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Heli-Accessed Backcountry Skiing at Valhalla Mountain Lodge

British Columbia’s snowbelt is ideal for backcountry skiing with some weeks seeing over 140cm of snowfall, making it one of the areas with the best skiing in the world! Experience a helicopter ride on the way to the cozy Valhalla Mountain Lodge, and have fun in the ten skiable basins just a short ski from the front door, with terrain for any style of skiers — those looking for cruisy mellow runs to those going for extreme descents. The lodge offers a homely feel, and nice and warm rooms after a long day of skiing in deep Valhalla powder. Relax in the cedar log sauna, enjoy apres ski snacks and drinks and meals made by your in-house chef!

Adventure highlights

  • Ten skiable basins with cruisy mellow runs and extreme descents
  • Top Kootenays destination for ski enthusiasts since 1987
  • Intermediate and expert skiers will find enough runs here to fill a lifetime
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Itinerary

Let experienced guides show you the best terrain in the Kootenays! Explore the terrain and the best ski slopes, try out tree skiing or simply enjoy the fresh powder and solitude of the Valhalla Mountains in the eponymous Provincial Park. Incredible terrain combined with epic snowfall and perfect temperatures results in nothing short of heavenly conditions! After a full day of enjoying deep powder, return to your luxurious and warm lodge for some recovering time in its cedar log sauna. Experience the perfect combo of adventure and relaxation, and make the most of your week on Kootenay pow!

  • On Saturday morning, you’ll meet with your guides at 7 AM and head to the staging area. Then, it’s a helicopter ride to the mountain lodge, where you’ll get situated and have a safety briefing before heading out for your first day of ski touring in the Valhalla Mountain area. With miles upon miles of terrain, there will be plenty to explore over the coming week.

  • Be prepared to spend whole days out with the group. The guides will make every effort to accommodate each member, but also try to set a pace and choose objectives that work for the whole group. Try to make an effort to accommodate the group’s needs and be as organized and punctual as possible. It’s best if everyone can get out the door on time and have a smooth day of touring the Valhalla Mountain slopes.

    You will spend the next five days touring the surrounding Valhalla Mountain backcountry terrain. Your days will be customized to match the skill level and objectives of your group. Depending on the objectives, your days may start earlier and end later, but they will generally look like this:

    You’ll wake up at 7:30 AM, have breakfast and get ready. Gear up, go over safety considerations, put on your climbing skins, and climb above the hut to the agreed-upon location. You’ll explore new terrain or revisit favorite runs from previous outings. Depending on the group, you will ski between 1,100 and 1,500 meters per day. At 11 AM, you should be at the skiing location for the day, where you’ll spend the day shredding powder and stopping for lunch and breaks as needed. Your guide will plan each day according to the weather and avalanche conditions in the backcountry, as well as the group’s wishes and goals for the day.

    As the sun starts to set around 5 PM, you’ll go back to your lodge for a gourmet dinner prepared by a professional chef. Depending on the lodge, you could steam in the sauna, do some yoga, or just warm up next to the fireplace while admiring the starry sky from the deck. Enjoy your favorite beverage, discuss goals for the next day, get to know your group, and retreat to your bedroom for some well-deserved rest.

  • After breakfast, pack up your gear and prepare for a helicopter ride back to the staging area, where your cars will be waiting. Say farewell to British Columbia and head back to civilization.

    Not still ready to say goodbye to British Columbia? Check out some of our hand-curated backcountry ski huts in BC to satisfy your powder skiing lust!

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Meet your guides

Tom Wolfe
5.00
Tom Wolfe
IFMGA/ACMG Certified Guide
Tom Wolfe is an ACMG/IFMGA-certified mountain guide who’s been guiding since moving to Canmore in 1995, the place he calls home. His winters consist of a mix of ski guiding at lodges, heli-ski operations, and remote backcountry destinations throughout western Canada. During the warmer months, Tom spends his days on water. He is a certified Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor and Wilderness Canoe Guide.
Sawback Alpine Adventures
5.00
Sawback Alpine Adventures
Sawback Alpine Adventures
Sawback was founded by Tom Wolfe in 1995, running mountain hiking trips for groups. Since then they have expanded programming to offer just about any mountaineering adventure you could imagine. Tom is an IFMGA Mountain Guide and a member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Sawback trips are guided by owner/operator Tom Wolfe along with a staff of certified IFMGA and ACMG guides.
5.00 (5 reviews)
Excellent guiding and trip management
Dennis J. (source: Google Reviews)

I enjoyed a backcountry ski trip to Valhalla Mtn Lodge in late February of 2018. Excellent guiding and trip management by Tom (and Lila). I’ll be doing more ski trips with Tom in the upcoming winters.

