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Sorcerer Lodge

A magical name that conjures up all manner of mystical images. Set in heart of some of the most stunning backcountry scenery  in the world, this is a powderhounds playground!

The Lodge: Sorcerer Lodge has been up and running for over 20 years, with their customers skiing hard and having fun in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. This comfortable, remote backcountry lodge is located in the Selkirk mountain range of British Columbia Canada near the northern boundary of Glacier National Park.

Accommodation Details: The lodge is three stories high. The first floor has a drying room with a propane heater, a self contained and fully-equipped kitchen, a living/sitting room, sun room and dining area. A large deck outside is perfect for beer and a BBQ on those sunny spring afternoons. The lodge is warmed by a wood stove in the sitting room, and mainly uses solar power for lighting. The second floor has four separate bedrooms and the loft is a rather funky area with lots of room, and several semi-private sleeping quarters for people who might like their own space. 16 – 18 people are comfortable in the lodge. A wood heated sauna, complete with changing room is in a separate building.

Activities and Terrain: Sorcerer is first and foremost a ski touring destination. A reputation built off the back of being located in the heart of some of the best snow conditions on the planet. The terrain is challenging, heavily glaciated and definitely not for beginners. Previous experience ski touring is recommended, but you can come in on split boards, tele skis or alpine touring – they’re all good ways to go up and down the mountains! For the descent, enjoy wide open glacier runs, bowls and excellent tree skiing on the snowy days. If you’re a true powder hound, any time up until mid April is a good bet. If you want to get up the big peaks, like long sunny days and margaritas on the deck, come in late April or May.

Guide Price: Both self guided group packages and full service trips available. Check out the website for prices and availability

How to get there: Access to Sorcerer is by helicopter only. We stage from Heather Mountain Lodge, on the Trans Canada Highway, 55 km west of Golden, BC. Calgary International is the closest airport, about a 3 hour drive from Golden. The Greyhound bus leaves Golden and Calgary 4 times daily. Do not book airline flights for the day you fly out of the lodge as weather and helicopters tend to make timing unpredictable.

Get in touch to find out more details and be put directly in touch with this outstanding backcountry lodge.

Battle Abbey – Canadian backcountry lodge

A backcountry mountaineering hut, built in 1978 and set in the heart of the Selkirk Mountains. Over the years it has evolved into an eclectic skiers’ paradise. Imagine a remote, rugged valley enclosed by majestic glaciated peaks. High on a forested shoulder, at the foot of one of the glaciers, there is a comfortable back country lodge. Surrounding the lodge, nothing but peaks, sky and a deep valley to the north. Endless runs to ski and places to enjoy. Its a private mountain playground.

The Lodge: Over the years it has evolved into an eclectic skiers’ paradise. Imagine a remote, rugged valley enclosed by majestic glaciated peaks. High on a forested shoulder, at the foot of one of the glaciers, there is a comfortable back country lodge. Surrounding the lodge, nothing but peaks, sky and a deep valley to the north. Endless runs to ski and places to enjoy. Its a private mountain playground.

Accommodation Details:The lodge has 5 guest rooms for 14 guests and is staffed by a cook, custodian and two ACMG certified guides.  Down comforters, bedding and towels are provided. There are two bathrooms, the downstairs bathroom has a woodstove and a shower and the upstairs bathroom is adjacent to the bedrooms.  The lodge is heated by two wood stoves and there is a new propane range for cooking, refrigeration is provided, for free, by the great outdoors!

Activities and Terrain:   Supreme Selkirk Powder and great ski terrain is on offer.  600 vertical meters of beginner to advanced tree skiing below the lodge and a full variety of alpine bowls, glaciers, ski peaks and great tree skiing in the 37.6 square kilometre area.  The runs are up to 1500 vertical meters.  Skiers should be strong intermediate to advanced to fully enjoy the  terrain.

Guide Price: $2100 plus tax per person per week including transfers from Golden, BC

How to get there: The hut is accessed by a 15 minute helicopter flight from Golden, BC

Get in touch to find out more details and be put directly in touch with this outstanding backcountry lodge.

Zinal Freeride Powder Tour

Zinal - Set beneath the ‘Imperial Crown’ of five 4000m peaks – Bishorn, Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Obergabelhorn, Dent Blanche – and with the Matterhorn looming just beyond, this is still one of the wilder regions in the Alps.  With a relatively small lift system and mainly intermediate slopes, this resort doesn’t attract many visitors each year. This makes it perfect, as it has a huge dedicated freeride area and the chances are you’ll be riding fresh lines for the entire week!

Flights and Transfers: Flights from the UK into Geneva airport, from there it is approximately a 2 hr transfer up into the resort via taxi.

The Lodge:  Staying in the comfortable Chalet Edelweiss, run by British ex-pats Eric and Penny, this will be the perfect base for your freeride adventure. The chalet is warm and comfortable, each room is furnished with local antiques, reclaimed timbers and original oak and pine floors that add to the character. It has 4 rooms in total and can sleep 8 people. The chalet is run on a fully catered basis, for one night of your stay you will eat out in one of the local restaurants. Penny or Eric would be more than happy to suggest and book a suitable location for you.

