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.

Related: Fuzzy Knob, Revelstoke: Shredding Through The Big Timber

Report from December 29, 2025

Paul and I parked at the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Lodge below Mt Macpherson for a cruisy lap down the Burnt Knob slidepaths, whichever would have the least track. Having last seen each other in the Fall, we casually walked along the Main Loop as we caught up on our busy lives. The staff at the RNSC made it easy for ski tourers to access the Macpherson NE slopes with clear signage showing the way. Within 20 minutes, we made it to the old skid road that traverses below the Fingers and, further, the two Burnt Knob slidepaths.

Arriving at the end of the skid road, made obvious by the dense jungle ahead, we began climbing more aggressively, following a series of small clearings adjacent to Wells Creek. With an existing uptrack carved in the lumpy terrain at a reasonable incline, our progress to the wide col between the two minor peaks, Burnt and Fuzzy Knob, was effortless. I reworked some of the trail, finding more efficient ways to contour through the alders and cedar forest. This reminded me how bushy the eastern Monashees can get, even with our unusually thick coverage for late December. Due to its low elevation, I typically won’t even attempt a ski tour at Mt Macpherson before January rolls around and the temperatures plummet.

As the fog lifted and the skies opened up, we reached the top of Burnt Knob. As we shovelled nuts in our hungry mouths, we scoped out the slope below. A convoluted system of gullies, wind drifts, and pillows split along a natural shoulder and led into the two beautiful slidepaths. Noticing most tracks leading into the skier’s right path (#1), we decided it was best to aim for the left one.

We also observed some noticeable wind effect along the top of the knob. As an exposed, prominent bump, this observation was no surprise after the variable winds overnight. Before starting the run, I cautiously ski cut the first steep pitch, grasping for a nearby tree. As expected, I triggered a small wind slab, 30cm thick.

With our avalanche control mission complete, we skied the top pitch, weaving through juvenile spruces and jumping off an endless stream of playful features carpeting the slope. This is typical Monashees skiing. We traversed to the skier’s left, lining ourselves up with the #2 slidepath below. The winds had compressed the snow, making the skiing challenging. While Paul, an expert snowboarder, had no problem staying afloat in the dense, creamy powder, I, on the other hand, kept having to shift my weight to the back of my skis in an effort to keep my tips up. Needless to say, the run was an absolute quad burner.

We spread our descent over three epic pitches. To my surprise, no one had skied the left path. This is awesome! Previous avalanches and meters after meters of snowfall had almost entirely covered the heinous alders. We skied nearly all the way to the old forestry trail. After a solid high five, we followed the undulating track down the skid road and back to Nordic ski club trails. What a day!

Route Info

5 h	1150 m	13 km	649-1765 m

The post Burnt Knob, Revelstoke: The Perfect Macpherson Slidepaths appeared first on The Uptrack.

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

How Was Heli Skiing Born?

Heli-skiing was born from a simple concept: alpine access. Before ski touring was in vogue, folks wanted to ski powder in remote mountain ranges. That was impossible for a time, until helicopters came along. Originating in the early 1960s in British Columbia, Canada, heli-skiing was pioneered by Hans Gmoser, an Austrian-born mountain guide and one of the founding members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG).

Gmoser initially used helicopters to support alpine climbing expeditions, but quickly realized the aircraft’s potential for skiing. In 1965, he officially launched the first commercial heli skiing operation under Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH). The base was located in the Bugaboos, a rugged subrange of the Columbia Mountains. That year marks heli-skiing’s official beginning. We’ve come a long way from the days of heli-skiing in a dinky Bell 47G-2. Nowadays, heli-ski operations offer both small and large group packages, mostly using the A-Star and Bell 212/412 helicopters.

A Primer On Heli-Skiing

The sport involves using helicopters to reach a high point in the middle of the mountains, the landing. From its perch, the heli-ski guide unloads the guests and leads them down the run while managing a variety of hazards. Since heli-skiing terrain is typically uncontrolled – unlike the resort – the sport comes with its fair share of hazards ranging from avalanches, tree wells, crevasses, and much more. Sometimes, the guests are a hazard to themselves! After skiing the world’s best powder, the group arrives at a suitable spot, large enough for the helicopter to pick up the group. That’s called the pickup. Now, rinse and repeat a few more times with a backcountry lunch sprinkled in the mix and some beers at the end of the day.

Most heli-ski operators offer a range of packages. Let me touch upon the basics. Starting with the cheapest, the multi-group package offers a shared experience, whereas a single helicopter ferries 2-4 groups. This can either be in a small group format (4-5 guests) or a large group format (8-10 guests). Next up, the private package is the pinnacle of heli-skiing, where one group books the entire helicopter for the duration of their trip. That’s the red-carpet experience, and it comes at a hefty price.

From the guest’s perspective, heli-skiing is just fun and games. However, from the guide’s side, it’s a symphony of controlled chaos, requiring complex decision-making in the face of mind-numbing logistics, overwhelming hazards and unpredictable mountain weather. That’s what I love about it. While you’ll have an easy time convincing me to go heli skiing, the job itself is equally mentally and physically challenging as it is rewarding.

What’s My Day Like?

A heli-ski guide is essentially a very specific breed of backcountry leader. For the most part, we manage the group’s risk throughout the day while trying to achieve an objective – in this case, providing a world-class ski program out in the remote mountains. There’s also much more guest service than one would expect: demanding guests, scared guests, happy guests. We’ve seen it all. Within the guiding community, we sometimes jokingly refer to ourselves as “backcountry butlers” for a reason. Like any good dinner, our day is structured around the main course, the heli-skiing program, but there’s an appetizer (AM Meeting) and a dessert too (PM Meeting).

