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    <channel>
        <title><![CDATA[Coast Mountains]]></title>
        <description>RSS of Coast Mountains</description>
        <pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 20:02:00 -0700</pubDate>
        <link>https://www.backcountryskiingcanada.com</link>
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            <title><![CDATA[Ski the Cascade Volcanoes]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Spring skiing season is upon us - or as some in the PNW call it: volcano season! There are a number of classic ski ascents and descents to be had in the Cascade Volcanoes. Whether you&amp;#39;re looking for altitude, traverses, or circumnavigation, these white giants offer thousands of feet or corn snow and amazing views. Amar Andalkar&amp;#39;s blog is a great source for information. Check out the list of objectives as well as route options, distances, elevations and other helpful beta.&amp;nbsp;

Mount Adams classic SW chutes (photo credit: Amar Andalkar)
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2019-04-06 06:26:45</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Cascade%20Volcanoes</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Cascade%20Volcanoes</guid>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Fifth Annual JP Auclair Memorial Returns to Whistler]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[The 5th Annual JP Auclair Memorial will be held April 10-11, 2019, at Whistler Blackcomb. The event will be hosted by Apline Initiatives, a nonprofit stated by Auclair&amp;nbsp;with the mission to help people grow, connect and be inspired by the what the mountains have to offer. Click here to see the full lineup of events and sign up.&amp;nbsp;

]]></description>
            <pubDate>2019-03-22 17:50:40</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Fifth%20Annual%20JP%20Auclair%20Memorial%20Returns%20to%20Whistler</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Fifth%20Annual%20JP%20Auclair%20Memorial%20Returns%20to%20Whistler</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Spearhead Huts progress update]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[As most of us already know, the Spearhead Traverse located just outside the boundary of Whistler-Blackcomb Resort will soon have a few new huts located along the route to accommodate skiers. The&amp;nbsp;Kees and Claire Hut are already under construction and we thought you might like to see how they are progressing.
 

On Sept 27th&amp;nbsp;crews halted construction for this year since winter was fast approaching in the alpine.

For the full story on the progress of the hut&amp;#39;s construction and more click on over to the official Spearhead Huts website here.]]></description>
            <pubDate>2017-10-20 09:04:06</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Spearhead-Huts-Update</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Spearhead-Huts-Update</guid>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Cayoosh Pass Duffey current conditions]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Million Dollar Couloir in Cayoosh had cold quadruple blow cold smoke. Glacier must have kept things cold. Perfect for Herschel backpacks and Gore-Tex sombreros.

FL was to 1800m in recent storm event. 5 to 8cms overlaying storm layer that varied from firm above 1800m to breakable below.
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2017-02-17 20:26:41</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Conditions%20update</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Conditions%20update</guid>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Any recent trips to the Coquihalla?]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Wondering if anyone has been up on the Coquihalla in the past few weeks of 2016. &amp;nbsp;Bag loads of snow have fallen up there and I am thinking about checking things out next week. Any info is appreciated.]]></description>
            <pubDate>2016-12-29 12:00:53</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Coquihalla</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/Coquihalla</guid>
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                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Callaghan&#039;s Thick!]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Over four and a half feat and counting at the lodge!

Alexander Falls is blanketed!




]]></description>
            <pubDate>2016-11-25 10:36:03</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/snow%20on%20the%20mountain</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/snow%20on%20the%20mountain</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Whistler Snow Report - Dec 2nd 2014]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Like many places in the province, we&amp;#39;ve had way less snow than usual here in Whistler. Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are both open with a 50cm (20in) base, while there&amp;#39;s just a dusting of snow in the valley. Duffey Lake Rd area is still pretty bare as well. Fingers crossed for some new snow coming in soon!
Here&amp;#39;s a bit of inspiration from my better half; he skied DOA (reached by touring off Blackcomb) on Saturday at -26C... living proof that there&amp;#39;s powder to be found if you know where to look 

Anyone else found some powder stashes in this neck of the woods?]]></description>
            <pubDate>2014-12-02 11:28:27</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/whistler-snow-report-dec-2nd-2014</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/whistler-snow-report-dec-2nd-2014</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Sea to Sky Gondola Opening offers up new terrain for backcountry skiers]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[The Sea To Sky Gondola recently opened its doors to the public offering up rides into the alpine above Squamish BC. Although there is no ski resort associated with the gondola, they say this will open up a new playground in winter for backcountry skiers looking for easy access to a variety of alpine terrain. Have a read of the article below and check out the terrain photo, looks pretty inviting if you ask me.



