Backcountry Ski/Snowboard - Backcountry Ski British Columbia’s Ymir Lodge

Itinerary Summary:  Backcountry ski beautiful alpine powder bowls and subalpine tree glades amidst world-class fluffy powder snow in southeast British Columbia. This outing is located in the famous "Powder Triangle" of Nelson, Rossland, and Revelstoke. Terrain includes peaks, passes, and steep runs. If the weather and conditions are good, we can ski up in the alpine zone; if the weather and conditions are poor, we can ski down in the trees. Stay in our own private lodge with beautiful views of the wilderness backcountry. Helicopter in to the lodge the first day, and helicopter out the last day.  Ymir backcountry Lodge is situated about tree line at 6,200 feet, with easy access to a wide variety of alpine bowls and tree skiing. There are 1,000 feet of alpine bowls above the lodge, and 1,000 feet of great tree skiing below the lodge, with terrain and tours for all levels of skiers. There is safe terrain around the lodge, and progressively more advanced terrain as you explore further afield.

Lodging: Ymir Lodge has eight private rooms of double occupancy with queen/single bunkbeds and one room with two bunkbeds. The lodge has a kitchen, dining room, living room, wood fireplace heat, and beautiful post and beam ten-foot ceilings on the main floor. The lodge is supplied with linen/duvets; you don’t need to bring a sleeping bag. The large kitchen is stocked with pots, plates, cutlery, coffee pots, two full size four-burner propane stoves with oven, basic spices, dish racks, dish cloths, etc. No need to freeze your buns off in the middle of the night; toilets are inside the lodge! After skiing all day, relax in the wood-fired hot sauna, and then roll in the snow!

Food:   We will all prepare group breakfasts and dinners, but bring our own lunches. Each of us will purchase one group breakfast or dinner ingredients at home, bring them to Canada, prepare, cook, and serve meals at the lodge. Dinners include delicious and nutritious soup, fresh entrée, and dessert. For example, the leader usually brings vegetable soup, sockeye salmon fillets, fresh vegetables (broccoli or asparagus), brown rice, and makes his secret recipe vanilla ice cream sundaes! There may be a catered option for the group.

Safety: The hut custodian on site will assist with orientation, communication, equipment, water, shoveling, etc. The custodian will provide morning weather and avalanche forecasts. For communication, there is radio contact every day.

Leader’s Experience:  Craig Miller has led dozens of backcountry ski weeks for The Mountaineers. Craig has probably been to more Canadian backcountry ski lodges, huts, and yurts (including all the Alpine Club of Canada huts) than anyone else, but they keep building new ones faster than he can get there, eh? craigfmiller@comcast.net

Participant Requirements: Participants must have graduated from The Mountaineers Ski Mountaineering Course, Backcountry Ski Course, Telemark Ski Course, or equivalent, and have gone on previous M2 day trips. Avalanche training and gear is required.

Trip Price Detail:  US$1,100; catering option. The price includes helicopter in, Ymir Lodge, custodian, helicopter out, sales tax, The Mountaineers administration fee, and a portion of leader’s cost. The price excludes transportation to and from British Columbia, gear, and food. The leader will help arrange carpools.

Registration Instructions: Please register online and pay the full amount by September 25.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel because of an emergency, you may receive a refund less expenses incurred and a $100 administrative fee.

February 13 drive to Ymir, British Columbia;  February 14 helicopter in to Ymir Lodge, February 14-20 backcountry ski beautiful alpine powder bowls and subalpine tree glades, February 21 helicopter out, February 22 drive home.