2024 Dates: March 16-23-SOLDOUT
Duration: 7 Days
Level: Expert
Client Ratio: 5:1
Cost: $3,300 TOTAL- $500 Deposit/the balance due Oct 15th
Included:
- Helicopter access from BC, with return flight,
- 7 nights accommodations at Powder Creek,Fully outfitted private rooms; Double & Triple occupancy;
- 7 days of guided ski touring (including the first exchange day) by certified AMGA/IFMGA guides
- Three healthy meals per day prepared by Nicco Muratore!
- Lodge facility with AC power, Sauna Hut with shower, indoor bathrooms & showers, drying room, duvets and sleeping linens
Not Included: Transportation to Nelson, personal equipment, alcohol(you may bring your own), gratuities
We are so psyched to change it up for everyone who went to the Boulder, Vista and Meadow Lodges to explore a new zone @Powder Creek Lodge! Legendary cold smoke of the Purcells in the comfort of the amazing lodge sitting under mind blowing terrain..
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- Home cooked meals featuring fresh meat, fresh vegetables and fresh fruit
- Wood heat
- Electric lights
- 2 person room sleeping accommodations with pillows, fresh linens and duvets
- Stretching area
- Indoor plumbing aka toilet(for pee)!
- Sauna with another shower!
ITINERARY
Group ability and interest will dictate how much each group is able to ski. Our terrain offers a wide variety of objectives including long alpine runs of 1500-2500’ or 1000-1500’ treed runs. We try to guide to the median skier in the group. If we have a significant difference in abilities, we split the group to accommodate different objectives. An average intermediate group can expect 4-5000 vertical feet a day which can be 3-5 runs. An average, strong keen expert group can get 5-7000’ vertical a day
On the morning of your departure for your trip to Powder Creek you’ll need to be in Nelson at the High Terrain hangar at 8:00 AM PST for the helicopter safety briefing. After the briefing, you’ll need to make your way to the Kaslo airport, a 70 km (44 mi) drive that takes approximately 1 hr. The first flight with guests from Kaslo will depart around 10:15 AM, and all guests should be at the lodge by around 11:30 AM (weather permitting). At the end of your trip you can expect to be back in the valley about noon (weather permitting). It is a very tight schedule so please be on time.
- Day 0 Arrive in Nelson in the afternoon, group meeting @6PM to meet and go over the trip and answer last minute questions.
- Day 1 8 AM-Assemble in Nelson at the High Terrain hangar. Check in and have a safety briefing you’ll need to make your way to the Kaslo airport, a 70 km (44 mi) drive that takes approximately 1 hr. The first flight with guests from Kaslo will depart around 10:15 AM, and all guests should be at the lodge by around 11:30 AM (weather permitting).
- Days 2-7 Eat a hearty breakfast and tour to your groups abilities and current snow conditions allow, 3-4,000′ per day. Eat, drink, sleep and repeat!
- Day 8 Pack up and return to Kaslo and head back home with great memories and new friends!
PACKING GUIDELINES-Powder Creek Rules so as to not pack extra weight.
Booze can be factored as a group or part of an individual’s gear
Everything and everybody will be weighed using a digital scale. Riders will be weighed dressed for skiing including helmet, each person’s duffle bag, day pack, skis and poles will be weighed up to a total of 50 lbs is allowed at no extra charge. Booze is to be packed in gear bag not with personal weight.
- Bring a paperback book (not hardcover)
- Preload your digital device with content
- Photocopy recipes or take a photo with your phone
- Anyone with excess freight will pay a surcharge of $5 / lb over limit
- Use duffle bags or soft backpack; no frame packs, suitcases or wheeled bags!
- All bags must have zippered or buckled closures
- Couples should have separate duffle bags – keep each to max 35 lb
- Remove skis from travel bags
- Bind skis and poles together via Voile Straps
- Split boards should be taken apart and binding off if possible
- Do not have items loosely attached to your backpack
- One set of skis or boards allowed per guest;
Our recommended clothing system has four layers.