When the Sea to Sky Gondola unloads its first passengers on Friday (May 16), it is opening the doors to a new world of outdoor recreation possibilities. And it&amp;rsquo;s all about access.
&amp;ldquo;In about two hours you could be ski touring,&amp;rdquo; professional ski photographer Reuben Krabbe said.&amp;nbsp;
Besides Duffey Lake Provincial Park, the top of the gondola is one of the few backcountry spots in the province that can be reached by foot in such a short time period, he said.&amp;nbsp;
In March, Krabbe ventured up the gondola to check out the skiing opportunities firsthand. There is logging road access to the area, but it&amp;rsquo;s often gated off. Until now, the only way in was by four-by-four or snowmobile and the route wasn&amp;rsquo;t conducive to either. The opening of the gondola makes the powder slopes a skier&amp;rsquo;s dream, he noted.
&amp;ldquo;There are no other user groups heading up in that direction,&amp;rdquo; Krabbe said. &amp;ldquo;You are fully alone when you do get up there.&amp;rdquo;

The skiing offered in the alpine and sub-alpine areas, including terrain around Sky Pilot Mountain and Goat Ridge, range from climbs requiring crampons to traverses that would please one&amp;rsquo;s 70-year-old grandparents, Krabbe said. The area&amp;rsquo;s diversity makes it a great place for training in forecasting avalanches, he added.&amp;nbsp;
In the warmer months, climbers and mountain bikers will explore the new area. It&amp;rsquo;s all about access, said Charlie Harrison, vice president of the Squamish Access Society.
Harrison has rock climbed for the past decade. Over that time, the sport&amp;rsquo;s popularity has dramatically increased in Squamish.&amp;nbsp;
The vast majority of climbers that visit Squamish for the weekend aren&amp;rsquo;t scaling the Stawamus Chief. As a result, most entry points to moderate climbing routes have lineups of people waiting for their turns. Squamish is always in need of more beginner climbs, Harrison said.&amp;nbsp;
&amp;ldquo;As soon as stuff gets put up that is relatively easy, it is jam -packed,&amp;rdquo; he said.&amp;nbsp;
The gondola offers access to a wide range of climbing opportunities, from slab to sports. Just 200 metres above the top station of Sea to Sky Gondola is Ultraviolet Cliff. Its climbing routes were first developed in the 1980s, but the rock&amp;rsquo;s location remained relatively inaccessible. There are eight establish routes on the rock, ranging from 12 to 16 metres.&amp;nbsp;
By 2015, the gondola&amp;rsquo;s operators aim to have a mountain biking trail system in place, with an endurance ride ending in Britannia Beach. The area will expand a network that&amp;rsquo;s already catching riders&amp;rsquo; attention worldwide, Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA) president Jeff Cooke said.&amp;nbsp;
The style of riding in Squamish is very different from what goes on in Whistler&amp;rsquo;s mountain bike park, and the Sea to Sky Gondola adds to the network of forested trails with perfect mountain biking terrain.
&amp;ldquo;I think it will open up a lot of epic rides,&amp;rdquo; Cooke said.
Trail running will also enjoy a boost. The first trail race on the pathways surrounding the gondola, the Skyline Ridge Run, will correspond with the summer solstice on June 21. Organized by Challenge by Choice, race distances of 10 and 21 kilometres will start at the top of the gondola

Article from Squamishchief .com]]></description>
            <pubDate>2014-05-21 08:56:45</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/sea-to-sky-gondola-opening-offers-up-new-terrain-for-backcountry-skiers</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/sea-to-sky-gondola-opening-offers-up-new-terrain-for-backcountry-skiers</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Women survives tree well against the odds]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Christine Newman, stuck in a Garibaldi Park tree well overnight, is in recovery after four hours of continuous CPR.

