Backcountry Wonderland: Earning your turns!
Springtime on the mountains throughout British Columbia means plenty of fluffy snow and extended daylight hours for exploration. While many skiers and snowboarders choose resorts to enjoy winter shredding, a growing number of adventure seekers are heading off into the backcountry to escape the crowds and enjoy the untouched powder snow.
Backcountry skiing is nothing new. In fact, it was the way skiers explored mountain terrain before the use of chairlifts, helicopters and snowcats. 
Dave Norona enjoys the deep powder snow at Sol Mountain
(Photo by Darryl Leniuk)Hinged strapped bindings and mohair ski bases allowed skiers to climb to the mountaintop and then ski down through the fresh snow. This telemark system became the norm for many years until the invention of the chairlift and hard alpine boots and bindings. However, the biggest advancement in backcountry skiing came when the alpine touring binding was perfected. This system allows you to release your heel and climb using skins. At the top of the hill the rear of the binding is locked down for traditional alpine skiing.
Now snowboarders can enjoy backcountry exploring as well, using a splitboard—a special board that splits in half to create two short fat skis for climbing. Special bindings also swivel, and with skins attached, a snowboarder can go anywhere efficiently.
Campbell Icefield Chalet in the Kootenays (Photo by Backcountry Lodges of BC)
Safety First
Skiing in the backcountry has its risks. Avalanches are a very real occurrence and the proper gear and knowledge is essential for your safety.
Anyone travelling into the backcountry should have taken a Level 1 Avalanche Skills Course and carry the essential avalanche equipment, which includes an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. If you’re new or unsure of your skills, then hiring a professional guide is the best way to ensure your safety and fun, as these guides know the area better than anyone else. It’s not a big expense. In fact, the services of a professional guide are included in the price of booking a privately owned touring lodge.
Instead of snowcat skiing or heli-skiing, many ski and snowboard enthusiasts now book huts high in the mountains where they can set up a base camp and cut fresh tracks all day long. Cabins are usually quite basic with nothing more than some bunks, a wood stove and toilet, but that is how many people like it. The provincial government owns most of these mountain cabins and charges a low nominal accommodation fee. Book in advance to ensure room – see www.env.gov.bc.ca for information.
Alpine touring enthusiasts can also book one of the many privately owned mountain cabins throughout BC. Guests are usually flown into these luxury cabins, which have all the comforts of a five-star resort complete with saunas, indoor flush toilets and a full-time chef. Simply wake up and enjoy a big breakfast before heading off for the day under the tutelage of a professional guide, who will show you the safest and best skiing in the area. At the end of the day you can retreat to your deluxe accommodations to enjoy a sauna, more delightful food and wine. It’s more reasonably priced than you might think—weeklong trips start out at around $1000 a week, per person.
Once you head off into the backcountry and enjoy the deep powder snow and silence of Mother Nature, you will be hooked. For more information on cabins throughout the province check out www.backcountrylodgesofbc.com and www.alpineclubofcanada.ca