5:45 AM. To dust off the cobwebs from our heavy eyelids, the heli-ski guide starts the day with the AM meeting prep. Faced with an overwhelming amount of data ranging from local weather forecasts to information from neighbouring operations, I spend a good 45 minutes summarizing the key information into an easily digestible report to be presented at the AM meeting. Little did you know, the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) uses an information gathering platform, specifically designed for avalanche professionals, called InfoEx. It’s arguably our most precious resource to share avalanche activity, incidents and hazard ratings throughout Canada. You can even see avalanche trends spanning from the West Coast to the East as a Pacific storm travels across the country.

6:30 AM. It’s time for the AM meeting, which has two components: the AM avalanche forecast and the runlist. Starting with the former, all working guides sit down to establish an avalanche forecast based on the weather forecast for the day, avalanche observations from nearby operations and recreational backcountry reports. That’s where the meeting prep comes in handy, saving us time when parsing through the large dataset. We then identify key considerations:

• avalanche hazards (wind slabs, persistent slabs, etc.)
• natural hazards (crevasses, early-season conditions, etc.)
• human factors (team fatigue, powder fever, etc.)

The heli-ski guides will then agree on an avalanche danger rating for the day based on the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale. In short, what we expect to be the size, distribution and likelihood of potential avalanches in our operational tenure.

The AM meeting’s second step is the runlist. It’s a painstaking process that involves coding all of our heli-ski runs throughout the tenure. Since we have approximately 350 individual runs, some runs will remain undiscussed. First, we target areas that we’ll likely explore on the various ski programs. Green means open for the day. Red, closed due to the avalanche hazard. Yellow, open if certain conditions are met. Black, unskiable due to other hazards. This logical process maximizes the program’s safety and narrows down our options once in the field. The runlist also solidifies one concept: run selection is a team decision, not an individual one, even if our groups are kilometres apart in the backcountry.

7:30 AM. After a draining meeting, we’re famished. It’s time to have breakfast at the hotel bar with the rest of the team and chat with the lead guides about their plans for the day. We then gear up in the locker room, pack our bags with the appropriate equipment and grab our skis, ready for a wonderful day of heli-skiing.

8:30 AM. We met the guests at the hotel lobby. We either board our vans or take a short jaunt to the heli pads after completing an in-depth gear check. Before we can head into the mountains, the heli-ski guide delivers a clear and concise backcountry safety orientation to instruct guests on avalanche safety and how to ski with a guide. Shortly after, the pilot delivers a helicopter briefing – what to do and not do around helicopters. The last thing we want is heads flying off left, right and center.

9:30 AM. Let’s go skiing. Depending on the program and weather conditions, the groups will ski anywhere from four to upwards of 15 runs on a given day. Sometimes, this can amount to more than 12,000 vertical meters! That’s more than Mt Everest! At midday, we’ll hunker down in a remote, scenic location for a quick five-star meal in the mountains. Catered sandwiches, tasty treats, charcuterie and hot soup is on the menu.

A heli-ski guide’s terrain selection is often based on the weather, hazards and guest considerations. On a stormy day with high avalanche hazard, we might be skiing through low-angle old-growth forests. On a bluebird powder day with expert skiers, we’ll opt for steep descents on rolling glaciers, providing breathtaking views and deep faceshots. Optimizing our terrain use based on those considerations is one of my favourite aspects of guiding. There’s also the huge smile across your guest’s face when you’ve delivered an unforgettable experience.

4:30 PM. After an epic day of helicopter-assisted powder shredding, we’ll have a beer at the bar with our respective guests. We’ll talk about everything and nothing at once: the day’s highlights, tomorrow’s aspirations, life’s challenges. Who knows! That’s a great time to check in with my guests and give them instructions for tomorrow’s program, if they’re booked in for several days.

5:30 PM. It’s time for the PM meeting. The guides leading programs discuss the day’s details: what has been skied, what challenges were encountered, and how we could improve our ski product. They’ll also reflect on the accuracy of our morning avalanche forecast and issue a PM avalanche danger assessment based on our field observations. Thankfully, the process is much shorter than the AM meeting – about 30 minutes. After a long day, it’s time to head home and do it all again in the morning.

What Goes Through My Mind When Heli-Ski Guiding?

Guiding a heli-ski trip is not a simple endeavour. So many thoughts are going through my mind in a given minute. That’s what I love about heli-skiing – it’s so stimulating. Starting with basic avalanche considerations, I focus on finding the best snow given our avalanche forecast, the current weather conditions and my group’s experience. It’s a matter of combining all those variables to maximize the ski product.

I then add the helicopter logistics to the equation. Can I safely fly to my target location? Poor visibility, icing and unpredictable winds can easily derail my plans. How familiar is my pilot with the ski tenure? A new pilot might shy away from a landing if the winds and visibility aren’t perfect, especially if he hasn’t landed there in the first place. How much fuel is left? The amount of fuel left onboard will determine our operating range. And, this gets even more complicated when several groups share one helicopter, as they often do!

While flying over terrain, I spend most of my time scrutinizing the run. I’m specifically looking for key landmarks that I can use to steer the group on the slope. Over time, I’ve developed a strange skill: being able to visualize what those landmarks would look like from the ground after spotting them from the air.

As I identify potential hazards, whether it be from avalanches, crevasses or tree wells, I contemplate my options and settle on the best way down the mountain, one that maximizes the group’s safety while offering great skiing (or snowboarding).

I also guide a run differently depending on whether my group is mostly skiers or snowboarders. Unfortunately, snowboards don’t deal well with long traverses or slight uphills. This dramatically changes my route selection throughout the day. I’ll even avoid specific runs that are poorly suited for snowboarders. Minute details make a big difference to the guest experience.