Epic powder every day!
Amber M. (source: Google Reviews)

We had two amazing ski trips with Tom Wolfe of Sawback Alpine Adventures last winter – one on the Bow-Yoho Traverse where we spent a week crossing the ice fields and exploring the nearby glaciers and peaks and a second at Valhalla Mountain Touring where we skied epic powder every day for a week. I would highly recommend Sawback Alpine Adventures and am looking forward to next year’s ski trip with Tom!

Great job!
Marc F. (source: Google Reviews)

I’ve now spent 9 days in the mountains with Tom of Sawback Alpine Adventures. Tom is methodical in his snowpack analysis and does a great job of breaking down all the steps he takes to be safe. If you are keen on learning how to safely push your limits on snow, Tom does a great job on balancing safety and fun. My trips with him have always seemed to fully embrace the new slogan “send and return” where there is an equal amount of fun turns and exciting climbs as there are snowpack and weather observations.

Excellent customer service!
Marilyn F. (source: Google Reviews)

Tom, the guide, plus the assistant guides were so courteous and attentive to the needs, not only of myself, but of everyone in the group. Tom knows how to provide excellent customer service!

Adventure of a lifetime
Dean P. (source: Google Reviews)

My family and I had the adventure of a lifetime. It was an incredible experience and Sawback did an excellent job. We would highly recommend the trip and Tom to everyone.

Things to know

  • 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. You can view the detailed Valhalla Mountain Lodge COVID-19 Response Plan here.

    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 BC, please refer to the Government of British Columbia website.

    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
      • A full week of backcountry ski touring
      • Helicopter transportation to and from the lodge
      • Accommodation at Valhalla Mountain Lodge
      • An in-house chef and all meals at the lodge
      • Sauna

    What’s not included:

      • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
      • Trip insurance
      • Dinner at Arrow Lakes Tavern on Friday evening
      • Transportation to and from Nakusp and heli staging area
      • Accommodation in Nakusp
      • Alcoholic beverages
  • In order to enjoy this Valhalla Mountain guided backcountry adventure, you need to have a very good level of fitness. You will be skinning for a few hours every day and skiing in variable terrain. You must be able to manage controlled descents in challenging conditions and have the stamina to ski tour for multiple days in a row. All participants should be very experienced on groomers and be able to carry a loaded daypack.

  • This Valhalla Mountain ski touring adventure is reserved for solid intermediate to advanced skiers with previous experience in backcountry skiing. You should be happy with days in the 1300-1500 m range. Ski runs will be on average of intermediate difficulty but there will often be pitches of advanced difficulty as well as steeper tree runs and rugged alpine snow conditions involving hard and sastrugi surfaces. You have to be comfortable with multiple hours of skinning, steep descents, diving into deep powder and navigating between trees to fully enjoy the terrain. Days are customized to the experience level of the group, but backcountry experience is necessary.

    For those looking to take their first foray into backcountry skiing, there is plenty of terrain in the surrounding area to spend the day at with a private guide and learn the fundamentals of backcountry skiing.

  • Snow safety gear (can be rented):

      • Digital avalanche beacon with good batteries (and spares)
      • Shovel
      • Probe (2.4m or longer preferred)

    Ski touring gear (can be rented):

      • Skis or split board
      • Ski strap
      • Ski or snowboard boots
      • Poles
      • Climbing skins
      • Skin wax (or a candle)
      • Any binding repair items to fix your specific travel setup
      • Ski helmet (optional)

    Glacier gear:

      • Harness – fitted for over your ski clothing (Cilao, BD, Petzl and Camp make some good lightweight ski touring harnesses)
      • Locking carabiners (x2)
      • Non locking carabiners (x2)
      • 6mm by 5m prusik cord (optional)
      • 120cm sewn climbing sling (optional)

    Personal Items:

