For backcountry enthusiasts, the allure of untouched powder, quiet forests, and breathtaking mountain views is undeniable. However, with this pursuit comes the responsibility of traveling safely and sustainably in these pristine areas. That's where Kootenay Backcountry Guides' Track Setting 101 course comes in—an essential training for anyone looki...
Why This Season is Perfect for Your AST 2 Avalanche Course
Winter is here, and with a La Niña weather pattern in play, we have a great start to the season and we hope it continues. If you dream of making the most of this incredible winter, there's no better time to level up your backcountry skills with...
5 Reasons You Should Take the Lodge-Based AST 2 with Kootenay Backcountry Guides
If you're serious about backcountry skiing or snowboarding, mastering avalanche safety is non-negotiable. The Lodge-Based AST 2 course isn't just another class—it's an immersive experience that will boost your confidence, sharpen your decision-making...
10 Essential Steps to Prepare for Ski Touring Season
As the leaves change and temperatures drop, the anticipation of ski touring season and winter adventures grows. To make the most of your time on the slopes and in the backcountry, it's crucial to prepare ahead of time. From fine-tuning your fitness t...
Introducing the "Backcountry Insights Blog": Your Autumn Reading Companion
Ah, fall – the season of crisp mountain air and recent rainfall. It's a time when my thoughts inevitably turn to winter. I can imagine you, too, are deep in dreams of light, fluffy powder on pristine mountain slopes, eagerly anticipating that first s...
What is ski touring/splitboarding?
Ski touring is the ultimate way to experience the winter wilderness, combining the thrill of skiing with the freedom to explore untouched terrain. Unlike traditional resort skiing, where chairlifts take you to the top of the mountain, ski touring relies on your power to climb up slopes using special gear like climbing skins that attach to your skis...
Fall Hiking: Golden Glory and Crisp Air
Summer alpine flowers are beautiful, but have you seen valleys turn to gold? Fall hiking in the Kootenays is something that should be on every avid hiker's bucket list and this post highlights why. Golden Larches By mid-October (sometimes earlier), the larches turn a brilliant gold, creating a stunning contrast against the evergreen tre...
Leave No Trace Camping: 7 Principals of Leave No Trace Ethics
The last thing recreationalists want to do is love the backcountry to death. This means working together on preservation methods to ensure generations of hikers will get to experience the unique connections we can gain through travelling in remote wilderness. Camping in the backcountry offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature, f...
Looking for World-Class Hiking? Look No Further Than the Kootenays
The Kootenays offer some of the best hiking experiences in the world. With stunning landscapes, diverse trails, and pristine wilderness, it's a hiker's paradise. Whether you're seeking challenging ascents or leisurely strolls, our professional guides are here to make your adventure unforgettable. Here are four must-visit hiking locations in th...
Avalanche Formation and Release
In this video, our lead guide, Judson, gives you a taste of what you will learn in our AST 2 program. In this lesson, we use a catastrophic avalanche video to demonstrate how avalanches are formed and how they release. Are you looking to increase your confidence in the backcountry? Our courses are the best way to maximize your fun and safety ...
7 Ways Surface Hoar Contributes to Avalanches
I often refer to surface hoar as the enemy of backcountry skiers. Most avalanche deaths in the Columbia Mountains are caused by surface hoar. "Know thy enemy" is a saying to apply to surface hoar. This article helps you understand this beautiful but deadly crystal. Surface hoar refers to a type of frost crystal that forms on the surface of s...
Advanced Backcountry Navigation: My favorite backcountry navigation apps, and a shout out to the Old School
One of the greatest backcountry advancements occurred when the smartphone was equipped with GPS capabilities. This invention allowed backcountry users to place themselves on a map that was stored on their phones. Now many apps are competing with one another for backcountry navigation supremacy. I do not view any single app as "the one and only", ra...