Photo: BONNY MAKAREWICZ

This from Pique Magazine:
Calgary woman is lucky to be alive after being stuck overnight in a Garibaldi Park tree well and receiving CPR for several hours, according to Squamish Search and Rescue (SSAR) manager John Howe.

Christine &quot;Tink&quot; Newman, a former skeleton athlete who has trained previously at the Whistler Sliding Centre, was found unresponsive, unconscious, hypothermic and without a pulse just after 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1 by two individuals who were staying at the same backcountry shelter as her, Howe said. Paramedics believe the 24-year-old, who was stuck feet-first in the tree well for over seven hours, was in or near a state of cardiac arrest at the time she was discovered.

&quot;When she was found, and this goes to her luck, the people that found her, one was a retired paramedic, and the other was a nurse, so they were able to start effective CPR immediately,&quot; said Howe.

&quot;If she didn&amp;#39;t get cardiac compressions and respirations when she did, I don&amp;#39;t want to speculate, but it would have been pretty bad.&quot;

The woman was administered CPR for an hour and a half before rescue personnel from SSAR and Pemberton Search and Rescue arrived and continued the procedure, Howe said. A defibrillator was also administered. The decision was made to fly her via Blackcomb Aviation helicopter directly to Vancouver, where she was transported by ambulance to Vancouver General Hospital at around 1:30 p.m.

The hospital is one of two critical care facilities in the region with a specialized device, called an ECMO, which was used to continue the flow of blood and oxygen to Newman&amp;#39;s heart and lungs, Howe noted.

In all, the woman received approximately four hours of continuous CPR, and is now recovering in hospital.

Howe said Dr. Doug Brown, who has lectured extensively in the Sea to Sky on accidental hypothermia and mountain rescue protocol, believes the woman is &quot;one of a half dozen people in medical history that have had CPR this long (and recovered).&quot;

The circumstances leading up to the incident remain unclear, according to the information Howe has received. Newman was allegedly heard exiting the shelter at the Wax at Elfin Lakes before 2 a.m. by fellow guests who thought she was leaving to use the washroom. The next morning, the group went snowshoeing and came across her backpack located near the tree well where she was found.

&quot;She didn&amp;#39;t fall (head-first) into the tree well because if she had asphyxiated, then this would have been a different story,&quot; Howe explained. &quot;She had a relatively clear airway, with no snow obstructing her airway.&quot;

Squamish Search and Rescue is in possession of Newman&amp;#39;s snowshoes, Howe said, but was unsure if she was wearing them at the time of the incident.]]></description>
            <pubDate>2014-04-11 11:18:14</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/women-survives-tree-well-against-the-odds</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/women-survives-tree-well-against-the-odds</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Never Give Up (Video) Soap Box Comp]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[This is on of thoes magic day when wall went well the batteries on the camera did not die and one of my friends just told her story and I captured it. This is sutch a pleasure to share this with you as this is more real life and how it is in the real world. Enjoy






]]></description>
            <pubDate>2014-04-01 19:52:32</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/never-give-up-video-soap-box-comp</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/never-give-up-video-soap-box-comp</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Just No Words (Video) Soap Box Comp]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[This idea came to me and I have not seen any thing on the internet as of yet. I don&amp;#39;t want to give it away but it makes me smile ever time I watch the video. So put your ear buds on and enjoy.
If you want to see more of you vidoes look for me on youtube ouner MikeCyclone chanel.






