What you get on this adventure: An experienced, ACMG Certified Guide with extensive knowledge of the area 3 or 4 days of backcountry skiing in British Columbia’s West Coast Accommodation (Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish) Helicopter flights for heli access Group safety equipment What’s not included: Technical backcountry ski touring equipment — can be rented Avalanche safety equipment — can be rented with your guides Accommodation before and after the tour — your guides can help arrange it Transportation to the meeting point Food and snacks Guide gratuities — optional

How fit do I need to be?

To enjoy this backcountry skiing adventure on BC’s West Coast, you need to have at least some backcountry skiing experience. Participants should feel comfortable skiing on various types of terrain and have a good understanding of the basics of backcountry skiing. Other than that, your ACMG-certified guides can accommodate almost any ability level, help you with your skills, and coach when things get a bit more difficult.

What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

To participate in this tour, you need to have at least some previous backcountry skiing experience. If you’re looking for a day-long adventure suitable for beginners in BC, check out backcountry skiing in Duffey Lake .

What 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 For personal items, we recommend bringing: 20-30L daypack Helmet — optional Sunglasses and goggles Sun and lip cream Camera — optional, but recommended 1L of water or tea First aid kit Food you can eat on-the-go Thermos with a warm beverage — optional Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people) This is a list of clothing we recommend you bring: Gloves and hat Wool and/or synthetic socks Mid-insulation fleece or puffy jacket Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended) Warm outer puffy jacket Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended) Down jacket or vest Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks Face mask Toque — wool or synthetic Brimmed cap Face warmer — scarf, neck tube, face mask, buff, etc. Light gloves and insulated gloves or mitts

Can I rent equipment?

All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent avalanche safety pack, including a backpack, beacon, shovel and probe with your guides in the booking process. You can rent alpine touring or telemark skis (or splitboard) touring boots, and poles in Squamish from Urban Alpine , Spicy Sports , and Evo . As Squamish is an outdoor hub, there’s a multitude of more rental shops to choose from. Ski rental locations are in Squamish 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 and prices: For this West Coast backcountry skiing adventure, the group size is made of 4 people. That is also the minimum number of people for this tour to run. The cost is per person and doesn’t decrease as the group grows. Backcountry skiing in BC’s West Coast 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.

Deposits and cancellation policy

For regular dates, a $750 deposit is due upon booking. Final payments are due sixty (60) calendar days prior to the departure date. Failure to make this final payment by the deadline will result in forfeiture of the trip and deposit. If booking a trip within 60 days of the departure date, full payment is due upon booking. Deposits are non-refundable, but transferable at the discretion of your guiding company as long as the cancellation is made more than sixty (60) days prior to the trip or is initiated by your guiding company. Cancellations to trips made thirty (30) or more days before the trip departure dates are transferable to another trip or course or refundable with 15% admin fee. Cancellations to trips made less than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the departure date for any reason are non-refundable, but potentially transferable to another trip or date at the discretion of your guides. Any such transfers are subject to a 25% administrative fee and recovery of any sunk costs. No more than one transfer will be offered. Your guiding company will accept a substitute guest should you not be able to attend, provided they meet the skill level requirements for the trip. Your guiding company reserves the right to determine if the substitute guest meets these requirements. Any such substitutions are subject to a 10% administrative fee. Your guides reserve the right to modify or cancel a trip at any time due to unfavorable weather conditions, injury/illness, or other reason without penalty. Clients will be notified as soon as possible and refunded less any sunk costs. If the weather doesn’t permit flying into the hut / lodge, the client would not be refunded for the day. However, the guides would still take clients skiing somewhere. On the other hand, if the weather doesn’t permit leaving the lodge on schedule, the client would not be charged for the extra lodge day.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to Squamish, most people fly into Vancouver International Airport (YVR) , 1 hour from Whistler. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service. Accommodation is included for the day prior to skiing, so make sure to check into the Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish and have a good night’s rest. Your guide will meet you there and review the plan for Day 1.

Covid measures in 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, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in British Columbia, please refer to BC Centre for Disease Control COVID-19 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!