What Do I Love About Heli-Skiing

Heli-skiing isn’t rocket science, but it’s not easy either. As you can tell, I’m passionate about heli-skiing as much as I’m passionate about ski touring. The two disciplines occupy two non-competing spots in my heart, and I split my time equally between them each winter. This passion goes further than simply wanting to ski the best powder in the world. I love heli-skiing’s fast pace and complex logistics. It’s both stimulating and challenging. As it goes with ski touring, it’s also highly rewarding. There’s nothing better in this world than witnessing your guests’ excitement after dropping them on top of a knife-edge ridge or after skiing snorkel-deep powder – the deepest they’ve ever seen. I strive to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience every day, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate! Based on my 32 long years of existence, there’s nothing else like it.

The post The Heli-Ski Guide: What’s My Day Like? 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: The ACMG Ski Guide Certificate: What It Takes.

An Unconventional Format

The ACMG Apprentice Ski Guide Exam is an 8 to 9-day practical evaluation of an aspiring guide’s skillset on snow, ice and rock. It’s the first step in the ACMG ski guide certification process and grants you the ability to lead groups in technical ski terrain under the supervision of a certified ski guide. It’s an all-encompassing test where 3-4 students lead a rotating cast of examiners through terrain commonly faced when ski guiding. The routes chosen by the examiners often involve a technical alpine component (such as couloir skiing, rappels, roped glacier travel) with the occasional tree skiing. Under the examiner’s watchful eye, the students take turns in the “guide” position, setting the uptrack, evaluating the hazards, instructing the group on how to move through difficult sections, amongst other things. Examiners will often let the students get into trouble to examine their thought process and error correction. They’ll pull the plug only when truly necessary.

Most would think the evaluation process is arbitrary and extremely subjective. To minimize subjectivity when giving out marks, the ACMG provides 2-4 examiners through which the groups will rotate. After the exam, the examiners meet and discuss in great detail the students’ performance throughout the apprentice ski guide exam, assigning a fair grade at the end. A passing grade of 70% is required to obtain the certificate and continue to the final ski guide exam, after up to three years of industry experience. The exam is broken down into several evaluation criteria.

One exam day is dedicated to a “sports” day where the examiners assess a student’s rope and crevasse rescue skills. It usually takes place on the edge of a wind lip, shallow crevasse or cliff. The challenges vary from a standard crevasse rescue scenario using the 6:1 drop loop to rappelling or ascending through multiple knots. The “sports” day is a welcome break from the stress of non-stop guiding in tiger country. Examiners will advise on the spot to improve your rope skills. Just be ready for the worst weather. I’ve had friends complete their “sports” day in wild winds, frigid temperatures or full-on whiteouts.

The Typical Exam Field Day

Starting in the wee hours of the morning, you’ll probably wake up around 5 AM thinking about the objective. After all, you’ve been trip planning until 10 PM the night before. You’ll have a calorie-dense breakfast either in a backcountry lodge or in your hotel room. You’ll meet your group around 7 AM for your AM guide’s meeting, where you’ll examine the weather, assess the avalanche hazards & risk, and discuss risk mitigation strategies. The examiner will introduce the daily runlist showing routes that can safely be completed given your risk assessment. In practice, the objective is already determined the night before, so you can prepare. You’ll then deliver your pre-trip briefing to your examiner in a clear, cohesive manner. Where to meet, what gear to bring, what conditions to expect on the route, etc. He’ll probably ask you pointed questions if your briefing is lacking details.

At the trailhead, the leading student will perform a transceiver check and an important equipment check. Throughout the field day, you’ll take turns at the front of the group. The examiners expect you to act as a guide, coaching your peers when you would expect the average guest to struggle or when the exposure justifies a careful approach. Good communication is paramount. For instance, let the group know what the route’s next section entails and when the next break will be. Instruct guests to throw a jacket on before travelling on a windy ridgetop feature. Laugh when you make small blunders. Keep things lighthearted when possible and be especially assertive when justified by the hazards. The examiner will drill you with questions. Don’t fret. The intention is not to challenge your thinking but to understand your thought process. They don’t know what’s going on in your head. I prefer to share my plan with the group during breaks to avoid the non-stop interrogation, which could affect my focus. The examiner will also ask you questions regarding navigation.

Hopefully, you’ll reach your objective within an appropriate timeframe. And, if you don’t, it’s all good as long as you can justify turning back given the hazards and weather. The examiner may try to push you towards completing the objective at all costs. Stick to your guns if you’re convinced proceeding further would compromise the group’s safety. By the end of the day, you’ll circle back to your vehicle or the lodge where you’ll meet for a PM guide’s meeting. The examiner will ask you how your day went and provide some key feedback. Next, you’ll have dinner and plan for the next day. Now, rinse and repeat on the next day. There’s no doubt: it’s an incredibly time-consuming process. On my exam, I barely had a few minutes of rest each day. Be prepared for the exhaustion that ensues.

The Feedback And Error Correction Process

Examiners will provide important feedback at the end of every day and in the field. After all, they know you are being certified as an apprentice ski guide and have barely worked in the industry. They don’t expect perfection, but they do expect the students to learn from their mistakes. It’s especially important to take their feedback with grace and apply the key points over the remainder of the exam. I remember one of my examiners described me as a “sponge”, soaking up all the feedback and “wringing” it out (applying it) on the next field day. Flattering compliment, I know! Be a good sponge.

In the same vein, the examiners value error correction. They are adamant about its importance. As a working ski guide, you’ll make daily mistakes, hopefully small, trivial ones. It’s important to assess your decisions with continuous introspection and correct errors that would put clients at risk or be detrimental to their experience. Examiners will happily have you skirt too close to a hidden crevasse, hoping you’ll turn the situation around and instruct your guests to backtrack while you find an alternate route around the hazard. That’s okay! On the flipside, they would rather avoid having you make the wrong decision and drag your group through hazardous terrain because you’re too scared error correct.