]]></description>
            <pubDate>2014-04-01 19:38:34</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/just-no-words-video-soap-box-comp</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/just-no-words-video-soap-box-comp</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[SOAP BOX COMP - Skiing The Skyline Divide]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[&amp;nbsp; Hope you liked the last video A Backcountry Skiers Observations I know it was a bit long but learning to cut cut cut. This video I filmed also back in January. You can see there was very little snow at the start of the video. Pretty depressing to be searching for snow that far into the season, anyways I thought I would not bring my cameras and just enjoy skiing without filming but every time I don&amp;rsquo;t bring my cameras something happens. So fortunately I brought them along.

&amp;nbsp; I don&amp;#39;t name the skiers in this video as it is so embarrassing to be caught on film making a mistake and I thought we could all learn from the simplest of thing how you can get caught out at night. This guy said to me that he was so embarrassed. I assured him that he was just some guy with a helmet on and goggles and no one would know you. So if you recognize this person keep it to yourself. We will all probably make bigger mistakes and worse.&amp;nbsp;

&amp;nbsp; I was very pleased with how the night photography turned out and I was some how able to make some sort of a story out of real life adventure. When no one will wait or even act for the camera so most of the filming is done in secret when they are not looking. I also try to get then use to being in front of the camera. No easy task with people you have never met.&amp;nbsp;

Hope you enjoy this one.&amp;nbsp;
&amp;nbsp;
Remember for every min you watch there is 3 to 4 hours of work to put this together and this is just a hobby for me.






]]></description>
            <pubDate>2014-02-28 00:40:19</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/soap-box-comp-skiing-the-skyline-divide</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/soap-box-comp-skiing-the-skyline-divide</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[SOAP BOX COMP - A Backcountry Skiers Observations]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[You know backcountry skying is like nothing else. There is so many things that go through your mind so this video is what I see and think all mixed in one. Try not to pick it apart and just enjoy being entertained for a few minutes.&amp;nbsp;
This was filmed in January and we were lucky to find some fresh snow to ski on but there was a underlying crust to worry about. You get a feel in this video of there is more to the back country than just hiking up and skiing down.&amp;nbsp;
I hope this also inspires you new to the backcountry that there is some great skiing and that your partner is also a part of your safety system.
For all you adrenaline junkies to bad this video is not for you. I think this is a little more real life.







]]></description>
            <pubDate>2014-02-26 00:01:01</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/soap-box-comp-a-backcountry-skiers-observations</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/soap-box-comp-a-backcountry-skiers-observations</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[SOAP BOX COMP Bt Baker Ski Adventure]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[It is early july and we think it would be really cool to have a mid summer ski on the corn snow from the top of Mt Baker. A weather window had opened up and there was a major heat wave coming so this was opportunity to ski the eastern side of the volcano. The crevices would not be showing too much yet as they will get larger latter in the summer and to ski down will be even riskier.


To film and be part of the adventure is no easy feat plus navigate and make some sort of a story line while on the site with no one waiting for you to pull out your camera. Some how this is the results of that trip.&amp;nbsp;

I had one close call on the way down over a crevasse I did not see until the very last second and jumped it. Lucky it was only 3 to 4 feet across. If you watch the video at 14:58 in the video you can see how lucky I was.

Hope you enjoy.

MikeCyclone  



]]></description>
            <pubDate>2014-01-29 01:27:54</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/soap-box-comp-bt-baker-ski-adventure</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/soap-box-comp-bt-baker-ski-adventure</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Around Logan - Movie]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Mount Logan is the worlds largest mountain by volume and this video shows incredible 360 degree views while ski traverseing 240km around its base. If you have 17 minutes and love beautiful mountainous landscapes then this video will speak to you. Give it a watch...







