. As the Earth circles the Sun, East-facing slopes see the morning sun, followed by south-facing slopes and west-facing slopes in the afternoon. Come late spring, even the mellower northerly slopes are affected by solar radiation. Steep, high-elevation northerly features (NE to NW) will likely harbour the best powder if the winds didn’t get to it before you did. Glaciers hold good snow even longer due to the underlying ice’s cooling effect at the surface.

When I think of spring ski touring, I think of high-elevation descents. Warm temperatures and strong solar input deteriorate conditions at or below treeline. It’s often best to travel through forested sections first thing in the morning before the supportive crust breaks down. Ski crampons help tremendously in holding an edge through icy conditions. You can also choose your objective based on the starting elevation. For instance, Bow Pass in the Canadian Rockies stands tall at 2088m, generally offers cooler temperatures and climbable peaks over 3000m, perfect for late spring trips. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Rogers Pass in the Selkirk Mountains stands at 1330m, and has generally warmer weather with peaks ranging in the 2500-3000m. This is a huge difference when considering which objective to go after based on the time of the year.

Have a Plan A, B and C

Having backup objectives is crucial since spring conditions change quickly throughout the day. Determining when to push for your main objective and when to pivot only comes with experience (and common sense). Moreover, keep monitoring ski conditions. On a given day, you might be gliding on a supportive crust using ski crampons on the ascent, skiing high-elevation powder on a supercooled glacier and trenching through isothermal snow in the afternoon as you slog back to your vehicle. These changing conditions and the time/energy required to get through difficult sections are integral to planning a spring ski tour.

Embrace Whiteout Navigation

When the skies cloud over and you’re travelling in the alpine or on a glacier, whiteout navigation can be daunting. With no reference in sight except a smooth, white canvas, it’s near-impossible to tell what’s up from down, what’s right from left. We call it: “travelling in a ping-pong ball. With spring convection swirling around the mountains, you’ll unexpectedly get “whited out”. Ample training is a must! A good trick is to fasten a 5m length of accessory cord to the end of your pole and whip it across the terrain. As the cord falls in the snow, you’ll get a rough understanding of the features ahead. The whip, in tandem with probing, is especially handy when navigating gaping crevasse fields in poor visibility.

While a GPS track can be useful when navigating glaciers, take note of the track’s recorded date – a 10-year-old track might not be the most accurate nowadays and might even go over open crevasses. Glaciers recede, crevasses move, and the snowpack varies from season to season. When it all goes white, using a known feature (such as a peak, headwall or rocky moraine) as a handrail works wonders. Keep to your left or right and follow it to the next leg in your route plan. It provides a reference when there’s nothing out there but more white.

Hydrate Or Die-Drate

A common saying is: “Hydrate or die-drate”. As the sun beats down on the back of our necks, hydrating often is an important consideration when planning a spring ski tour. I make it a point to drink small amounts of water at every break. I typically carry a 500mL Nalgene bottle filled to the brim with tap water and a 1L thermos filled with my “special” potion (water, Gatorade powder, ginger, lemon and green tea). And, let’s be honest: that’s not much water. I recommend at least 2L for most folks. At home or in the lodge, I always chug water before and after the outing to minimize the weight carried in the field. Find what works best for you!

The same goes for nutrition. Frequently eating energy-dense foods will help maintain performance throughout the day. High-calorie snacks (granola bars, nuts, pepperoni sticks) work wonders. I simply can’t stomach a loaded sandwich while ski touring, especially in spring when the temperatures skyrocket. With experience, you’ll figure out what outdoor diet works for you and which doesn’t. Everybody’s different!

Get The Appropriate Technical Training

As spring rolls around, you’ll probably be spending way more time on glaciated terrain and amongst the high peaks. That’s where the technical training comes in handy. A crevasse rescue course provided by a certified ski or mountain guide is a great way to sharpen your rope rescue skills. Some courses also offer the opportunity to learn glacier navigation, in good or poor visibility. Avoiding crevasses or carefully assessing snow bridges is paramount when travelling in glaciated terrain.

Related: Spring Ski Touring Gear: The Essential Goes A Long Way

Some guides also offer ski-mountaineering courses. It’s a golden opportunity to hone rappelling, anchor building, bootpacking, and couloir skiing. As with any other time of the season, an AST-1 and 2 course is the basic requirement for travelling in avalanche terrain.

