Backcountry Skiing at Journeyman Lodge

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 travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Whistler, please refer to the British Columbia Provincial Government and Tourism Whistler websites.

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:

• An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
• Four days of backcountry ski touring
• Snowcat shuttle to the lodge
• Accommodation
• Meals during your stay at the lodge
  Official photographer

What’s not included:

• Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
• Trip insurance
• Transportation to the staging area and back
• Beverages

Add-Ons:

• Airbag: you can include an avalanche airbag for just $35/day

In order to enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to have a moderate level of fitness. You will be on your feet for full days. The terrain around Journeyman Lodge is best suited for intermediate to advanced backcountry skiers. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on black level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

Backcountry skiing at Journeyman Lodge is for intermediate to advanced backcountry skiers. The terrain is challenging and technical, requiring controlled descents in sometimes tricky environments. Beginners in the backcountry or those with blue level resort experience should consider an introduction to backcountry skiing with a guide in Whistler.

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:

• Helmet — optional
• Sunglasses or ski goggles
• Winter hat
• Brimmed cap for sun protection
• Face warmer – scarf, neck tube or balaclava — optional
• Light gloves – wool, synthetic or leather
• Insulated gloves or mitts with waterproof outer shell
• Spare gloves or mitts
• Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-tex recommended)
• Warm insulated jacket – down or synthetic
• Light fleece or wool sweater
• Multipurpose stretch nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type pants and jacket
• Waterproof breathable pants (i.e. Gore-Tex)
• Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear bottoms and top
• Wool or synthetic ski socks and liner socks
• Two locking carabiners
• Skin wax (or a candle)
• Two non-locking carabiners
• Binding repair kit to fix your personal travel setup
• Head lamp with good batteries
• Water bottle and 1L of water
• Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
• Lunch bag or container
• Pocket knife
• First-aid kit
• Sunscreen
• Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
• Duffle bag
• Shoes or sandals
• Winter boots
• Hut clothing
• Towels and swimsuit for sauna
• Camera — optional

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 locally from Escape Route or Premium Mountain
• Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented locally from Escape Route or Premium Mountain
• Splitboards can be rented locally from Escape Route or Premium Mountain

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.

A certified ski guide will take all of the guesswork out of your time in the backcountry. From tour planning to route selection, terrain management, avalanche safety, and gear knowledge, your guide’s expertise and backcountry experience will ensure you have an unforgettable ski touring adventure.

It doesn’t matter your skill level, whether you’ve never backcountry skied or you’re seasoned on the slopes, skiing with a guide has its advantages. Your techniques will sharpen, you’ll learn how to navigate terrain safely, make smart decisions, and most of all, you’ll remain safe in unfamiliar terrain.

With us, it’s all play and no work for you! 57hours is an open platform that connects you with trained and certified outdoor adventure professionals all over the world. Using our tech-savvy, we make it super easy to find and book adventures worth tackling, with guides worth booking, all gathered from the first-hand experiences of the locals who adventure in these amazing locations.

The Journeyman Lodge can accommodate up to 24 guests at a time, subject to availability. All pricing is per person. A $600 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking.

• Everybody over the age of 18 is welcome to book this backcountry skiing adventure.
• Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis. If you plan to ski with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Mitigating avalanche risk is paramount for any excursion in the backcountry — that’s why it’s best to tour with a guide! Rest assured, your guide will set objectives that are attainable for the weather conditions on that particular day. Of course, inclement weather can always get in the way of backcountry skiing, but your guide will know the best course of action to take if the weather takes a turn.

On the rare occasion of truly bad weather, your guide will present you with suitable, safe alternatives. The most common practice is to move to a nearby location if it exists, or to reschedule your backcountry ski tour to a more favorable day.

If backcountry skiing is not possible on your scheduled day and no options presented are viable, you will be issued a full refund.

We highly recommended that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.

As we’ve recently seen, travel plans can be abruptly halted, so it’s a good idea to purchase travel insurance that covers cancelled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans. For peace of mind, we suggest you consider both options of insurance.

If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

With 57hours, you benefit from both our own cancellation policy as well as that of the individual guiding service that delivers your adventure. All policies regarding cancellation will be clearly laid out by your guide after booking your adventure, but rest assured that our own cancellation policy will work on top of what is provided by your guide.

For this adventure, 57hours offers a Moderate Cancellation Policy, which states:
If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund. For cancellations fourteen (14) to twenty nine (29) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking. For cancellations zero (0) to thirteen (13) days in advance, the Client is not entitled to any refund.

For more information on terms and conditions, please visit our Terms of Service page.

To get to the Journeyman Lodge, most people fly into Vancouver International Airport. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service the 1.5 hours north to Whistler.

The meeting point for the tour is Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures at #4 Callaghan Valley Road, Whistler, BC. From there, a snowcat will transfer you to the lodge where you will spend the next four days.