Winterstoke Backcountry Festival

Journeyman Lodge 3 days skills overnight

December 8 – 10, 2023 – BOOK NOW

Using the remote Journeyman Lodge as a home base, this fully guided and catered ski touring package has it all: amazing skiing, great food, and luxurious accommodation! The Journeyman Lodge is found in the heart of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, deep in the Upper Callaghan Basin at 4,500′ (1,370m) above sea level. Accessed by Snowcat, it offers many of the comforts of home in a pristine skiers paradise including great family-style meals, a warm lodge, and a wood-fired sauna.

The Skiing:
With 3,500 Hectares of amazing skiing just outside the door, the Callaghan has limitless potential. From majestic old-growth forests to high alpine glaciers there’s great skiing for every ability and fitness level. Each day after breakfast skis are put on at the front door and you will follow your ACMG-certified guides into the mountains. With 2 guides there will be options for longer or shorter days depending on fitness and how people are feeling.

The Accommodation:
Journeyman Lodge has a number of different rooms available:

• Nook Queen: Very cozy (small) room with a queen bed
• Nook Twin: Very cozy (small) room with two twin beds
• Standard Queen: Nice room with a view and a queen bed
• Standard Twin: Nice room with a view and two twin beds
• Superior Room: Nice room with a small balcony and ensuite and a queen bed

CPR Certificate + Companion rescue

December 8, 2023 – BOOK NOW

Join us for a full day of rescue practice. In the morning, we will go over how to use modern avalanche transceivers, 1:1 rescue techniques, searching for multiple burials, as well as modern probing and shoveling techniques.

After lunch, we will have a short classroom session discussing the latest research in resuscitation of patients post burial, and will complete a full CPR-C certification course from the Lifesaving Society. We will then return to the field to put these skills into practice in real time, finishing with learning how to properly package an injured patient.

Women Lead - Intro to Touring

December 7, 2023 – BOOK NOW

Learn the basics of planning for and going out for your first backcountry ski tour alongside a like-minded group. This will be a full day of fun exploring the backcountry.

AST 1 Refresher

December 7, 2023 – BOOK NOW

Refresh the skills you learned in the AST 1 course all those years ago. Go back to the foundational skills needed to spend time in the backcountry, understand avalanche formations, and proper backcountry travel.

Improve Your Backcountry Ski Skills

December 9, 2023 – SOLD OUT

You got the gear, going uphill is going well, now you just need to tighten up the skills for the down!  Spend the day learning and refining your skill skills from a CSIA coach. With a focus on skiing powder snow.  The best type of snow.

Companion Rescue

December 8, 2023

December 10, 2023

Focusing on the essential skills that a backcountry user needs to search, dig, and rescue an avalanche victim. 

Perfect early season refresh for anyone who has taken their AST 1, 2 and is looking to get back into the groove for the winter.

 

 

Guided Backcountry Tour (Whistler / Blackcomb)

December 7 , 2023

December 8, 2023

December 9, 2023

December 10, 2023

The backyard! And how good it is. Spend the day touring around the Whistler or Blackcomb Backcountry with a guide, learning their secret spots, gaining some snow knowledge and getting some runs in.

Crevasse Rescue

December 7, 2023

December 9, 2023

Just what to do if someone falls into a crevasse. This clinic will teach the principles of crevasse rescue in the ski and mountaineering setting.  We will focus on lightweight rope kits as well as conventional systems. 

Advanced Avalanche Skills

December 7, 2023 – BOOK NOW

Expand your knowledge of snowpack assessment and snow tests, and learn how to apply that information to your ski line selection. This clinic serves to help skiers use advanced snow observations to strengthen their decision-making in avalanche terrain.

Navigation and Trip Planning

December 7, 2023 – BOOK NOW

Believe it or not, South Coast touring FB page isn’t the only place to get beta on where to ski! Learn how to read a map, examine terrain, and how weather moves through terrain to find the best zones. Most importantly: we’ll cover how to find your way around this terrain once you are in it.

Women Lead Advanced Touring

December 8, 2023 – BOOK NOW

Head out for a day in the backcountry with a  like-minded, experienced group to dial in your skills to build confidence in the backcountry. This clinic will be focused on a well-rounded approach to backcountry skiing/riding and provide students with the chance to receive feedback on their decision-making and movement through the mountains.

AST 2 Refresher

December 8, 2023 – BOOK NOW

Head out with a guide and a group of like-minded backcountry users to refresh what you learned in your AST 2 (or equivalent) before the start of the winter. Touch base on trip planning, snowpack assessment, and decision-making. As well check in on any new techniques introduced to the industry since your last course.

Ski/Split Mountaineering

December 9, 2023 – BOOK NOW

This clinic is for backcountry skiers and riders who want to spice up their backcountry adventures by covering more terrain and summiting peaks. Learn to approach common ski mountaineering challenges systematically. Hazard recognition and management, risk management, anchor building, rope descending and ascending, entering a couloir and complex glacier travel will be introduced. 

Women Lead Ski/Splitboard Mountaineering

December 7, 2023 – BOOK NOW

This clinic is for backcountry skiers and riders who want to spice up their backcountry adventures by covering more terrain and summiting peaks. Learn to approach common ski mountaineering challenges systematically. Hazard recognition and management, risk management, anchor building, rope descending and ascending, entering a couloir, and complex glacier travel will be introduced. 

Heli-assisted ski tour (Tantalus)

December 9, 2023 – SOLD OUT

Jump in the chopper for a quick flight out of Squamish into the untracked backcountry goods. Ski tour for a full day and return back to the valley with an afternoon pick up. Perfect to get the early season going up high.

Weather dependant – Tantalus Range

The trip is refunded if we are not able to fly due to weather or conditions.

Steep Skiing/Riding

December 10, 2023 – BOOK NOW

This clinic is for experienced skiers or boarders looking to push their riding to the next level in the backcountry. Our guides will lead you through hazard assessment, risk management, and line selection to ride big lines.