The post Planning A Spring Ski Tour: Optimize Your Peak Pursuit appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Afton SE Couloir, Rogers Pass: High Exposure

Report from February 20, 2020

Let’s begin this story by mentioning I was on a hot date with Kaitlin, my now fiancée, plus two of her friends. The stakes were high, and I dressed to impress. Not literally – I had my usual ski touring attire – but I expectedly showed above-average confidence bordering on cockiness! I’ve come to resent that over the years and gotten rid of it for the most part. It wasn’t my most attractive quality (sarcasm intended)! This happened 5 years ago when I was but a wee, inexperienced lad. Back to the story, we slithered along the Asulkan Trail for a little over 3km, whizzing by the Glacier Crest turnoff. Thankfully, the snowpack was mega-deep in 2020.

We crossed the Asulkan Brook and started the real ascent up the forest bordering the Abbott East Slidepath. With good avalanche stability in the forecast, we utilized the Abbott Mini paths, a series of small avalanche paths to the north, to facilitate the climb, staying out of the bushy forest. Being a fantastic snow year, the north path was skiable with some trees still sticking out here and there. By following a broad shoulder leading to the Abbott Ridge, we avoided the Abbott Prohibited Area to the North.

We continued along the shoulder, offering efficient travel. While trying to break a consistent trail in the deep snow and impress Kaitlin with my uptracking wizardry, I face-planted when a pillow collapsed under my weight. Sometimes, you shoot and miss! We laughed it off. I was secretly embarrassed.

Eventually, the broad shoulder led us to a vast bench below the Abbott Ridge headwall. We traversed underneath the large overhead feature, spacing out to minimize our exposure to potential avalanches. I wouldn’t be there if the risk of natural avalanche activity lingered. With the warmer-than-normal temps heating the headwall’s surface snow, we voted against completing the final bootpack up the headwall to the ridge and transitioned on the bench, lined up with the south path.

We chatted for a moment before dropping into the line, also admiring the Sir Donald Range across the valley. We determined that the quality skiing would be on the path’s north-tilted (right) flank or at its center, whereas the south-tilted (left) flank would have a buried sun crust. We followed our plan to the letter, and the skiing was phenomenal. We skied the line one at a time, cruising over pillows and buried stumps bordering the path. What a blast! The bottom portion offered adequate skiing even if the snow was a little moist due to the warming temperatures at the valley bottom.

We landed right back where we began the ascent, on the west bank of the Asulkan Brook. We retraced our steps, side-stepping through steeper sections occasionally. We glided most of the way back to the parking lot. While the Abbott East Slidepath isn’t the best ski touring route Rogers Pass has to offer, it’s still a convenient option when you’re looking for a short day (1000m vertical) and grand views of the Sir Donald Range across the valley.

Route Info

5-6 h	1020m	8.3 km	1200-2175 m

The post Abbott East Slidepath: Stellar Powder On A Hot Date appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Planning A Ski Tour At Rogers Pass: The Online Tools

When To Visit

The ski touring season generally runs from November to April, with December to March being the prime months for skiing at Rogers Pass. The season can be divided into several sections.

Early Season: Stretching from November to mid-December, it’s usually a stormy span, featuring bad weather, high snowfall amounts (or rain) and poor visibility. Granted, you’ll find some calm periods between storms when you can chase the alpine snow. It’s a great time to avoid the crowds and get some so-so-sweet faceshots. While the fresh snow is plentiful, the base isn’t built up yet. The sharks are out! Keep that in mind when taking your brand-new skis for a spin in November. You’ll mostly meet locals doing some tree skiing pow laps and guides giving out avalanche courses.

Related: Ski Touring In Revelstoke, BC: A Backcountry Skiing Mecca

Mid Season: Stretching from mid-December to mid-March, it’s the bulk of the skiing at Rogers Pass and a great time to visit. Yes, you’ll fend off the crowds, but you’ll also find a great balance between storms and bluebird days. By January, the snow base is deep – you’ll hardly hit any rocks. The latter part of the mid-season, past mid-February, tends to offer more sunshine and less snowfall, perfect for high alpine trips.

Late Season: Stretching from mid-March to late April, this is the spring skiing season and one for the ski mountaineers out there. It’s the season of sunny skies, icy uptracks, ski crampons, peak bagging, and epic glaciers. The low-elevation forested skiing tends to lack in ski quality at that time of the year. You have to fight your way through that elevation band to get to the good stuff in the alpine.