      • Wool or synthetic ski socks and liner socks
      • Long underwear top – synthetic or wool
      • Light fleece or wool sweater
      • Wind shell – nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type jacket
      • Waterproof breathable jacket (i.e. Gore-Tex)
      • Warm insulated jacket – down or synthetic
      • Long underwear bottoms – synthetic or wool
      • Multipurpose stretch nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type pants
      • Waterproof breathable pants (i.e. Gore-Tex)
      • Warm hat – wool or synthetic
      • 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
      • Handkerchief for blocking the sun (optional)
      • Ski pack (30-40 litres)
      • Sunglasses (having both orange and dark lenses helps for travel in all conditions)
      • Goggles (orange lenses)
      • Sunscreen and lip cream (SPF 30+)
      • Head lamp with good batteries
      • Insulated water bottle or thermos (1-2 L) (if you bring a hydration system bring a regular water bottle as a spare)
      • Lunch bag or container
      • Personal blister kit (i.e: Leukotape-P and Bandaid or Second Skin blister pads)
      • Pocket knife (optional)
      • Camera (optional)

    Hut gear:

      • 30-40 L small duffle bag for flying into the lodge
      • Shoes for inside the hut
      • Winter boots for travel around outside of the hut
      • Hut clothing
      • Towel for the shower
      • Personal medications and toiletries
      • Ear plugs
      • Reading material
      • Chargers for electronic devices (normal AC power is available for charging devices).

    Please Note: All bedding, pillows and duvets are supplied by the lodge

    Group Gear (supplied by the guides):

      • Altimeter
      • Map and compass
      • GPS
      • Snow study kit
      • Snow and/or bush saw
      • First aid kit
      • Emergency tarp
      • Emergency toboggan
      • Group repair kit
      • Radio & satellite phone or inReach device
      • Ropes for glacier travel

    Note: Make sure your equipment doesn’t weigh over 45 pounds per person. If you are over the allowable gear weight, the helicopter will have to make an extra flight. The cost for this is $400.00 CAD (cash only) and payable prior to the flight.

  • 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 ROAM
    • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from ROAM
    • Splitboards can be rented from ROAM

    Ski rental locations are in Nelson, BC, 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 pricing:

    • The Valhalla Mountain Lodge can accommodate up to 11 guests at a time with certified two backcountry guides leading groups on daily ski tours from the hut each day.
    • All pricing is per person.

    Min. age requirements:

    • 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.

  • Most people fly into Kelowna International Airport 3.5 hours away. From there, you need to rent a car to Nakusp, the meeting point for your Valhalla adventure.

    The evening before your Valhalla Mountain ski trip, you’ll have dinner with your guides at the Arrow Lakes Tavern at 6:30 pm on Saturday night. At that time, you’ll discuss the logistics of the next day in detail. 

    There’s plenty of options for an overnight stay in Nakusp. Here’s a few that we can recommend:

    On Saturday morning you must be present at Arrow Lakes Tavern for breakfast and a pre-trip meeting at 7:00 am sharp. During this meeting, your group will be given waivers to sign. The guides will guide you to the heli staging area, in nearby Burton, a 30-minute drive south of Nakusp on Highway 23. Your group is expected to be at the heli staging by 09:00 am. The guides will organize the helicopter logistics. Once you arrive at the lodge you will be given an orientation in regards to the use of the facilities.

  • A deposit of 50% of the total price is due with your booking unless otherwise indicated. Once your guide confirms your booking, your trip departure is guaranteed. Final payments are due 120 days before your trip starts.

    If you need to cancel a reservation, please do so in writing (best by e-mail). Once your booking is confirmed, you and Sawback Alpine Adventures enter into financial obligations and they cannot refund payments or release you from your contractual obligations. Therefore, it is highly recommended buying cancellation insurance to cover your losses for the case that you can’t participate or have to interrupt your trip “for any reason”.

    Sawback Alpine Adventures do reserve the right to change guides, particular lodging or the itinerary or venue should unforeseen circumstances (guide sickness, hut or route closing etc.) force them to do so or should the physical condition of the participants, weather or mountain conditions make a continuation as planned too risky. Sawback Alpine Adventures will not be deemed to be in default for any delay or failure to perform their obligations under this agreement resulting from acts of God, the elements, war, acts of government, civil or military authorities, natural calamities, catastrophe, fire, flood, accidents, epidemics, shortage of transportation, or any other like events beyond our reasonable control.

  • 57hours partners with Redpoint Travel Protection, offering you a fully integrated program with a single point of contact for all your needs, from emergency services to travel assistance and protection claims. We highly recommend purchasing a comprehensive protection policy from Redpoint, which will protect you both before and during your travels. Before your departure, your investment is protected by the trip cancellation benefit. Once you depart, your policy provides coverage for trip interruption, medical assistance and rescue, baggage loss, trip delay, and more. Once you complete booking with 57hours, we'll create bespoke quote for you (and your group), making sure you're fully protected for the adventure ahead.
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