Intro to Backcountry Ski Touring

Days 1-4

After soaking up the mind-blowing scenery of the aptly named Sea-to-Sky Highway, you’ll check into Nita Lake Lodge for 5 nights. Offering post-ski massages from their award-winning spa, striking mountain and lake views, rooftop hot tubs, lakeside plunge pools and chilled après, you’ll be forgiven for forgetting you’re actually here to ski. Time to kick off the week and meet your fellow touring crew over welcome drinks and dinner.

On your first full day, your guide will meet you after breakfast and introduce you to the secret powder stashes of Whistler Blackcomb’s resort and spend the day easing your ski legs back into the swing of things. Back to the hotel with the crew to showcase the best photos and cheers to a warm-up day well spent.

You’ll spend the next day learning the ins and outs of backcountry ski touring; avalanche safety, how to put on skins and ascend the mountain safely and efficiently. Most importantly, you’ll be doing this whilst skiing some of the best terrain in the world under the experienced eyes of your local ACMG ski guide. We guarantee this will be the most fun you’ve ever had on an educational day – how many work seminars have you been to that take place on the side of a mountain and end with skiing untouched powder?

The following day will be a guided day in the backcountry, accessed either from the side of Whistler Blackcomb resort or driving to a different local area – depending on where has the best conditions – where you’ll put your new skills into action.

We’ll debrief at the end of each day by the fire with a drink in hand and take the all-important vote on ‘jerry of the day’.

Days 7-9

After waking up in the tranquil paradise of British Columbia’s backcountry the smell of breakfast, freshly prepared by your in-house chef, lures you into the main lodge. Your guide takes you through the plan for the day and does a last-minute gear check. Time for a quick stretch to limber up before heading out into the magnificent peaks surrounding your new home. These next 2 days will likely be the highlight of your trip (or perhaps your entire ski experience to date) – you will explore some of the best and most beautiful backcountry terrain British Columbia has to offer, and ski and tour nothing but untracked powder all day, under the safe and watchful eye of your professional ACMG guide.

We’ll organise a wine tasting evening to showcase some of British Columbia’s incredible wines (one of British Columbia’s many well-kept secrets) and local brews will be available on tap from the honesty bar. The wood-burning sauna is the icing on the cake at this lodge and goes rather nicely with a roll around in the abundant fresh powder outside.

The food at the lodge is a real highlight – we guarantee you’ll be wanting to recreate some of these recipes at home and will hotly anticipate seeing what new creations have been thrown up on the chalkboard menu of the day. With a private chef, the lodge can of course cater to any dietary requirements you may have. Time to sit back and enjoy your final meal of the week over wine and local craft beers, sharing highlights of the week with your crew.

On the final morning you’ll hear the chopper bearing into the lodge to fly you out over the spectacular mountains below and back to Whistler to collect the rest of your luggage. It’s time to head back home, but you’ll be taking some of the best memories in your ski career with you, and a new-found love for the backcountry.

This trip is open to just 8 guests, and is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Please register your interest below to secure your spot on this group trip with likeminded skiers, join our waitlist or enquire about a private booking.