Related: Planning A Spring Ski Tour: Optimize Your Peak Pursuit

Getting There

The Flight: You can either fly into Kelowna, BC or Calgary, AB, both having well-established airports. If staying in Revelstoke, Kelowna makes more sense as it shortens the drive and avoids potential road closures when catching your flight back home. If Golden is the destination, the Calgary airport offers a shorter drive and frequent flights.

The Drive: Nestled at a high point in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, Rogers Pass is accessible via the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). It’s approximately 65km east of Revelstoke (a 45-minute drive) and 80km west of Golden (a 60-minute drive). Remember that the drive may be longer due to poor road conditions, common during the winter months. The drive from Golden to Rogers Pass is generally in better shape since it’s in the range’s rain shadow, and sees lower precipitation amounts and cooler temperatures.

Related: Ski Touring In Revelstoke, BC: A Backcountry Skiing Mecca

I may get struck by lightning for writing this: Revelstoke has slightly better amenities than Golden. After all, Revelstoke is a bigger town. Make sure your vehicle (rental or not) is equipped with winter tires. I cannot overstate how bad conditions can get on this stretch of the highway, especially for drivers unaccustomed to Canadian winter roads.

Avalanche Control And Parks Canada Permits

Rogers Pass is known for its spectacular backcountry skiing and splitboarding, but its terrain also poses a significant avalanche risk. Avalanche control is crucial for ensuring the safety of travellers on the Trans-Canada highway corridor. Parks Canada uses artillery shells and remotely detonated explosives to trigger avalanches in suspect start zones. Authorities prohibit highway travel when avalanche control is in progress. After all, you wouldn’t want to be doing avalanches as you travel through our beautiful mountain scenery

Parks Canada has established the Rogers Pass Winter Permit System to ensure backcountry travellers don’t interfere with the avalanche control program, which protects the highway. The winter permit system depends on user compliance. Parks Canada allows us to go ski touring (or splitboarding) in Rogers Pass. Failure to do so would force authorities to prohibit access to the park for backcountry skiing and splitboarding. I cannot say this enough: read about the Winter Permit System before visiting the area.

Terrain, Snowpack, Avalanches

Skiing at Rogers Pass is so good. The simple answer is TERRAIN! I used to call it the mini-Alps of Canada, but with better snow quality and slightly gentler terrain. Everything is skiable and featured here! You’ll find old-growth forests, alpine bowls, knife-edge ridge tops and complex glaciers. One day, you can be skiing the deepest powder you’ve ever encountered, and the next, you’re scrambling across a ridge with skis on your back and then skiing down a gnarly couloir. There’s so much variety to be had! Granted, most of the skiable terrain in Rogers Pass is better suited to advanced and expert skiers with good fitness due to the nature of the terrain and the length, as well as the elevation gain required to complete most routes.

It also requires a healthy dose of avalanche awareness and some knowledge of avalanche terrain management. Due to the high snowfall, deep snowpack and steep terrain, the area sees very frequent avalanches. Some pose a real hazard to backcountry travellers. It’s worth checking out the daily avalanche bulletin released by Avalanche Canada’s very talented forecasters.

The area harbours an intercontinental snowpack, meaning large amounts of dry-ish snow, on average about 10-12m of snowfall at treeline. Arguably, the ski conditions found in Rogers Pass are some of the best in Canada – and maybe even in the world! This also comes with its fair share of avalanche problems, including persistent instabilities (buried surface hoar, crusts or facet layers) and surface instabilities (storm and wind slabs). Our snowpack depth varies from 200-400+ cm depending on the season. Generally speaking, the growing snowpack smoothes the terrain roughness (boulders, trees, small cliffs, etc.) by mid-December or January, depending on the season.

Recommended Routes

Skiing at Rogers Pass involves choice, lots of it. There are hundreds of known backcountry routes to the point where you can tee up classic trips and get an epic day out of it. However, not all routes are viable options given the snow quality, weather and avalanche stability. Avalanche skills training, backcountry experience, and prior terrain knowledge help decipher where and when to visit certain areas.

