Fortress Mountain is entering a defining chapter — and this time, the conversation isn’t just about snow, lifts, or reopening timelines. It’s about the long-term future of one of Alberta’s most storied alpine landscapes. With new Canadian partners Ridge North America and Western Securities now formally involved, and the project designated under Alberta’s All Season …
Read more Fortress Mountain Asks Albertans to Speak Up
Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger has added another bold line to her already formidable ski mountaineering résumé, claiming the first ski descent of the North Glacier on Deltaform Mountain alongside Guillaume Pierrel and Brette Harrington. The 11,234-foot peak rises above Moraine Lake in Banff National Park’s iconic Valley of the Ten Peaks — terrain that once graced …
Read more Lusti Bags First Descent of Deltaform Mountain’s North Glacier
Castle Mountain has officially opened the Stagecoach Express, the area’s first high-speed chairlift, marking a significant infrastructure milestone as the independent Alberta ski hill celebrates its 60th season. The lift — formerly the Angel Express at Sunshine Village in Banff — arrived at Castle in the summer of 2024 and has since undergone a full …
Read more Castle Mountain Opens Stagecoach Express, Expands Haig Bowl Access
The Persisting Surface Hoar Layer from January remains an avalanche concern across Western Canada, and recent field observations show it is still producing skier-triggered avalanches. On Wednesday evening, Mark Klassen, ACMG, shared a field report from the Yoho zone after skiing Coat Tail Right off the Top Hat. “The upper run skied well with no …
Read more The Persisting Surface Hoar Layer from January Remains Avalanche Concern
Kootenay Backcountry Guides recently ran its first-ever Cat-Assisted Touring trip in partnership with White Grizzly Cat Skiing, delivering exactly the experience the format promises: quiet mountains, deep snow, and human-powered skiing in serious terrain. Guests and guides alike came away impressed by how seamlessly efficiency, remoteness, and authenticity blended over the three-day trip. What exactly …
Read more Cat-Assisted Touring in the Selkirks: Kootenay Backcountry Guides x White Grizzly
Surface hoar frost formed during recent high-pressure weather is about to become a serious avalanche problem as a series of potent storms moves into Western Canada, with Avalanche Canada forecasters urging backcountry users to dial back exposure to avalanche terrain. The combination of new snowfall, mild temperatures, and strong winds is poised to rapidly increase …
Read more Surface Hoar Frost From High Pressure Is About to Get Loaded
The Backcountry SOS Myth is the quiet, dangerous idea that carrying a satellite messenger guarantees fast rescue when something goes wrong in the mountains. Satellite messengers have changed how we recreate. They’re lighter, cheaper, and more common than ever. Push a button, send your coordinates, help is on the way—or at least that’s the comfort …
Read more The Backcountry SOS Myth: Why Search and Rescue Isn’t Instant
This January in British Columbia has been shaped by one dominant feature: a stubborn high-pressure system that settled in and refused to move. Instead of Pacific storms rolling ashore, the jet stream flattened, precipitation shut down, and much of the province sat under clear skies and temperature inversions. Snow didn’t tease or miss a forecast …
Read more BC’s January Snow Drought, Japow Temptation — and Why I Stayed Home
Intuition Liners remain one of the most practical upgrades skiers and snowboarders can make—and after 50 years on snow, I can say this with confidence. Feet change. Ankles change. Circulation changes. What hasn’t changed is the simple truth that cold, ill-fitting boots ruin good days. This season, after freezing my toes, I rediscovered Intuition liners …
Read more Intuition Liners: A Canadian Boot Upgrade That Actually Works
Canada is having a great winter — it’s snowing right across the country, from the Powder Highway and the Rockies to the Coast, Québec, and the Maritimes. Cold temperatures, frequent storm cycles, and strong snowmaking conditions have combined to deliver reliable coverage and excellent skiing in multiple regions at once. It’s not a one-off or …
Read more Canada Is Having a Great Winter
High on the doorstep of Mount Robson, a new chapter in Canadian backcountry history is nearly complete. The Robson Pass (Byron Caldwell) Hut—built by the Alpine Club of Canada—is entering its final stretch, and for a limited time, the outdoor community has a rare opportunity to leave a personal mark on one of the country’s …
Read more Be Part of History: Naming Opportunities at the Robson Pass Hut
Consolidation is afoot in B.C.’s backcountry-tourism world, and it’s a powder-friendly one. Whitecap Alpine Adventures has acquired Coast Range Heli-Skiing, Tyax Adventures, and select government licences from Blackcomb Helicopters, purchasing the company’s entire tourism division for an undisclosed amount. The deal adds serious terrain to Whitecap’s portfolio. Coast Range Heli-Skiing brings private and small-group ski …
Read more Whitecap Alpine Adventures Makes Major Backcountry Acquisition