Guided backcountry skiing in British Columbia’s West Coast

SQUAMISH | BRITISH COLUMBIA

BC’s West Coast Ski Buffet: Backcountry & Heli Mix

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Season

March

Nearest city

Vancouver, BC is an hour away

Duration

3-4 days

Skill level

Intermediate to advanced

Accommodation

Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish

Guides

Monte Johnston, Black Sheep Adventure Sports

From $2,000 () / 4 days

Got any questions? or Talk with us

Overview
Itinerary
Brochure
Guides
Reviews
Things to know

British Columbia’s West Coast really is that special for skiers, and it’s no wonder—it has the best snow in the world. Not only that, but it’s also a region with the highest chance of good ski conditions, which is good to know if you’re traveling from afar. So go ahead and pick out one of these tours we have planned—whichever one you choose, you can’t go wrong. Garibaldi, Tantalus, Whistler, all of these icy hotspots have incredible terrain, some of which is only accessible by a heli, and you’ll get to carve fresh lines in that glorious snow for 3 or 4 days in a row. After adrenaline-fueled skiing explorations with your ACMG guide and with daylight waning, retreat to your cozy chalet in Squamish for a good night’s rest.

Boundless opportunities

Explore a myriad of terrain options and let your ACMG guide help you reach your objectives
Cozy chalet as your base

A beautiful log home awaits you every day after your time on the snow
Enjoy heli skiing

Venture into untouched, otherwise-unreachable terrain by helicopter

Available itineraries

3-day Ski Touring Buffet in BC’s West Coast

Looking for a short and sweet getaway into British Columbia’s backcountry? This one’s for you. During these 3 days, you’ll get to tour a new area every single day, some of which are heli-accessed. Garibaldi, off the Sea to Sky Gondola, and the Tantalus—their superb terrain and even better snow are well known to backcountry skiers, and with the help of an ACMG guide, you’ll make the most of it! Whether you’re looking forward to some mellow bowls or steep couloirs, you’ll find it here. After long days out, get some rest in your cozy Squamish chalet.

Make sure to arrive to Squamish a day prior to your first day in the field. Your accommodation for the duration of this tour is the cozy Cloudraker Chalet, where your guide will meet you and review the plan for the upcoming days. Get a good night’s sleep.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
After a hearty breakfast at your chalet, it’s time to hit the slopes. Kick things off with heli-access ski touring off Garibaldi—and a possible summit as well.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
Today you’re taking the famed Sea to Sky Gondola! Soak in the incredible views and shred the perfect powder awaiting at the top.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
For your final skiing day in British Columbia, you’ll enjoy the heli-accessed Tantalus Zone.
The order of the days can change depending on weather conditions, as it’s not possible to fly on cloudy days. You’ll still get to use those stormy days anyway since they’re the best for tree skiing. Sunny days are reserved for heli-accessed terrain.

4-day Ski Touring Buffet in BC’s West Coast

Four days of pure ski touring on some of the world’s greatest snow—that’s this trip in a nutshell. Some days you’ll get to enjoy untouched powder of heli-accessed areas, while others you’ll take the challenge of tree skiing. With famed locations such as Garibaldi, Whistler, Tantalus, Gargoyles, and the Anif areas, the possibilities are endless and the terrain is perfect for both intermediates and advanced skiers. Let an experienced ACMG certified guide lead you to the best spots, help you work on your objectives, and after a whole day out, get back to your cozy chalet in Squamish.

Make sure to arrive to Squamish a day prior to your first day in the field. Your accommodation for the duration of this tour is the cozy Cloudraker Chalet, where your guide will meet you and review the plan for the upcoming days. Get a good night’s sleep.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
Meet your guide and your group in Squamish, where you’ll be based in the Cloudraker Chalet for the duration of this tour. Kick things off with heli-access ski touring off Garibaldi—and a possible summit as well.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
Depending on the group and the conditions, today you’ll either ski tour off the Sea to Sky Gondola or Whistler.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
On the third day, you’ve got helicopter-access ski touring in the Tantalus Zone.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
Depending on the group and the conditions, spend your last day ski touring in the Gargoyles or Anif areas.
The order of the days can change depending on weather conditions, as it’s not possible to fly on cloudy days. You’ll still get to use those stormy days anyway since they’re the best for tree skiing. Sunny days are reserved for heli-accessed terrain.