Managing The Anxiety

The ACMG apprentice ski guide exam is a stressful evaluation. The process is admittedly unforgiving, highly demanding, and very costly. Most exams range in the $3000-5000 range. A failed exam has to be reattempted at your cost the following year. Not only does the exam fee burn a hole in your wallet, but it also introduces a year delay to your career plans. The missed opportunity cost induces a huge financial hit since you won’t be able to work as an apprentice ski guide in the ski industry, a position that comes with a healthy wage bump. Just know, there are ways to ease the mental struggle.

The ACMG provides an insightful video series on stress management during the exam process. Some students even consult sports psychologists to arm themselves with useful coping strategies. Getting to know your exam group well and training in the field with them helped in minimizing the pre-exam stress. You’ll quickly get over the awkwardness of “mock guiding” your peers. During the evaluation, it’s best to get along with your examiner, laugh at your failures and find ways to enjoy the journey. After all, you’ll be bagging peaks, rappelling into couloirs and figuring out complex glaciers. It’s just skiing – we love it for a reason! I recommend working with your group when trip planning at night so that you’re all on the same page come morning. Healthy and effective group dynamics go a long way to easing the stress during the exam process. By now, you probably already know that. Ensure you follow an energy-dense diet and drink fluids often. You’ll be expending a wild amount of energy in the field. When I’m stressed out, I tend to forget the basics of nutrition in the backcountry.

Training For The Apprentice Ski Guide Exam

Being admitted into the ACMG Ski Guide Training and Application Program (ACMG TAP) is extremely competitive. By then, you’ve got years of personal and professional experience under your belt and several advanced avalanche certifications. Your rope skills are ultra-dialled and probably better than most fully certified ski guides who haven’t rappelled into a couloir in years. In other words, you’re already most of the way to the apprentice ski guide standard. I spent the winter and spring before my late-April exam working as a tailguide for a heli-ski operation and volunteering at ski touring lodges. I also set time aside to complete classic ski-mountaineering objectives in complex glaciated terrain (see the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale).

A few weeks before my exam in the Canadian Rockies, just north of Lake Louise, I spent a few days with my exam group on commonly guided routes such as Mt Gordon on the Wapta Icefield, Mt Hector, Cirque Peak and Sub-Observation Peak. We took turns guiding our group in the manner we would on the exam. From a good vantage point, I photographed key terrain features and bought ski touring guidebooks to study the area from my home base. Spend some time locating popular trailheads to avoid any confusion during the exam and improve your pre-trip briefing delivered at the start of each day. I often practiced rope skills and crevasse rescue techniques in the evenings. Ask around for beta about the area in which you’ll be assessed. Local guides are a great source of information and will no doubt give you a hand if you mention that the information is for an apprentice ski guide exam.

Good Luck With Your Exam

Well, that’s about all I can think of at the moment. I’ll add some sections to this post as I think of additional insight. By all means, reach out through my Contact Page or Instagram if you’re looking for specific advice or beta on an area you’ll visit. I’ll do my best to help you out! I hope you’ll one day challenge the apprentice ski guide exam and be successful.

The post The Apprentice Ski Guide Exam (ACMG): Trials and Tribulations appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Winter Camping For Ski Touring: Pro-Tips To Better Your Trip

Winter Shelter For The Backcountry

Your shelter is your home. It’s where you cook, rest, and weather out the storms. You might be stuck in your shelter for many days in a row. It becomes your lifeline, especially when faced with a medical emergency. You’ll find below a few criteria I look for when choosing a winter camping tent.

1. Four-Season Tents:
   • Choose a tent specifically designed for winter or four-season use. These tents are built to handle snow loads, strong winds, and low temperatures.
2. Shape and Design:
   • Geodesic or dome-shaped tents are ideal for winter camping. They offer better stability in windy conditions and are capable of shedding snow.
   • Single-walled tents (without a rain fly) are low-weight, more packable and easier to set up. Condensation tends to be an issue with limited ventilation and airflow. Be prepared for your gear to get a little moist overnight. To circumvent the issue, I pitch my tent with the door into the wind and crack it open overnight. Although tempting, I also avoid camping next to a creek when moisture is plentiful.
   • Double-walled tents (with a rain fly) are heavier and harder to set up, but provide excellent airflow to reduce the build-up of condensation inside the tent.
3. Durability:
   • Look for a tent with a robust and durable construction. Reinforced materials, strong poles, extra guyline points, and quality zippers are essential for withstanding harsh winter conditions.
4. Ventilation:
   • Adequate ventilation is crucial to prevent condensation inside the tent. Look for tents with adjustable vents and mesh panels to allow for proper airflow.
5. Weight:
   • While winter tents tend to be heavier than three-season tents due to their robust construction, consider the weight if you plan on carrying the tent for an extended period.
   • Some ultralight winter tents are available for those focused on minimizing weight.
6. Size and Space:
   • Make sure the tent is spacious enough to accommodate your party and your gear comfortably, although I tend to leave my bag outside. A little extra space allows for better insulation and storage.
   • Ultralight tents minimize the footprint to reduce weight, which makes for a snug interior. They may not be the best choice if you’re weathering a storm and cooped up for several days in a row.
7. Ease of Setup:
   • Setting up a tent can be challenging in cold, windy weather. Choose a tent with a simple and quick setup, which minimizes your exposure to the elements.
   • Use your ice axe and poles to stake the tent down. I’ve used skis in the past, but that means you won’t be able to travel efficiently when gathering water, wood or travelling the distance on the ol’ poo run.

Depending on the trip logistics, I have four backcountry winter camping gear options.