Related: Rogers Pass Top Runs: Best Bang-For-Your-Buck

If at all in doubt, don’t hesitate to hire a certified ACMG ski or mountain guide. ACMG guides are the only individuals who can offer guided services within the Glacier National Park’s boundaries. If you’re comfortable in avalanche terrain and have a solid group to go out with, here are a few route recommendations from a guy who has seen quite a bit.

For an appetizer: The Macdonald West Shoulder, otherwise known as the NRC Slopes, is a great introduction to skiing at Rogers Pass, better suited to novice backcountry skiers and splitboarders who have prior avalanche skills training. It’s a great area to learn and get some quality powder laps.

For some blower powder: The Bonney Moraines offer short laps full of pillows and natural booters. Given its northern aspect encircled by glaciers, the snow tends to stay dry and fluffy even during warm periods. The large prominent moraine provides shelter from the constant downflow wind.

For some quality tree skiing: The Ursus Minor Trees are unbelievable at times. It’s a popular tour that’s accessible to a wide array of backcountry travellers and generally well-sheltered from the elements. Gaining access to this treed shoulder involves crossing many crowded avalanche paths as you follow Connaught Creek.

For skiing on glaciers: The lily-dome traverse is an absolute classic involving uptracking and skiing two glaciers, a short bootpack and some of the best views in the area. I complete the tour every year, with guests and friends alike, and it never ceases to make my jaw drop.

For the ski-mountaineers: The Jupiter Traverse is one of my favourite tours in Rogers Pass. If you can muster the 1700m vertical gain, you’ll get a chance to bag three peaks, scramble across the Jupiter Massif, rappel into a line and ski some cold smoke on the Asulkan Glacier. What a blast!

Parking Lots and Backcountry Huts

Parks Canada maintains and plows several parking lots that provide access to our world-class backcountry terrain. Each parking lot gives you access to distinct valleys offering various tours and a specific flavour. Here’s a list from east to west:

Related: The Backcountry Huts of Rogers Pass: Cozy Up And Shred

The park also has three backcountry huts (more like 3-1/2 huts) operated by the ACC (Alpine Club of Canada): the A.O. Wheeler, Asulkan, Glacier Circle and Sapphire Cabin. They can be rented by the day. Plan your trip well in advance to book your stay. While the first three are comfortable huts with a dedicated sleeping space, well-stocked kitchens and some form of heating, the Sapphire Cabin is a glorified steel box at just under 2600m. You are guaranteed a cold night while up there. The Glacier Circle Cabin is seldom visited as it’s remote and doesn’t offer many skiable routes. It’s often utilized on the Bugaboo to Rogers Traverse, a 9-day adventure through the Purcell and Selkirk Mountains.

Resources For Getting Around Rogers Pass

There’s a plethora of terrain and weather resources to plan your ski trip in Rogers Pass, which you can find in this article: Planning A Ski Tour At Rogers Pass.

In addition to the content found on The Uptrack, Douglas Sproul‘s book, Rogers Pass: North and Rogers Pass: South is an awesome resource for getting around. It offers detailed terrain photos and a brief route description summarizing his 28+ years of experience in the area. He also sells a topographic map encompassing most routes. Unsurprisingly, both this website and Doug’s book complement each other well. You’ll also find the Parks Canada staff at the Discovery Center very friendly and helpful.

As with all wilderness areas operated by Parks Canada, Glacier National Park follows the same rules. You’ll need a daily or yearly park pass to visit the park (unless you’re simply travelling through it). In addition, you’ll need an overnight parking permit if staying at one of the three backcountry huts operated by the ACC (Alpine Club of Canada) and a wilderness camping permit if pitching your tent within the park boundaries.

Gear Rental

Many folks ask me where they can rent ski touring gear, including the avalanche tools (probe, shovel, and transceiver), necessities for ski touring in Rogers Pass. Both Revelstoke and Golden have shops that offer backcountry gear rental.

Closing Statement

Now you know what I know about ski touring in Rogers Pass – well not everything, but I’ve got to keep some secrets to myself. If you’re new to ski touring or backcountry skiing, don’t hesitate to check out my articles on How To Get Into Ski Touring and Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding Etiquette. It’s a great spot to learn about the outdoor sport, the gear and training required as well as some of the resources useful to plan a tour. I’m truly passionate about Rogers Pass and the skiing/mountaineering it has to offer. I hope you do to after reading this post. See you on the slopes!

The post Ski Touring In Rogers Pass, BC: All You Need To Know appeared first on The Uptrack.