4-day Heli Ski Touring in BC’s West Coast

British Columbia’s backcountry is well known for its pristine snow and varied terrain. And there’s no better way to experience it than by going on a heli skiing tour! The best thing about this BC’s West Coast tour might just be its ever-changing location—that’s right, every day you’ll switch touring spots and feel the thrill of gliding in different areas and on different terrain. All the while a trusted, ACMG-certified guide will be by your side, helping you achieve your objectives and hone your skills in Garibaldi, off the Sea to Summit Gondola, Whistler, and Tantalus. After long days out, you’ll retreat to your chalet accommodation in Squamish.

Make sure to arrive to Squamish a day prior to your first day in the field. Your accommodation for the duration of this tour is the cozy Cloudraker Chalet, where your guide will meet you and review the plan for the upcoming days. Get a good night’s sleep.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
Meet your guide and your group in Squamish, where you’ll be based in the Cloudraker Chalet for the duration of this tour. Kick things off with heli-access ski touring off Garibaldi—and a possible summit as well.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
Depending on the group and the conditions, today you’ll either ski tour off the Sea to Sky Gondola or Whistler.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
On the third day, you’ve got helicopter-access ski touring in the Tantalus Zone.
Accommodation: Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish
As cherry on top of this backcountry skiing adventure, you’ll be doing some heli skiing for your final day on BC’s powder!
The order of the days can change depending on weather conditions, as it’s not possible to fly on cloudy days. You’ll still get to use those stormy days anyway since they’re the best for tree skiing. Sunny days are reserved for heli-accessed terrain.

Get free trip brochure

Download BC’s West Coast Ski Buffet: Backcountry & Heli Mix Brochure

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Talk with us and let one of our adventure experts help you plan your perfect adventure.

Meet your guides

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Monte Johnston

Monte is a ACMG Ski Guide, ACMG Apprentice Alpine and Rock guide based out of Squamish BC. He’s climbed and skied all over the world but he settled in BC because of the easy access to amazing climbing and skiing.

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Black Sheep Adventures is a team of local ACMG Certified guides and experienced professionals but they’re also a ton of fun and really enjoy what they do! Adventure is personal so you want a guide that will not only help keep you safe, but share the experience and go the extra mile to get you the trip of your dreams. Their range of courses and trips is a great way to get to know people and develop relationships. Once they know someone, they can really work with them to create custom and unique trips that call to their sense of adventure.

Watch our webinar

October 12 , 2023 at 12:00PM EDT

Starting in

Best of Backcountry Skiing on British Columbia’s West Coast

Monte Johnston

ACMG Ski Guide, AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide

5.00 (4 reviews)

Phil Mitchell (source: Google Reviews)

Monte was a fantastic guide for our 4-day ski touring trip. He has an unbelievable amount of knowledge of the backcountry, weather and snow but struck an outstanding balance between the level of information he provided and the practicality of applying it in a backcountry scenario. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide! His dry sense of humour also kept thing fun on the skin track!

Colin N (source: Google Reviews)

I have been on a number of backcountry ski/ski mountaineering trips with Monte & Black Sheep Adventure Sports over the past several years. These trips have included avalanche safety training (level 2), and multiple multi-day hut trips in some expert level terrain (such as the Tantalus range near Squamish, BC). On all the trips Monte and his guides have displayed excellent professionalism, tuition, and decision making in the mountains. In mixed ability groups, Monte will tailor the trip to all ability/fitness levels, ensuring everyone has a great time. Monte has also pushed me to tackle steeper terrain than I was used to skiing in the backcountry (both on the up and down).I would not hesitate to go on more trips in Monte in future.

Adam Thompson (source: Google Reviews)

I’ve use Monte (head guide at Black Sheep) for 2 seasons now for backcountry ski-touring. He’s very experienced, inspires confidence, and ensures you develop your skills as you go while feeling safe. He’s also highly capable of finding fine powder lines, great views, and good company to ski with. Can’t recommend him enough.

Richard Somerset (source: Google Reviews)

Monte is a very professional guide and teacher. The biggest compliment I can give anyone is to let them take my son out without me in the mountains. With Monte I would not hesitate to let him take my 15 year old son out climbing. That alone speaks to the trust I have in his skill, safety and preparation. Monte also has an immense amount of knowledge.