• A bomber, self-standing tent with a vestibule (Everest-type) for extended base camps, where I won’t relocate as often. It’s a heavier setup I only bring when the approach is short or if I fly in. I also pack a pyramid tarp (such as the Black Diamond Mega Light) to use as a kitchen shared among the group.
• A single-wall, alpine-style tent for fast and light ski traverses where I’ll be moving camp every day and carrying the shelter on my back the whole way through. It’s crazy light and easy to set up or tear down.
• A pyramid tarp shelter for multi-day traverses is a little more involved and less sturdy than a regular tent, but it does leave you with plenty of headroom. Best to keep this option for fair-weather camping. I can’t be bothered with digging the pad every evening after a long day of ski touring, so I resorted to a light single-walled tent.
• A snow cave if the forecasted weather is fair with little to no precipitation, which greatly reduces my pack weight. I don’t recommend this system if you’ll move camp every day. Digging a snow shelter is a time-consuming and sweaty business.

Winter Backcountry Sleeping Bag

Choosing the right winter sleeping bag is crucial for staying warm and comfortable during cold-weather camping or outdoor activities. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a winter sleeping bag:

1. Temperature Rating:
   • Look for a sleeping bag with a temperature rating appropriate for the coldest conditions you expect to encounter. Bags are typically labelled with temperature ratings like “comfort,” “lower limit,” or “extreme.” The comfort rating is the most relevant metric to most users. I typically use a -18C sleeping, a solid number for spring weather encountered in my playground, British Columbia, from the Coast to the Rocky Mountains. When the temps drop below the comfort rating of my sleeping bag, I sleep with my down jacket/pants and camp booties.
2. Insulation Type:
   • Down insulation is known for its excellent warmth-to-weight ratio and compressibility. However, down loses its insulating properties when wet, so it’s essential to keep it dry. Some models are now wrapped in a waterproof/breathable fabric (Gore-Tex) to alleviate this issue. Moisture will still accumulate within the bag, which is difficult to keep dry during extended winter camping trips.
   • Synthetic insulation is more water-resistant and retains some insulating properties when wet. It’s a good choice if you anticipate damp conditions.
3. Fill Power:
   • When it comes to down sleeping bags, fill power indicates the quality and loft of the down. I aim for a sleeping bag with a higher fill power (e.g., 800 or 900) for a high warmth-to-compressibility ratio.
4. Shape and Size:
   • Mummy-shaped bags are more thermally efficient as they minimize the air volume around your body, but they can feel snug at times.
   • If you prefer more room, consider a semi-rectangular or rectangular bag. I tend to size up my sleeping bag to dry moist garments and boot liners inside the liner as I sleep.
5. Weight and Packability:
   • Consider the bag’s weight and compressibility, especially if you plan on carrying the bag over many days. Down sleeping bags are generally lighter and more compressible than synthetic ones, which is an important factor when planning long-distance ski traverses and keeping your pack’s weight down.
6. Additional Features To Consider:
   • Draft collars, hoods, and draft tubes along the zipper help prevent heat loss.
   • Zippered vents along the side of the sleeping bag to free your arms for cooking

Remember that personal preferences and individual tolerance to cold can vary, so it’s essential to consider your specific needs when choosing a winter sleeping bag (i.e. whether you’re a cold or warm sleeper).

Insulated Sleeping Pad

When it comes to backcountry winter camping gear, the right winter sleeping pad makes a huge difference in sleep quality. You’ll find below some of the factors I consider when choosing an insulated sleeping pad.

1. Insulation Type:
   • Closed-Cell Foam Pads are lightweight, durable, and excellent insulators. They are resistant to punctures and work well in snowy conditions. However, they are bulkier and less comfortable compared to inflatable pads.
   • Inflatable Pads offer more comfort and are usually lighter and more compact when packed. Some models are filled with down or synthetic insulation, while others use a heat-refractive liner to reflect heat toward your body. I prefer the latter. It crinkles, but its weight for warmth is unrivalled for its packability.
2. R-Value:
   • The R-value measures a sleeping pad’s ability to insulate against cold surfaces. A higher R-value is better for backcountry winter camping equipment.
3. Weight:
   • While winter pads are generally heavier than three-season pads due to increased insulation, try to strike a balance of warmth and weight, especially if you plan on carrying the equipment over many days.

You can also lay a closed-cell pad under an insulated air pad to increase the system’s insulating property. It’s an effective solution if you’re expecting the bitter cold.

Insulating Layers For Camp

Layering is crucial for staying warm and comfortable during winter camping, as it helps regulate your body temperature and manage moisture. The key is to use a combination of different layers to trap heat, wick away moisture, and protect against wind and precipitation. Here’s a general guide for layering during winter camping:

1. Base Layer:
   • Top and Bottom: The reality is that you’ll roll into camp with some sweat on your skin. Choose a moisture-wicking material like merino wool or synthetic fabrics. This layer is in direct contact with your skin and helps move sweat away, keeping you dry and warm. Merino wool has anti-bacterial properties, holding back odours for those sweaty spring trips. I always slip into my camp base layers (warmer than my touring ones) once the tent is erected.
2. Insulating Layer:
   • Top: Synthetic or down-insulated jackets are excellent choices for mid-layers. They trap warm air close to your body and provide exceptional warmth when inactive.
   • Bottom: Down-insulating pants or a second pair of leggings can be added for extra warmth in extremely cold temperatures.
3. Outer Layer (Shell):
   • You’ll often encounter stormy weather when winter camping. Wearing your waterproof/breathable shell is essential to keeping you dry and warm. It breaks the brutal wind.
4. Head and Neck Protection:
   • Hat: A warm hat that covers your ears is essential to prevent heat loss from your head.
   • Neck Tube or Balaclava: Protect your neck and face from the cold wind. A versatile neck gaiter can also be pulled up to cover your nose and mouth.
   • Gloves or Mittens: Insulated, waterproof gloves or mittens are crucial for keeping your hands warm and dry. Make sure you’ve got a dry, spare pair of gloves or mittens in your pack for when you’re sitting in camp. Don’t get them wet when boiling water!
5. Footwear:
   • Socks: Thick wool socks are the best to keep your toes warm.
   • Camp Booties: Insulated, water-resistant booties with good traction are essential. You’ll want to get out of those damp ski touring or splitboarding boots ASAP.
6. Accessories:
   • Hand and Foot Warmers: These can be useful in extremely cold conditions. Sometimes, all the layers in the world just aren’t enough to keep you warm in severe weather.