- Base layer: manages moisture and wicks perspiration away from your skin. (Polypro, capilene, driclime)
- Softshell: should be a durable, comfortable, insulating and wind/water resistant layer that breathes well.
- Hard shell: windproof, waterproof and breathable. (e.g. Gore-Tex, or similar)
- Insulating layer: should be down-fill or synthetic-fill and fit over all layers. (e.g. down, primaloft or polarguard)
These four layers are usually sufficient for most people, but if you tend to be colder bring one extra medium-layer that would be ideal for extra warmth around camp, such as a vest. When deciding what to pack, remember to bring enough clothes and accessories to ensure your safety and comfort, while not over-burdening yourself with items you probably won’t use.
Ski Gear
- Skis or Splitboard. Skis should be equipped with alpine touring bindings or telemark bindings.
- Adjustable Ski Poles
- Alpine touring, telemark, snowboard boots
- Skins
- Avalanche Beacon This needs to be Triple Antenna 457 frequency.
- Shovel Small collapsible style.
- Avalanche Probe 265cm or longer
- Ski helmet * Optional-Adjustable, should fit with hat on
Upper Body
- 1 synthetic T-shirt
- 1 long sleeve Sun Hoodie or shirt Lightweight, light colored for sunny days
- 2 synthetic sports bras*(WOMEN)
- 1 soft shell jacket
- 1 Down/synthetic jacket with hood-medium insulation for temps down to -10 F/-20 C
- 1 Hard shell jacket with hood Waterproof and breathable. Gore-Tex or equivalent is best, roomy enough to fit over multiple layers.
- 1 pair lightweight gloves
- 1 pair warm gloves and/or mittens
- Warm hat Wool or synthetic
- Balaclava/Buff
- Shade hat or Visor
Lower Body
- 4 pair med- heavy wool/synthetic socks Check boot fit with liner and wool socks on
- 1-2 pair light or medium weight long underwear Polypropylene or Capilene
- 3-4 pairs of underwear boxers/briefs
- Shell pants (Soft & Hard) Waterproof/breathable with full side zips
Backpack
- Internal frame pack 2000-2500 cubic inch capacity able to carry snowboard/skis
Miscellaneous Equipment
- Goggles and Glacier glasses 100% UV protection with side shields or wrap around.
- Personal first aid repair kit Basics: moleskin/blister kit, Band-Aids, first-aid tape, ibuprofen, personal medications, spare parts for bindings and batteries etc.
- Lip balm At least SPF 20
- Sunscreen At least SPF 40
- Headlamp lightweight LED
- 2 1 Liter water bottles
- Toiletry kit
- Nylon stuff sacks For Lunch and pack organization
- Bandana
- Hand wipes
- 1 small stainless steel thermos (Optional)
- Favorite snack foods (no more than 2 pounds-lunch and snacks will be provided)
Hut Kit
- Casual clothing (cotton is fine) ie sweats, yogawear, & swimwear for sauna.
- Sandals or light runners for the lodge and trip to the sauna
- Prescriptions, medications
- Reading glasses
- Camera and chargers; digital device pre-loaded with games, music, books, films.
WHO WILL MY GUIDE (OR GUIDES) BE?
We are small company who enjoy working together in the mountains as well as highly skilled professionals who hold current Wilderness First Responder certification and are proficient in technical rescue and evacuation skills. Our guides are dedicated to the world of alpinism, many having first ascents and hold professional certifications with the AMGA in the rock, alpine, and ski disciplines. The AMGA is part of the IFMGA, which is the international body of certified mountain guides.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP MY GUIDES?
Tipping is considered standard practice in the guiding industry. Tipping amounts vary – so $20-30 per day per person/per guide is average that works well for the guides without a serious blow to your wallet. Often 10% of the course cost is a good rule-of-thumb. If you feel that the program was exceptional or substandard the tip can reflect that.