Mt. Logan in Canada&amp;#39;s Yukon is the largest mountain in the world. It also features some of the hardest alpine climbing routes anywhere. In May of 2013, myself and two friends did a full circumnavigation of Mt. Logan traveling 240 kilometers on skis around the peak. Visiting this area is like stepping back into the last ice age. This short film follows our journey as we ski over the massive glaciers that surround the peak and have incredible views of the many climbing routes on the mountain.
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-11-23 12:39:55</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/around-logan-movie</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/around-logan-movie</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[4th Annual Vancouver Island Backcountry Festival]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[We&amp;#39;ve got the dates locked down for this years Vancouver Island Backcountry festival... Feb 8/9!We had an amazing time last year and it went better than we had anticipated, the guided tours ended up being completely full and they had to run on sunday as well to take everyone. We&amp;#39;ll try to have more guides this year, and run both days!The obligatory recap for those unfamiliar - Every winter we put together an event to raise funds for the Vancouver Island Avalanche Center Society, which is our local non-profit responsible for forecasting the island. No, the CAC doesn&amp;#39;t recognize Vancouver Island as part of Canada. *shrug*So what do we do? Well, we have a raffle, we have certified ACMG guides doing educational backcountry laps by donation, and we drive a groomer into the forest to pack down a dance floor and put on a huge party. We had complaints about not enough lasers or fireworks last year, but all in all we thought we did a pretty good job. We&amp;#39;ll do better this year.This isn&amp;#39;t a splitboard specific event, but there are a lot of us splitboarders up here. The point is, you can invite your teleboarding, monoskiing, telemarking, or even AT skiier friends to come with you!So the logistics - to come to this event you need to take a ferry to some island and then you need to drive, basically forever, until you reach a little logging road. We like to call it &quot;well maintained&quot;, but I would recommend&amp;nbsp;you bring your chains with you. And your onsies. This is Cain, afterall.&amp;nbsp;












Here is Dave&amp;#39;s writeup from last year&amp;nbsp;http://www.davesilverphotography.com/bl ... y-festival&amp;nbsp;(and the full gallery of his photos:http://www.davesilverphotograp.....bcfest2013)Details on the site:&amp;nbsp;http://vanislebackcountryfest.caFacebook event:&amp;nbsp;https://www.facebook.com/events/206055189575014Google map:&amp;nbsp;https://www.google.ca/maps/preview#!q=m ... 26.3261111]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-10-18 23:16:02</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/4th-annual-vancouver-island-backcountry-festival</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/4th-annual-vancouver-island-backcountry-festival</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Mountain Wind - Victoria peak - South Face Vancouver Isl --- Mount Gimli - NE Buttress - Valhalla]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Hello everyone,

I&amp;#39;ve recently started a blog detailing mainly Vancouver Island Mountaineering locations.&amp;nbsp; So far, I have a post about the NE Buttress of Mount Gimli in the Valhalla&amp;#39;s, and one of the South Face of Victoria peak on Vancouver island.

I try to reach out to those who can&amp;#39;t or aren&amp;#39;t in the area and able to get into the mountains.&amp;nbsp; It tells the story of a few guys new to the mountaineering game and you get to read about our mistakes, lessons learned, and funny moments.&amp;nbsp; Well...I guess I should specify...They&amp;#39;re usually &quot;Oh shit&quot; moments but they make for a good laugh when put down into words.

I appreciate any and all critiques, and I hope you enjoy the writing/photography if you visit my page.

http://www.mountainwind.org

Cheers,

Brandon]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-09-30 01:26:00</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/mountain-wind-victoria-peak-south-face-vancouver-isl-mount-gimli-ne-buttress-valhalla</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/mountain-wind-victoria-peak-south-face-vancouver-isl-mount-gimli-ne-buttress-valhalla</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Whitewater Rafting Expedition, Chilko, Chilcotin, Fraser Rivers]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[In summer there are many ways to experience the outdoors as we all wait for snow.&amp;nbsp; A lot of people are out exploring mountains, hiking around and climbing.&amp;nbsp; This summer I have been enjoying melted snow in various places, I am very much a water guy.&amp;nbsp; Rivers and lakes mostly.&amp;nbsp; I&amp;#39;ve spent a lot of time out on the Slocan River on my Stand Up paddle board which is a very new challenge that feels very much like skiing in some ways.&amp;nbsp; This post isn&amp;#39;t about that though.