Remember to adjust your layers based on the weather conditions and activity level. If you’re excavating a snow cave or digging a lush latrine, avoid sweating excessively. Moisture build-up within your layers will reduce the effectiveness of your insulation.

Cooking Systems For Cold Temps

A hearty, calorie-dense meal is crucial in cold weather. After all, you’ll be burning so much energy simply trying to stay warm, on top of your usual expenditure when ski touring or splitboarding. Owning a reliable stove that works in cold weather can make the difference between eating a hot soup or ice-cold chunks.

• Isobutane or propane canister stoves:
  • They are known for their packability, ease of use and low weight. It’s my preferred type of cooking system.
  • Canister stoves drop in efficiency in frigid weather. In some cases, the stove might not work at all. I warm up a spare canister in my jacket before use when the temperature plummets below -11C (with isobutane).
  • Some folks wrap a copper coil connecting the canister to the heating element to circumvent the issue. Apart from the obvious hazard of applying uncontrolled heat to a container filled with flammable fuel, it’s a clever way to expand the stove’s operating temperature.
  • You’ll need a separate pot to cook meals. Sadly, isobutane canisters can’t be recycled or refilled.
• Integrated cooking systems:
  • Originally known through the brand name JetBoil, the design integrates the canister, stove (flame), cooking pot, and, on some models, a windscreen to minimize heat loss.
  • Those systems are designed to boil water incredibly fast, which is exactly what I’m looking for.
• White fuel stoves:
  • While heavier and harder to use, white fuel stoves can operate below -40C, which gives them an edge in truly arctic weather.
  • The lengthy setup becomes a non-issue with a little practice priming the stove.
  • White fuel canisters are also refillable at some outdoor stores.

Since I exclusively rely on dehydrated meals when winter camping, I only need boiled water for breakfast and dinner. Throughout the day, I snack on calorie-dense foods while on the move. The integrated cooking system is my solution of choice unless temperatures drop below -20 °C. Then, I’ll opt for a white fuel stove. I also always pack some warm, salty drinks (i.e. miso or chicken broth) for dinner to replenish electrolytes and heat my core. It’s the one thing I look forward to when arriving at camp. Whether you can consider your meal part of the backcountry winter camping gear is debatable, but I figured it’s still good advice.

Long-Lasting Headlamp

Backcountry winter camping puts a serious demand on your headlamp battery. Not only will the cold dictate how much juice is available, but you’ll be spending much time at camp past nightfall. I recommend a 450-600 lumen headlamp that functions with a rechargeable battery and disposable alternatives as a backup. I always keep six disposable AAA batteries in my repair kit at the bottom of my backpack.

The post Backcountry Winter Camping Gear For Alpine Touring appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Christmas Couloir, Rogers Pass: Near-Death Avalanche

Report from January 25, 2022

Freddy, Ryan, and I started our day at the mouth of the Connaught Drainage, climbing along its named creek. After a couple hours of icy side-hilling, we reached the top of Balu Pass with Catamount Peak finally in view. What a beauty! The E-SE face was glistening in the early morning sun.

We did a quick transition and slid down the west aspect of Balu Pass, meandering through trees and a series of small gullies. We eventually found one that seemed to fan out into the bottom of the Cougar Valley. The descent was difficult, flying over giant golf balls and avalanche debris. We knew what was silently waiting overhead, the wide Ursus Major South Bowl.

It’s worth mentioning we avoided using the alpine sneak that traverses through the bowl into Catamount Pass. The snowpack just wasn’t right for the exposed, solar sneak. A few extra vertical meters are a small price to pay for safety.

After the rough ski down the gully, we reached Cougar Brook, winding its way down Cougar Valley. This was my first time down there. We walked along the spectacular creek. The Cougar Peaks rose high in the sky, offering epic couloirs and massive north-facing descents. I’ll have to come back here for a camping trip.

After checking our GPS maps, we veered north and started the long ascent up the Catamount South Bowl. We traded the hot seat, trail-breaking through sun-affected snow and avoiding most of the overhead exposure as best as we could. A few hundred meters late, we gained a wide bench, away from any avalanche hazard, where we took a break.

We navigated the gentle alpine grade, scoping out the exposed sneak overhead. This one’s no joke. You’ve really gotta be 100% sure of your snowpack stability when you commit to the sneak. Eventually, Catamount Pass got in view. Freddy carved an uptrack through the thin, rocky face, slamming his edges on the windboard.

From the pass, we could distinguish a few large glide cracks just below the summit cornices. In spring, those unstable cracks will eventually widen until the whole face rips. You don’t want to be in the area when that happens.

We strapped our skis to our packs, mounted our crampons and began the 300m ascent up the east ridge. We alternated breaking the bootpack trail through a mix of faceted snow and windboard. It was hard work but luckily did not last long and wasn’t too steep. We just kept our heads down and put one foot in front of the other. The climb granted us a good view of our upcoming descent.

