What We Do
Our trips are designed for intermediate to strong skiers with moderate fitness levels. Mountaineering skills are not required for most trips. Although it is beneficial to own your own equipment, rentals are available for most gear needed.
We offer the best rates in the industry for guided trips. We’re able to do this by keeping our overhead carbon footprint small. Feel free to call or email us with specific questions about the trips offered or a custom trip you might have in mind.
View PhotosRogers Pass, BC - Hut & Hotel Trips
Located in the Selkirk range about 45 minutes drive from golden BC. The ‘pass’ is known for its legendary deep powder and easy access. These mountains offer long runs that start in Glaciated alpine bowls and end very close to the car or hotel. There are numerous day tours and circuits we ski on these trips. We either stay at one of the backcountry huts that we ski into or at the Glacier Park Lodge that is accessible by car.
Along with great skiing these trips will give you the opportunity to work on your mountain skills. We can spend time on subjects such as terrain / snow-pack assessment, navigation and avalanche rescue.
Weekend Trips
2-Day / 2-Night Trip
| Dates | Status | Group Size & Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3-4 | partial |
Groups of 2: $395 / Person Groups of 3-6: $275 / Person |
|
| Dec 17-18 | booked | ||
| Jan 11-12 | booked | ||
| Jan 14-15 | booked | ||
| Jan 28-29 | partial | ||
| Feb 4-5 | open | ||
| Feb 6-7 | open | ||
| Mar 10-11 | partial | ||
Long-Weekend Trips
3-Day / 2-Night Trip
| Dates | Status | Group Size & Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2-4 | partial |
Groups of 2: $495 / Person Groups of 3-6: $375 / Person |
|
| Dec 16-18 | booked | ||
| Jan 13-15 | booked | ||
| Jan 27-29 | partial | ||
| Feb 3-5 | open | ||
| Mar 9-11 | Partial | ||
-Trips include guiding and hut or hotel accommodation (double occupancy). Group size- 2-6
* Discounts will be given to those not needing the first night accommodation on 2-day trips.
**We can provide the third nights accommodation at $55 per person on 3-day trips.
***Discounts are given for groups of 4 or more that you organize
View PhotosSlackcountry Shreddin' @ Kicking Horse Mountain
The Horse(as some locals refer) has some of the best easily accessed backcountry skiing in North America. And when stability is good it offers up the some of the raddest lines the dogtooth range has. From steep, sustained open runs up to 900 metres (3000ft) to more techical lines like off the canine tooth itself.We've been skiing this area for years and now we're offing it to you. You can now ski these same lines safely with a guide staying ahead of the pack(of other skiers) one run after another. And after a full day of charging hard you'll have the all the amenities of the resort to kick back with. Good restaurants, plush accommodations and great pubs filled with a a fun international aprés ski crowd.
We recommend you book this trip exclusively with your friends to maintain the highest level of compatibility. Like heli-skiing, the pace (and level of terrain skied) of the day entirely depends on the other people you're skiing with. And for this reason we also keep the client to guide ratio small(4:1) for maximum fun.
| Dates | Status | Pricing Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31-Jan 1 | open | $225 |
| Jan 21-22 | open | $225 |
| Feb 2 | open | $125 |
| Feb 6 | booked | $125 |
| Feb 17 | booked | $125 |
| Mar 9-11 | partial | $300 |
| Mar 17-18 | open | $225 |
*pricing includes guiding only. Private guiding available(1:1 ratio) at a rate of $300 per day.
BlueBird Mountain Sessions:
Backcountry skiing workshop @ Rogers Pass.
This workshop is designed for experienced backcountry skiers who have already taken a traditional avalanche course. Your time in the mountains on this trip will be spent moving through a lot of terrain collecting snowpack observations on the go. You will learn the techniques used by guides to quickly assess snowpack stability and using terrain subtleties to navigate though avalanche terrain safely and efficiently. We will cover topics such as: advanced avalanche rescue, movement skills ( (ie. track-setting), snowpack/terrain assessment, and risk management. You will learn how to take the info you get from a snow pit and apply it to the terrain you want to ski. And as a small group(max 4:1), everyone will have the opportunity to lead the group (optional) through the mountains using your new skill set. Although there is no replacement for experience gained through mileage, these tools you will take with you from this workshop will better position you to building something we call mountain sense. Along with this, you will also take home a new level of confidence in decision making.
| Dates | Status | Group Size & Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 15-18 (4 days) | booked | Groups 2-4: $495 / Person |
| Dec 29-31 (3 days) | partial | Groups 2-4: $395 / Person |
| Jan 6-8 (3 days) | partial | Groups 2-4: $395 / Person |
| Jan 24-26 (3 days) | open | Groups 2-4: $395 / Person |
-Trips include instruction, hut or hotel accommodation(double occupancy).