Things to know

What you get on this adventure:
- - An experienced, ACMG Certified Guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - 3 or 4 days of backcountry skiing in British Columbia’s West Coast
  - Accommodation (Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish)
  - Helicopter flights for heli access
  - Group safety equipment
What’s not included:
- - Technical backcountry ski touring equipment — can be rented
  - Avalanche safety equipment — can be rented with your guides
  - Accommodation before and after the tour — your guides can help arrange it
  - Transportation to the meeting point
  - Food and snacks
  - Guide gratuities — optional
To enjoy this backcountry skiing adventure on BC’s West Coast, you need to have at least some backcountry skiing experience. Participants should feel comfortable skiing on various types of terrain and have a good understanding of the basics of backcountry skiing. Other than that, your ACMG-certified guides can accommodate almost any ability level, help you with your skills, and coach when things get a bit more difficult.
To participate in this tour, you need to have at least some previous backcountry skiing experience.

If you’re looking for a day-long adventure suitable for beginners in BC, check out backcountry skiing in Duffey Lake.
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
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
- - 20-30L daypack
  - Helmet — optional
  - Sunglasses and goggles
  - Sun and lip cream
  - Camera — optional, but recommended
  - 1L of water or tea
  - First aid kit
  - Food you can eat on-the-go
  - Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
  - Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
This is a list of clothing we recommend you bring:
- - Gloves and hat
  - Wool and/or synthetic socks
  - Mid-insulation fleece or puffy jacket
  - Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Warm outer puffy jacket
  - Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Down jacket or vest
  - Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
  - Face mask
  - Toque — wool or synthetic
  - Brimmed cap
  - Face warmer — scarf, neck tube, face mask, buff, etc.
  - Light gloves and insulated gloves or mitts
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent avalanche safety pack, including a backpack, beacon, shovel and probe with your guides in the booking process.

You can rent alpine touring or telemark skis (or splitboard) touring boots, and poles in Squamish from Urban Alpine, Spicy Sports, and Evo. As Squamish is an outdoor hub, there’s a multitude of more rental shops to choose from.

Ski rental locations are in Squamish 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 prices:
- - For this West Coast backcountry skiing adventure, the group size is made of 4 people. That is also the minimum number of people for this tour to run.
  - The cost is per person and doesn’t decrease as the group grows.
Backcountry skiing in BC’s West Coast 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.
For regular dates, a $750 deposit is due upon booking. Final payments are due sixty (60) calendar days prior to the departure date. Failure to make this final payment by the deadline will result in forfeiture of the trip and deposit. If booking a trip within 60 days of the departure date, full payment is due upon booking.
- - Deposits are non-refundable, but transferable at the discretion of your guiding company as long as the cancellation is made more than sixty (60) days prior to the trip or is initiated by your guiding company.
  - Cancellations to trips made thirty (30) or more days before the trip departure dates are transferable to another trip or course or refundable with 15% admin fee.
  - Cancellations to trips made less than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the departure date for any reason are non-refundable, but potentially transferable to another trip or date at the discretion of your guides. Any such transfers are subject to a 25% administrative fee and recovery of any sunk costs. No more than one transfer will be offered. Your guiding company will accept a substitute guest should you not be able to attend, provided they meet the skill level requirements for the trip. Your guiding company reserves the right to determine if the substitute guest meets these requirements. Any such substitutions are subject to a 10% administrative fee.
  - Your guides reserve the right to modify or cancel a trip at any time due to unfavorable weather conditions, injury/illness, or other reason without penalty. Clients will be notified as soon as possible and refunded less any sunk costs. If the weather doesn’t permit flying into the hut / lodge, the client would not be refunded for the day. However, the guides would still take clients skiing somewhere. On the other hand, if the weather doesn’t permit leaving the lodge on schedule, the client would not be charged for the extra lodge day.
To get to Squamish, most people fly into Vancouver International Airport (YVR), 1 hour from Whistler. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service.

Accommodation is included for the day prior to skiing, so make sure to check into the Cloudraker Chalet in Squamish and have a good night’s rest. Your guide will meet you there and review the plan for Day 1.
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, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in British Columbia, please refer to BC Centre for Disease Control COVID-19 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!