After much effort on the StairMaster, we almost reached the summit of Catamount Peak. We were stumped by the corniced, knife-edge ahead that disappeared into a steep face on both sides. Fred and Ryan weren’t up for it so we clipped in our bindings a few meters from the summit. In any case, a descent from the true summit would involve a whole lot of exposure and cutting the south-facing cornice.

The descent was absolutely epic. The all-time snowpack stability combined with the preserved boot-top powder made for a grand experience. We all carved long arcing turns down the huge face, now covered in the peak’s own shadow. I happen to try out a brand-new setup for the first time. The skis felt like a natural extension of my legs. As I was way too concentrated on the setup’s performance, I almost clipped a small rock, barely sticking out of the snow. I ended up skipping over it mid-turn! It all worked out.

We regrouped below the face out of harm’s way. From our perch, we evaluated the terrain below and concluded that we could traverse a narrow band of snow between two cliff bands to gain the Ursus Major South Bowl. This shortcut would minimize our elevation loss and shorten our return trip. Otherwise, we’d have to drop to valley bottom and climb back up to Balu Pass.

We continued down a mellow tongue of snow between two alpine mounds, aiming straight for the shortcut. While I expected a little bit of wind effect on the surface, the snow was surprisingly well preserved, albeit denser.

Once more, we transitioned for our last uphill section. We traversed a series of steep gullies and zig-zagged up an elongated shoulder below Ursus Major Mtn. It was late afternoon by then and the snowpack had cooled and locked up. The evening sunlight really brought out the best of this spectacular landscape.

We ripped off our skins and contoured the eastern end of the Ursus Major South Bowl, maintaining our elevation as best as we could. Any loss in elevation would have to be recouped on the last stretch to Balu Pass. We ended up having to side-step for a hot second to gain the famous pass. From our vantage point, we raced down Connaught Creek and back to our vehicle as the sun vanished behind the mountains. Another one for the book!

Route Info

9-11 h	2135m	13.7 km	1330-2675 m

The post Catamount Peak East Face: An All-Time Descent appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Rogers Run On Grizzly Shoulder: Deep Days

Report from February 3, 2021

After a quick gear-up in front of the RPDC, Jeff, Joey, Bryn and I quickly slid up the Connaught Valley passing the WRA signs reminding us of the permit system. Often enough, Park Wardens hang out at the East Rogers WRA border to check permits and ensure no one enters the area when closed. We took the winter uptrack that follows the north bank of Connaught Creek, weaving through alders and tight trees – it’s no problem with a deep snowpack. We climbed the east side of the Grizzly Slidepath, an active avalanche path, and ducked into the trees of the Grizzly Shoulder to minimize our exposure to the enormous slidepath.

I was pushing the pace to catch up with large guided groups. It was imperative to beat them to the top as they would disturb the white blanket waiting for us on the descent. Fortunately, as with most guided groups, they were horrendously slow. By midway up the shoulder, we had already taken the lead, now trail-breaking through progressively wetter snow. The sun had pierced the rolling clouds, just enough time to melt the snow’s surface.

The top of Grizzly Trees is a large planar, open slope that poses a serious hazard. We chose to stick to the crest of the shoulder and stay away from the slope. I took the liberty of moving away from the shoulder into the edge of the slope (from a safe spot) to jump on a convex roll a few times and test for snowpack instabilities. Nothing budged, only minor sluffing. Great!

After a brief ascent through the trees, we gained the top of the main open treeline slope at 2080m. We pushed forward in an attempt to gain the true ridge to ski our original plan, Rogers Run. In my opinion, it’s a higher quality run, offering an 850m descent through burnt trees, pillows and open slidepaths. If the avalanche hazard is within my tolerance, I’d almost always go for Rogers Run or Puff Daddy first.

Within a few careful strides in the barren SW-facing terrain, a 10m long crack shot out of my skis and triggered a 50cm deep storm slab that held on to some nearby trees in a delicate balance. Okay, we saw here three pretty obvious red flags:

• Shooting cracks
• Rapid warming (moist/wet surface snow and pinwheeling)
• Visible avalanche activity

With the prolonged solar exposure, it was time to turn around. We happily settled for a more conservative run through Grizzly Trees instead, being well ahead of the crowds.

We quickly consulted my terrain picture, taken from the NRC parking lot earlier in the season. We had four options all within the open slopes. Lines within the trees might be too tight to ski easily. As we wanted to go fast, we opted for the most obvious fall-line path as it remained untouched (the most common line).

The snow was as expected, a little heavy but still very good. We weaved in and out of the open path, hitting pillows along the way. We stopped in the lower third of the run as the snow quality was deteriorating. A short but sweet lap!

After such a great run, we couldn’t go home just yet. We sped up the shoulder once again on the existing uptrack. After a breezy ascent, we transitioned for the descent. We selected a line to the skier’s left. While it require a short traverse through trees and bushes, it led us on a SE aspect, mostly sheltered from the sun’s warming effect. The snow there had remained well-preserved, showing no signs of rapid warming. The run was epic!

We finished the day with this amazing run. Those must have been the most easily accessible powder turns of the season (not counting lift-assisted touring days). What a blast!

Route Info

4-5 h	770m	3.8 km	1330-2080 m

The post Grizzly Trees, Rogers Pass: Easy Access Powder Turns appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Skiing Avalanche Crest: Rogers Pass’ Top Run?

Note on Winter Permit System: The route is located within the East Rogers Winter Restricted Area (WRA) and also borders the Macdonald West Winter Prohibited Area (WPA), a permanently closed area through which backcountry skiers and snowboarders cannot travel. The zone has been poached many times before, resulting in lasting closures of the East Rogers WRA. Please understand and observe the Winter Permit System, orchestrated by Parks Canada so that backcountry users can have fun on government land.