View Photos
Bugaboos to Rogers Pass Ski Traverse
We have redesigned this legendary traverse in the spring of 2011 when we skied it wearing light overnight packs(40 litre). Typically it's skied carrying huge packs over the course of 8-11 days. We achieved this by carefully planning our logistics, strategically placing our food/fuel caches and having apprentice guides carry the group gear. This allowed us to take full advantage of the many ski descents and mountaineering opportunities along the route plus it makes the trip possible for skiers that aren't able to carry heavy packs.
With last years success we have decided to run this trip again in April 2012. The group will spend 10 days traversing through some of Canada's most impressive mountains laying down long ski descents along the way. Our nights are spent eating great food staying either in tent camps or huts recharging for the next day. Click the photo tab to get a taste of what this trip looks like.
So if you have ever dreamed of doing this traverse but thought it would be too difficult we have now made it possible for just about anyone with a good fitness level and skiing ability. Please contact us for detailed information.
View Photos
Wapta Traverse Ski Mountaineering
The wapta traverse has been referred to as the Canadian version of the classic European haute route. Located on the wapta icefields in Banff and Yoho National Parks, it’s hut-to-hut based so it’s within the range of just about any skier who doesn’t want to shoulder a really big pack and sleep in a tent. The traverse is about 45 km long so you can expect to travel 4-8 hours and climb up to 600 metres (2000ft) per day. We will also climb and ski the surrounding peaks on the layover days or you can take a rest day if preferred.
Also, one thing that we do differently on this trip(as compared to other companies) is we have porters carry food/fuel into the Bow Hut(half way) for us to pick up so that we get to ski with much lighter packs. Another popular option has been having a porter ski along with us from hut-to-hut lightening our packs to near day-pack size making for a uncomparable skiing experience .
This trip is a great introduction into ski mountaineering and a stepping-stone to bigger traverses.
| Dates | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| April 19th-23rd | 6-Day / 5-Night Trip | $975 / Person |
* Discount given to ACC (Alpine Club of Canada) members.
View Photos
BlueBird Mountain Sessions:
Mount Columbia Ski Mountaineering
The Columbia icefields is located off the Icefield Parkway between Banff and Jasper National Parks. There are a few Peaks to climb in this zone but mount Columbia remains the prize. It’s the highest peak in Alberta at 3747 metres (12 293 ft).
We will spend 3 days and 2 nights based out of a tent camp on the icefield. There are a lot of ski mountaineering skills to be learned and we will cover most of them. Some topics include: winter camping skills, equipment, movement skills, hazard recognition and avoidance, and technical systems. You will also learn how build a solid winter camp, travel on glaciers, map with compass and altimeter use, whiteout navigation, different techniques for climbing with crampons, belaying, anchor building, rappelling, lowering and all aspects of crevasse rescue.
Prior climbing or ski mountaineering experience is not required to join this trip.| Dates | Duration | Group Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4-6 | 3-Day / 2-Night Trip | 2 - 5 | $395/ Person |
-Trips include instruction, morning/evening meals, huts/tents, group gear and transport to trailhead if required. Group Size: 2-5
View PhotosLodge Trips
We have a few spaces open on a Mistaya Lodge trip March 25th-April 1st. Trip cost(all inclusive) is $1795. Email us for more info if you're interested in joining us for an epic week of ski touring at this amazing lodge.
We also have some spaces available at Fairy Meadow Hut April 28th-May 5th. Trip cost(all inclusive) is $1700. Contact us if you're interested in this trip.
If you are part of a small or large group and looking for a week long lodge trip we can make it happen. There are many lodges to choose from so contact us (with your group size and week preferred) and we'll let you know where we can take you for an unforgettable ski holiday. Typical lodge trips run $1800 to $2200 pp for a fully catered week.