Contributor Guidelines

Welcome to Backcountry Skiing Canada – your definitive online hub for everything related to ski touring, splitboarding, hiking, trail running and other backcountry activities across Canada. Since our inception, our passion has been to empower and connect the vibrant Canadian backcountry community, fostering safe exploration and a deep appreciation for our majestic mountains.

Contributor Guidelines for Backcountry Skiing Canada

Thank you for your interest in contributing to Backcountry Skiing Canada! We are always looking for fresh voices, compelling stories, and expert advice from the backcountry community. Our mission is to inform, inspire, and educate our readers, promoting safe and enjoyable experiences in the mountains.

Before you submit, please read these guidelines carefully to understand what we look for and how to pitch us your ideas.

Our Audience & Vibe

Our readers are active, passionate backcountry users, ranging from those planning their first tour to seasoned ski mountaineers. They are technically savvy, safety-conscious, and hungry for authentic, reliable information. Your writing should be:

• Informative & Authoritative: You should know your subject matter well.

• Engaging & Authentic: Write with a genuine voice. We love personal stories that also provide valuable lessons or "beta."

• Safety-Conscious: Safety is our top priority. All content must promote responsible backcountry practices and align with current avalanche safety standards.

What We Publish: Content Categories

We accept pitches for the following types of articles. We prefer a pitch first rather than a full manuscript.

1. How-To Guides & Skills Articles (800-1500 words)

These are the foundation of our site, providing tangible value to our readers. They should be clear, detailed, and illustrated with high-quality photos or diagrams.

• Examples: Mastering the Icy Skin Track, How to Dig an Effective Extended Column Test, GPS & Navigation App Tricks for Ski Touring, A Guide to Multi-Day Tour Meal Planning.

2. Gear & Equipment Reviews (500-2000 words)

Our readers trust us for unbiased, in-depth reviews based on real-world testing. Reviews should go beyond specs and talk about how a product performs in the variable conditions of Western North America.

• Formats: We welcome single-product long-term reviews, head-to-head comparisons, and category round-ups.

• Examples: Long-Term Test: 50 Days on the [New Ski Boot], Head-to-Head: The Top 3 Lightweight Touring Skis for Spring, Are Digital Avalanche Beacons Really Better? A Deep Dive.

3. Trip Reports & Destination Guides (800-1500 words)

Inspire our readers with your adventures! A great trip report combines personal storytelling with the practical information (the "beta") someone would need to follow in your footsteps safely.

• Geographic Focus: Our primary focus is the mountain ranges of Western Canada (BC, Alberta, Yukon). We also welcome stories from the Western US (Washington, Montana, Wyoming, etc.) that would interest our Canadian readership.

• Required details: Please include details on access, key stats (vertical, distance), route descriptions, and crucial safety considerations for the area.

Pitching Your Idea

Please send a pitch to editor@backcountryskiingcanada.com with the subject line: "Pitch: [Your Proposed Article Title]"

Your pitch should include:

1. A Brief Synopsis (2-3 paragraphs): What is the story or topic? What makes it unique and valuable to our readers? What is the key takeaway?

2. A Proposed Outline: A bulleted list of the main points you will cover.

3. Your Experience: Briefly tell us why you are the right person to write this. Include links to previously published work if you have any.

4. Photo Plan: Confirm that you can provide high-quality, original photography to accompany the article.

Photography & Video Requirements

Stunning original visuals are a key requirements. Submissions must be accompanied by high-quality original photos.

• Quantity: A minimum of 8-10 high-resolution photos.

• Format: JPEG, at least 2000px on the longest side.

• Content: We need a mix of action shots, scenic landscape shots, and detail shots (for gear reviews).

• Credit & Captions: Provide a document with photo credits and a descriptive caption for each image.

• Video: We are increasingly interested in short, high-quality video clips to embed in articles. Please mention if you can provide video.

For Companies, Brands, and PR Agencies

We are open to collaborating with brands that align with our values and serve our audience's interests. We offer opportunities for product reviews and sponsored content.

• Product Reviews: We review gear that we believe is relevant to our readers. Sending a product for testing does not guarantee a positive review or a review at all. Our editorial integrity and commitment to unbiased feedback are paramount. All reviews will clearly state if the product was provided by the manufacturer. Please contact us to coordinate product shipments.

• Sponsored Content / Advertorials: We offer sponsored post opportunities for brands looking to share their message directly. All sponsored content will be clearly marked as such to maintain transparency with our readers. The content must still provide genuine value and be relevant to the backcountry community. Please email us for our media kit and rates.

Compensation

We offer compensation for original articles and photography. Rates are competitive and vary depending on the complexity of the article, the quality of the writing, and the accompanying visuals. Payment details will be discussed and agreed upon once a pitch is accepted.

What we do not accept

We do not accept gambling, dating, pharmacy or any content not related to backcountry actives. 
 

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We look forward to hearing your ideas and sharing your stories with the Backcountry Skiing Canada community!

Backcountry skiing is an inherently dangerous activity that requires experience and knowledge to travel safely. Any of the routes on this site may be dangerous depending on conditions. You are responsible for your own safety in the backcounty—the team behind backcountryskiingcanada.com disclaim any responsibility for any injury resulting from people travelling on routes described on this site.  To read our Terms of Use and get all the details, read HERE. 

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