Report from January 31, 2021

Kaitlin, Freddy, Laurent, and I left the Mortar Restricted parking lot at 9 AM, a late start by Roger Pass’ standard. We knew this would be a short day on the Macdonald West Shoulder. To be honest, we were all exhausted for various reasons – the group’s energy was at an all-time low. In fact, a breezy ascent up the Shoulder followed by a descent full of face shots was the perfect remedy for tired souls.

We dove into the forest on a bee-line for the highest point on the shoulder, located at an elevation of 2530m. Following a mellow uptrack, we emerged from the forest, bordering the main slope, and zipped up the looker’s right through sparse trees, naturally gladed by avalanches over the years. Occasionally, we would veer off course from the existing uptrack to bypass ridiculously steep sections, perhaps laid by inexperienced ski tourers.

Once we got below a large pillow field – a dangerous descent in the early season – we left the main slope and ducked into a thick band of trees, the divide between the Macdonald West Shoulder #4 slide path and the NRC Gully (also a major slide path). To my knowledge, this is the best way to gain the bench. We poked through the band of trees and proceeded up the gully’s north flank. From there, the path was clear.

From the north flank of the NRC Gully, we tracked up a sparsely forested ridge, gaining the bench in the process. Following this ridge gets you to the highest skiable elevation (2530m) on the Macdonald West Shoulder. Fortunately, most folks stop right below the bench. What a shame: the best skiing is up there!

After a few easy switchbacks, expertly placed by Kaitlin, we were at the base of the ridge, on top of the sacred bench. As a reference, we were standing on the upper edge of the pillow field. We continued along the ridge, sticking to another band of smaller trees in order to minimize our exposure to the avalanche hazard. As we got higher, the winds kicked in high gear, steadily blowing from the SW.

Eventually, the alpine snow started showing some severe slab properties. With shooting cracks and whumpfs spanning from our skis, it was time to turn back. We hurried towards a safe spot to transition for the descent. From our perch, a party decided to drop right above our heads, triggering a size 1 wind slab avalanche in the process. Damn fools! How careless… the Macdonald West Shoulder is a busy touring zone where the uptrack is right under the descent. Please wait for ascending parties below to get out of the way before skiing your line.

The avoidable incident did not tarnish our descent. It was simply epic! Deep powder was on the menu… and we were hungry. The wind-affected snow up top faded into cold smoke down below. Conditions below treeline were absolutely, positively blower. That’s pretty common here. With such a wide skiable slope, there’s always good snow to be had. It is however facing west which means the sun might ruin things on a clear, warm day. As an alternative to the main face, you could even seek the fresh stuff down the NRC gully to the south where some features don’t see much sun.

Knowing the slope like the inside of our pocket, we sped down its center. The slide path spat us right by the highway, merely five minutes from our car. It’s just that easy! Along with the Avalanche Crest and Rogers Run, the Macdonald West Shoulder and the NRC Gully are some of the best bang for your buck runs at Rogers Pass.

Route Info

5-6 h	1200m	5.8 km	1330-2530 m

The post Macdonald West Shoulder & NRC Gully: Epic Fall Line appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Ursus Minor Trees, Rogers Pass: Epic Glade Skiing

Report from January 5, 2021

We assembled a big crew: Rosalie, Steph, Kaitlin, Mia and Rigel. With Revelstoke’s pandemic unemployment rate at a record high, it seems everyone and their dogs are out ski touring. And you know what: it’s the ideal winter for that. Relentless snowfall and cold temps have provided a constant refresh on the slope of Rogers Pass – which leads to a common problem. Snowpack stability was questionable at best after our week-long storm cycle. Having very little intel on the conditions, we decided on skiing Christiana Glades, an area new to me.

After checking that the Bostock winter restricted area and its associated parking lot was indeed open for the day, we left the warmth of our vehicles for the mild cold of the outdoors. We toured along the Bostock Creek Trail, a gentle, handcrafted path that follows the valley bottom all the way to Bostock Pass. While we didn’t tour its entire length, you could reach as far as Corbin Peak if you desired so. 2.75km along the trail, we veered right off the trail, ski-skinned downhill, and crossed Bostock Creek over a series of pillows, conveniently bridging the gap of moving water.

We were now at the base of the Christiana Ridge, the start of the Christiana Glades uptrack. We followed the creek’s west bank until we found a wide-open gully piercing through the Selkirk bush defining the lower boundary of the ridge. We ascended the gully to a lovely clearing, peppered with tasty pillow lines and bordered by magical old-growth forest.

We raced past the clearing while I noted where the pillows – to be sent later in the day – were located. Soon enough, we were touring through the old-growth, a preserved snapshot of what it used to be eons ago. Our ascent led us through a band of denser trees that eventually dumped us into yet another clearing that seemed to offer some all-time skiing.

All in all, we ended up climbing along the border of the Fidelity Winter Prohibited Area until we could no longer go higher. At that point, the WPA wraps around the ridge, prohibiting further uphill travel. This is where the Parks Canada staff conducts snowpack assessments. We call it Parks Canada’s private ski area.

After a short lunch break, we dug a full snow profile to assess the stability of the upper layers of storm snow. With no apparent weakness, we transitioned for the descent. The snow was excellent: light, dry champagne powder.

The descent route was super straight-forward. We simply followed down our uptrack, hitting pillows left and right when possible. With that good of snow, the crew was absolutely ecstatic. I wished we could have gone for a second lap but the sun was getting a little low. Days are short in early January.

After the 700-meter descent, we arrived at the base of the ridge and crossed Bostock Creek at our previous spot. A quick skin up the east bank got us back on the trail that led us to our vehicle. All in all, we all thoroughly enjoyed the day of mellow, powdery skiing in the Christiana Glades.

Route Info

5-6 h	1000m	9 km	900-1900 m

The post Christiana Glades: Skiing The Old Growth appeared first on The Uptrack.