I just got back from a pretty amazing trip with ROAM Adventures a Nelson, BC based company that runs a Whitewater Rafting Expedition trip based around their Bear Camp on Chilko Lake.&amp;nbsp; The trip I went on consisted of 2 Days at their camp/lodge and 6 days down the river.&amp;nbsp; The camp is essentially a modified fishing lodge with safari tents on platforms overlooking Chilko Lake.&amp;nbsp; The views right from the decking and catwalks were amazing.

The tents and walkways are right on the water.&amp;nbsp; Which gives you amazing views.


On one of my days at Chilko Lake I kayaked around the teal waters, exploring and taking photos of wildlife.

The area is super quiet and remote, there is a provincial campground nearby but even though it was August long weekend, things were very quiet this far into the wilderness.&amp;nbsp; (About 4 hour drive from Williams Lake, BC)
The highlight of the trip for me was definitely day two on the Chilko where we had the opportunity to experience a very long section of high adrenaline whitewater.&amp;nbsp; I have rafted a few times before and there&amp;#39;s just no comparison.&amp;nbsp; The rapids start out Class V and then are Class IV for about 14 km.&amp;nbsp; The tagline is that this section known as Lava Canyon and the White Mile is the longest continous section of Class IV that is run commercially in North America.&amp;nbsp; We really got hammered with a big wave in what&amp;#39;s called the Bidwell rapids at the entrance to Lava Canyon.&amp;nbsp; I am really happy we had very experienced guides for this one as things got quite technical and were very full on for a long section.&amp;nbsp; I think it was probably the most exciting thing I have ever done in the summer months.&amp;nbsp;

Mark Trueman was the lead guide on the trip, very experienced with over 20 years of river guiding Mark is an excellent story teller, great cook and really knows how to make rafting fun and safe at the same time.
The rest of the trip was great also, with sweet views, fun whitewater and good food.&amp;nbsp; Highlight for food was a freshly baked upside down pineapple cake which Mark pulled off with a Dutch Oven over some coals.

The deer out here are super chill, this little guy just hung out on this little island letting me get very close to take pictures.&amp;nbsp; I approached him slowly on a paddle board drifting in slow current to take this picture.

This was taken at one of our many camps along the trip, it&amp;#39;s a convergence of Chilcotin River and Big Creek.&amp;nbsp; It&amp;#39;s amazing how the teal glacial water contrasts with the clear water from the creek.

Overall this trip reminded me of how lucky I am to live in such a beatiful province.&amp;nbsp; Look forward to seeing more of it.
If people are interested in learning more about this adventure, reply to this thread or follow the link below.
http://www.iroamtheworld.com/c.....tin-fraser
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-08-07 03:35:14</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/whitewater-rafting-expedition-chilko-chilcotin-fraser-rivers</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/whitewater-rafting-expedition-chilko-chilcotin-fraser-rivers</guid>
                    </item>
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            <title><![CDATA[Whitehorse skiers describe surviving B.C. avalanche - VIDEO]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Three skiers were swept down a mountain under 2 metres of snow a few weeks ago and this is their story:







Two Whitehorse skiers who survived an avalanche in the coastal Rockies last week say they won&amp;#39;t be deterred from returning to the backcountry.

Matt Schenck and Annick Chasse were vacationing at the Shames Mountain Resort near Terrace B.C. and went skiing with another couple out of bounds in the backcountry area of Shames Mountain.

Members of the group had skied the area before. On March 17, their third day of skiing the backcountry, the group went to an area called the Cherry Bowl.