Kootenay Backcountry Guides Is Hiring: Administrative Assistant
Are you an organized, adventure-loving individual with stellar administrative skills? KBG is hiring an Administrative Assistant to join our team. Reporting to the KBG owner, you'll focus on Customer Service, Communications, SM Management, and IT. Key Qualifiers: Organizational SkillsTimely Customer ServiceProfessional and Friendly Communicati...
This Is The Reason You Should Always Remember Your Map and Compass
In an era of dazzling technological advances, it's become all too easy to fall into the digital navigation trap. You know the scenario: you're gearing up for an epic backcountry skiing adventure, and your trusty smartphone, equipped with a fancy GPS app, is your designated guide. After all, why bother with archaic tools like maps and compasses when...
7 Human Biases in the Backcountry and How to Avoid Them
We all share common traits as backcountry skiers: a passion for powder, the thrill of adventure, and the challenges of navigating unpredictable terrain. But there's something else we all share—our humanity. Human biases are an inherent part of our decision-making process, and while some biases can serve us well, others can lead us astray. In the ba...
Accelerate Your Backcountry Skills With The Scientific Method
I have been teaching Avalanche Safety Courses for over a decade. I stumbled upon this process several years ago, which always resonates with students. Why not use the scientific method to supercharge our learning? One of the most excellent tools humans have ever discovered can be applied to backcountry skiing! This isn't a way to make backcountry s...
This Is What A Guided Cycling Tour In The Kootenays Is All About
Cruising through stunning mountain passes, winding along the shores of pristine lakes, and conquering those epic climbs – the Kootenay region is a playground where road cyclists' dreams come to life. With charming waterfront towns, boutique hotels, and plenty of independent cafes and restaurants, the region is best savoured on two wheels. Discover ...
Book Early & Save For The 2023/2024 Season!
We hope everyone has been enjoying their summer adventures and holidays. With most of BC under a blanket of smoke, we can't help but think of those cooler temps and that Kootenay Coldsmoke blower pow. This newsletter encourages you to cash in on early-season savings, secure a spot on our Lodge-Based AST 2, get on the Wapta Traverse waitlist, claim ...
NOW OFFERING GUIDING BIKE TOURS
Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure that combines the exhilaration of cycling with the awe-inspiring beauty of the Kootenay region? Look no further! Kootenay Backcountry Guides has partnered with Kootenay Cycling Adventures, and we are thrilled to offer you an unforgettable cycling tour experience that will leave you breathl...
Collecting Free Info: #2 Talk To People
Welcome to our video series on collecting free information in the backcountry. What is free information? Free information is safe, easily accessible, and timely. #2 Talk To People, Keep Each Other Safe Communicating with others in the parking lots or on the trails can help guide your day and make it safer for everyone. Sharing your plans/routes wit...
Collecting Free Info #1 Know Before You Go
Welcome to our video series on collecting free information in the backcountry. What is free information? Free information is safe, easily accessible, and timely. #1 Know Before You Go Exploring the backcountry in the winter is a unique experience, however there are many things to consider before venturing out of bounds. All profes...
Collecting Free Information in the Backcountry: #1 Know Before You Go (Avalanche Canada)
Welcome to our video series on collecting free information in the backcountry. What is free information? Free information is safe, easily accessible, and timely. In this 1st video, we explain what free information is. Your backcountry tour begins from the comforts of your home before you step foot on the mountain. This is also the...
Snowpack Update - Jan 19 2023
STATE OF THE SNOWPACK UPDATE FOR WHITEWATER SKI RESORT Kutetl, Whitewater Ski Resort Backcountry Aspect: East Elevation 2140m FAT & LOW ANGLE That's probably going to be the theme for the season. We are avoiding shallow snowpacks, especially those over rocky/unsupported terrain, where these layers are closer to the surface ...
Snowpack Update Dec 31 2022
STATE OF THE SNOWPACK UPDATE FOR WEST ARM PROVINCIAL PARK Date: Dec 31 2022 Location: Evening Ridge, West Arm Provincial Park Elevation/Aspect: 1950m/West Sorry for the delay in getting this out - one of us has to take some time off - but back to our PSA! The persistent weak layers continue to be a persistent issue as they can still be ...