Itinerary: Extensive, varied terrain, big vertical drops, north and east facing slopes and a good snow record combine with the essential and hard-to-find ingredient – no crowds! Throughout the season, even days after the last snowfall, you can find untracked snow. Your local guide will take you to some of the best spots in the area and ensure you get the most out of your stay. Be it one or two days to get a feel for the terrain, or book them for the whole week and be treated to a unique freeride experience that few get to enjoy.

Guide price:  Based on 2 people for 7 nights around £1200 per person and includes:

• 7 nights lodging
• Breakfast every day
• Tea and cakes on 6 afternoons
• 4 course evening meal
• Wine, beer & softdrinks throughout the evening
• Tea and coffee whenever you want
• Free internet & wifi access
• Linen and towels
• Piste orientation
• Tourist tax
• Return private transfers to Geneva Airport
• A private guide is around chf 500 per day for up to 3 people.

Get in touch to find out more and to be introduced to the local suppliers.

Ultimate Hokkaido Backcountry Tour

If you’re looking to truly get off the beaten path, into Hokkaido’s legendary backcountry and to the top of the island’s most spectacular volcanoes, this is the trip for you. More backcountry powder than any other of our Japanese tours, this si aimed at those of you who are really looking for backcountry, not sidecountry, but true authentic backcountry! Having said that, we’ve still got a few resort based days to make sure we lap up our fill of lift accessed powder (particularly for stormy, low visibility days) but as soon as the sun creeps out we’ll be headed for the nearest summit!

Flights and Transfers: Fly into Chitose airport, these generally go via a quick stopover in Narita, Tokyo. From Chitose airport you will be collected and via bus and transferred up to Niseko where your hosts will receive you. Transfer time – 2hrs 30mins roughly

The Lodge: Throughout the trip you will stay in a combination of different lodges, all of them comfortable and full of stoke for powder touring. The accommodation will mainly be westernised and of a 3 star standard. There are options to tweak this element or try out Japanese style accommodation as well.

Itinerary: For the following 4 days your wasabi guide will treat you to some of the best shredding possible. Get ready to test your ski and snowboard skills to the max as you explore the Niseko back bowls and Mount Shiribetsu backcountry. You will then get to enjoy an unguided days in Rusutsu before being transferred to Sapporo. From here you will explore the plentiful Sapporo Kokusai off-piste and Yoichi-dake backcountry. The next few days will take you across Hokkaido to Kurodake, Asahidake and Tokachidake. The actual itinerary will depend on the weather, your guide will keep you updated on conditions daily on these! As an added bonus, if a bluebird day comes along, you may even make an attempt on the Fuji of the of the North – Mount Yotei!

N.B. Although prior backcountry experience is not necessary for this trip, reasonable physhical fitness and a desire to earn your turns is essential!

Guide price: Prices based on 6 people start from £2,395 per person and includes:

• 5 days Lift Tickets (provided on guided days only)
• 10 nights twin share accommodation on bed and breakfast
• 7 guided ski days
• all transfers transportation within Hokkaido
• All avalanche safety gear for the duration
• Trip of a lifetime

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

untracked, unforgettable – backcountry boarding in Colorado

With your board strapped to your back and snowshoes on your feet, head out into the backcountry of Telluride resort with your local wasabi guide for a few days of extreme deep powder boarding action. Based amongst the majestic San Juan mountain range, in the south west of Colorado you will find acres of untracked fresh powder, both in-bounds and out-bounds, to provide hours of thigh burning pleasure. Away from the crowds, in a beautiful box canyon and with plenty of riding options to keep you entertained all week long, this is the very best of Stateside backcountry boarding adventures!

Flights and Transfers: Flights from the UK into Montrose airport have 1 stopover in a major US city. From there it is a short 1hr transfer up into the resort town.

The Lodge: Stay is Telluride’s newest, oldest lodgings! Originally built during the town’s historic mining days back in 1891, and recently having undergone a full upgrade and transformation, your stay in Telluride will be at a place steeped in history. It is also extremely conveniently located in the heart of the resort town,  just two blocks from the ski lifts and in the thick of the action for the evening entertainment. The bar may be the oldest in town, but don’t worry the rooms are not. Each room has been beautifully restored  and “mod-cons” added in with flat screens and internet access throughout.

Itinerary: From a base in the town you are just a short walk from the gondola which will whisk you up away from the resort, via the mountain village, and then into the wide open expanses beyond. With 2000+ acres to explore and a vertical descent of 1,200 or so metres, you will not run out of places to ride. Enjoy a couple of days of exploring the resort on your own, head over to the Black Iron Bowl, Gold Hill Chutes and Palmyra Peak for some challenging in-bounds sidecountry riding. Many of the best lines are hike to terrain, so the freshies last that much longer. On day 3 your local wasabi guide will meet you at your hotel and from there you will head out beyond the resort boundaries, into the wild mountain terrain for the ultimate in deep powder riding adventures. With an intimate knowledge of the local area and mountains, you will spend the next 3 days exploring the very best the Telluride backcountry can offer. These tours aren’t for the faint hearted, expect to hike for at least 1 1/2 hrs to reap the rewards!

Guide price:  Based on 4 people for 8 nights start from £1639 per person and includes:

• 8 nights lodging
• 3 days guided backcountry riding
• 7 day lift pass
• Return shared transfers to Montrose Airport
• Equipment hire for the duration (backcountry equipment extra)

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip