Backcountry Skiing in the Coast Mountains

Things to know

• Covid measures in the Coast Mountains, British Columbia

  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’s included?

  What you get in this adventure:

  • • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • A full day of backcountry ski touring

  What’s not included:

  • • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
    • Accommodation
    • Transportation
    • Food and snacks
• How fit do I need to be?

  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.

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  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.

• What equipment do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
    • Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
    • Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
      • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
      • Lightweight snow shovel
      • Avalanche probe
      • Lightweight climbing harness for glacier travel

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • Helmet
    • Sunglasses and/or ski goggles
    • Gloves and hat
    • Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Down jacket or vest
    • Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
    • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
    • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
    • Water bottle and 1L of water
    • Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
    • Food you can eat on-the-go
    • First aid kit
    • Sunscreen
    • Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
    • Camera — optional
• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:

  • • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe can be rented from evo Backcountry
    • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from evo Backcountry
    • Splitboards can be rented from evo Backcountry.

  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 and age requirements

  Group sizes:

  • • For the Squamish and Duffey Lake tours, the max client-to-guide ratio is 6:1. The cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows. A minimum of 3 participants is required for these tours to run.
    • For the private tour, the max client-to-guide ratio is 6:1. For this tour, costs per person decrease as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to climb with friends and family.

  Backcountry skiing in the Coast Mountains can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.

  If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  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.