Snowpack Update - Deep Dive Dec 12 2022
STATE OF THE SNOWPACK UPDATE FOR THE WEST KOOTENAYS Date: December 12, 2022 Where: West Kootenay Boundary Judson dives deep into the snowpack to break down what the current state of our snowpack is and what is happening in the backcountry. This update covers: 00:00 Intro 00:52 Current Conditions 02:11 Avalanche Bulletin&...
Latest Snowpack Update - Deep Into The Snowpack
December 1, 2022 Today we break from field observations to give a general overview of the snowpack and avalanche conditions we are seeing. In this video we breakdown: The Avalanche Canada Bulletin in the North and South of the region. Snowpack depths for various locations and elevations.The layers we see in the snowpack and their distributionA deta...
Lastest Snowpack Update For Nov 30, 2022
STATE OF THE SNOWPACK UPDATE, IT IS DUMPING!! Date: November 30th, 2022 Where: Sliver King Ridge Aspect + Elevation: North/2000m Today we found excellent skiing on low-angle smooth slopes with true Kootenay Cold Smoke coming down. We went for a tour to the top of Silverking Ridge. The snowpack depth was highly variable depending on aspect and eleva...
Snowpack Update Nov 26, 2022
STATE OF THE SNOWPACK UPDATE FOR WHITEWATER SKI RESORT Date: November 26, 2022 Where: Whitewater Ski Resort Backcountry Aspect + Elevation: South/1800m This is an update to our Nov 24 snowpack update and wanted to highlight some exciting results we noticed. First Day of an AST-1 course. Good news/bad news: the riding was half decent but,...
Working In The Avalanche Path
Kootenay Backcountry Guides partners with Whitewater Ski Resort's Shoulder Series events to bring you Working In The Avalanche Path. Join us on the evening of Dec. 5th at The Bear & Sturgeon to learn what it is like to have a career in the avalanche path. From Guiding to Avalanche Education, Patrol, and Avalanche Technician Professional Fields....
Snowpack Update Nov 24, 2022
STATE OF THE SNOWPACK UPDATE FOR WHITEWATER SKI RESORT Date: November 24, 2022 Where: Whitewater Ski Resort Backcountry Aspect + Elevation: NW/1980m GOOD NEWS! The snowpack is building and backcountry skiers have been out skiing powder in areas of smooth ground cover. We are at a normal season average for snowpack depth between 70-100cm at Tr...
Decision-Making Tools - KBG 5 Rules Card
If you've taken a course with us you know how essential this card is! For those who haven't taken one of our courses, this is our decision-making cheat sheet. The decision-making process starts at home before you even leave the house. It starts with a gear checklist, then lists essential before-leaving-home reminders: Leave a trip planCheck the for...
B.A.S.E. DAY EVENT WITH ROAM SHOP
We are proud to announce Kootenay Backcountry Guide's partnership with ROAM Shop Nelson to bring you B.A.S.E. DAY! Backcountry Awareness Safety Education Day With summer officially over and the snow line making its way closer to town, we want to help you get stoked for this upcoming season. This FREE public event is all about safety ...
Traverse Tales
Join us for an evening of epic traverse tales! Within our little local community live some everyday legends. Meet Douglas Noblet and Alex Heathcott who share a similar passion for long walks in the mountains. Douglas will share his experience of skiing the entire length of the Canadian Monashee Mountains, and Alex will share his adventure of being ...
WE ARE HIRING!
Kootenay Backcountry Guides is hiring ACMG Ski Guides, Aspirant Ski Guides, and CAA professional members to join our team for the 2022-23 winter season. We seek enthusiastic individuals passionate about guiding and sharing their skill sets to enable our guests to access the backcountry confidently. WHO WE ARE Since 2016-17, Kooten...