CAN I RENT EQUIPMENT FROM BCAG?
No, for these trips we strongly suggest to buy your equipment due to obscenely large rental costs for trip of this length.
HOW HEAVY WILL MY PACK BE?
Day trips will keep your pack between 10-15 pounds max.
WHEN DO I NEED TO PAY THE BALANCE OF MY TRIP?
For Scheduled Domestic Courses and Climbs: Your balance is due 60 days from trip departure. Payable by check, Credit Card with service charge or Venmo.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY TRIP?
If you should decide to cancel your trip, BCAG must be notified in writing. Your trip will be cancelled from the date we receive written notice. You will be assessed a cancellation fee according to the following schedule:
90 to 31 days from trip departure – 50% of trip cost
30 days or less – 100% of trip cost
WHAT HAPPENS IF BC ADVENTURE GUIDES HAS TO CANCEL MY TRIP?
In the rare circumstance where we need to cancel a program you can reschedule without a fee or receive a refund on your deposit. If circumstances arise that force us to cancel a program that is already in progress, we reserve the right to decide whether a refund or credit, at a prorated rate, will be issued. We are not responsible for cancellation fees or costs arising from your changed or cancelled flights, lodging, or other arrangements. We strongly recommend obtaining trip cancellation insurance from your travel agent.
DO I NEED TO PURCHASE TRIP INSURANCE?
BCAG highly encourages the purchasing of trip cancellation and travel insurance on domestic trips and requires it on international trips. Europeans and Canadians use it because travel insurance provides coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delays, medical expenses and emergency assistance. To avoid any financial hardship that an unexpected cancellation or interruption could cause,
Trip Cancellation/Interruption costs about 5% of your trip cost and it’s worth the peace of mind!
If you find that you are not already covered for any of the above circumstances you have options!
BCAG has an account with Global Rescue, the world’s leading membership organization providing integrated medical, security, travel risk and crisis response services to our travelers worldwide. They can provide you with medical and evacuation coverage.
https://partner.globalrescue.com/bcadventureguides/index.html
WHEN SHOULD I PLAN TO LEAVE A RETURN HOME?
We’re deep in the Purcells Backcountry, please plan your travel itinerary giving yourself a buffer (a day on each end) to accommodate delays due to stormy weather. These could include your incoming flight not arriving on time or a weather delay in helicopter transport out from the hut. In the winter it snows here. We should all be out of the Lodge by 10:30AM-12PM so you will be able to drive back to Vancouver/Seattle, Spokane or Kelowna on the same day(15th).
AIR & GROUND TRANSPORT OPTIONS
Airports
Nelson has a small airport but there are no regularly scheduled domestic flights during the winter. The closest airport is in Castlegar, BUT, we do not recommend using this airport as flights are frequently cancelled in the winter. Best to fly into Cranbrook or Kelowna if flying within Canada. For those coming from the United States or abroad, the best airport to use is Spokane, Washington. This is the closest international airport to Nelson. It is about a 4 hr drive south of Nelson. The best way to go is to rent a vehicle and drive to Nelson, crossing at the Patterson border crossing near Rossland, BC (the only local border crossing open 24 hours).
Ground Transport
If you fly into Spokane then the best bet is to rent a car and drive to Nelson (about 4 hours). Remember that you cannot cross the border with cannabis and only limited amounts of alcohol or tobacco products and you must have a valid passport!
POWDER CREEK HELICOPTER STAGING AREA DIRECTIONS
Plan to arrive @Nelson at the High Terrain hangar at 8:00 AM PST. Please allow enough time to arrive at the staging area, let us know if you are delayed anywhere on route. After the briefing, you’ll need to make your way to the Kaslo airport, a 70 km (44 mi) drive that takes approximately 1 hour. The first flight with guests from Kaslo will depart around 10:15 AM, and all guests should be at the lodge by
around 11:30 AM (weather permitting).