The Coast Mountains’ endless glaciers and deep powder are just begging to be skied. Stretching from the very edges of the Northern Cascades all the way to British Columbia’s grand icefields, there’s so much world-class backcountry ski powder here, you may experience choice overload. The conditions are almost always favorable, and the powder is abundant—a fit backcountry adventurer could cover up to 5,000 feet of vertical descent in a day! And if you’re still on the fence about your inevitable trip to the Pacific Province, the views of Canada’s signature untamed wilderness from the many rustic huts and lodges should seal the deal. Find your inner peace and experience true backcountry bliss in British Columbia’s Coast Mountains. Learn more about the best places for backcountry skiing in Canada from Greg Hill, ACMG ski guide extraordinaire.
We, a group of 14, were professionally guided by 3 guides of MSAA. (Eric, Alexis, and Kurk) In this to be respected terrain, we felt safe at all times. Our expeditions were well planned, interesting, and respected the needs and abilities of each member of the group. Generosity and good spirits prevailed! Choosing MSAA for an amazing excursion is a no-brainer! Thanks to Eric and the guys!
SO MUCH FUN!!! This was our (My wife and me) first time venturing out into the backcountry and we had the best time. Heaps of info on Avi awareness, search and rescue techniques, and above all else, awesome skiing! Our guide’s ability to put us in just the right level of terrain was spot on the mark. Very friendly staff, good gear, and very professional. 100% the best days I have spent in Whistler. Will be back for more…
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, please refer to British Columbia’s COVID-19 travel advice.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
In order to enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to have very good fitness levels. You will be on your feet for a full day, doing 3-5 runs with up to 5,000 ft of vertical descent, depending on your ability and fitness level. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and in a variety of snow conditions. You should also be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.
This backcountry skiing tour is geared for intermediate, advanced and expert skiers or snowboarders. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for around 8 hours. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, we suggest joining a guide for a beginner-friendly backcountry ski tour in Whistler.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Whistler and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes:
Backcountry skiing in the Coast Mountains can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, most people fly into Vancouver International Airport 1.5 hours north of Whistler, BC. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to Whistler. It takes about an hour from Whistler to the trailheads.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet depending on your touring destinations, whether that’s at the guide shop in Whistler or a predetermined location. From there, you’ll head to your tour. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ski ability of the group.
Day Trips Cancellations
Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.
Highly recommended Whistler experience for backcountry skiers/snowboarders. My friend Bruce and I spent a gorgeous day skiing the backcountry adjacent to Whistler Ski Resort with Cam from Whistler Alpine Guides in February 2014. The snow conditions in the resort were not very good, as it hadn’t snowed in a while, but it was cold and clear and we found some amazing wind-deposited powder stashes around Oboe Summit. Cam was a cool guy and a great guide and made sure we hit some good turns and wore us out pretty well. Definitely a highlight of the trip.