&quot;We checked the cornice to make sure it was stable, we checked the snow pack where we wanted to go down, so everything was good, and we went down,&quot; said Chasse. &quot;We went down solid, barely any slough or loose snow.&quot;
For the entire story check out the full&amp;nbsp;cbc story here.
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-04-07 09:35:26</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/whitehorse-skiers-describe-surviving-b-c-avalanche-video</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/whitehorse-skiers-describe-surviving-b-c-avalanche-video</guid>
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                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[COMP - First Time out in the Back Country]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[This season marked the start of the something I have always wanted to try: backcountry skiing or more appropriately back country snowboarding. I remember taking my first AST 1 course years before and never getting the opportunity to get to the mountain to apply the skills. But this year was different &amp;ndash; I had a partner in crime that was equally as excited as I was but had more experience.

We had gathered all the gear we needed: transceiver, probe, shovel, and snowshoes. We were lucky enough to be working in Whitehorse at the time so we piled into the truck with our gear one weekday morning and headed south of town past the industrial area, sprawling country residential subdivisions, rolling hills, beautiful lakes of different colors, towards the mountains towering over the historic town of Carcross set between Bennett Lake and Nares Lake. The goal was to get to know the areas along the highway and review some of the potential access routes using a guidebook we had picked up days before.

We stopped in Carcross for a quick bathroom break only to learn that the highway beyond was buried in snow and closed. Back we went to Whitehorse.

First day in the backcountry take number two.

A week or so later (and a new back country pack purchased), the conditions appeared to be stable, the weather forecast looked good. Off we went again. This time we had canvassed friends and locals on suggested routes beforehand and had narrowed it down to two areas that we would try to explore first: Summit Creek and Feather peak. We chose Feather peak.

&amp;rdquo;Snowshoes!? And a snowboard, I haven&amp;rsquo;t seen that setup in ages. Your brave.&quot; Said one of the ski tourers as he passed by. I don&amp;rsquo;t know if this was a compliment.

Up we climbed following a set of skin tracks and snow mobile tracks winding our way up a gentle alpine slope finding an area to make our first turns and an amazing view in every direction.






We spent our first afternoon doing laps of this gentle area returning to the truck at the end of the day to share a beer or two and watch the sunset over the BC/Alaskan boarder.







We thendescended into Skagway, Alaska for some food, beer, and sleep.

The next day we returned to the same parking spot, descended into the same gulley, climbed past the gentle slope that we had practiced on the day before, and continued on up around the first ridge to discover that we were still a ways from Featherpeak.



Our confidence built up from the day before helped us push on up another slope, around a corner, and then finally to the base of Featherpeak.


We zig zagged our way to the top, getting access to incredible views of the surrounding mountains.




And an incredible view of the Cleveland area.
&amp;nbsp;


The bigger and longer slope below us meant more powder, more turns, and bigger smiles.



After a couple of runs we trekked our way back to the truck to take in another sunset over the spectacular mountains. We then made the journey back to Whitehorse.

Best introduction into backcountry touring possible.]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-03-01 02:47:28</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/comp-first-time-out-in-the-back-country</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/comp-first-time-out-in-the-back-country</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[For those who missed the Cain Backcountry festival..]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Here are a couple good articles that summarized the event:&amp;nbsp;

http://www.davesilverphotograp.....y-festival
http://www.thuggies.com/2013/0.....fest-2013/

And while both link to this gallery, it&amp;#39;s worth linking again &amp;ndash; Dave took some exellent pictures:&amp;nbsp;

http://www.davesilverphotograp...../h553a3a64

Don&amp;#39;t worry, we&amp;#39;ll do it again next year for those who missed it. We had an awesome time both skiing/riding and partying, it was great to see so many new people come out for it &amp;ndash; thanks to all those on here that made it!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;






 
Thanks to Dave Silver for taking such awesome pictures of the event!]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-02-28 16:52:38</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/for-those-who-missed-the-cain-backcountry-festival</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/for-those-who-missed-the-cain-backcountry-festival</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[COMP - Mountains, Fresh Snow, and Sunshine (maybe a little history too)]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[To most, Carcross represents a last glimpse into the gold rush days. When men and women toiled for gold and did strange things under the midnight sun. But perhaps less known, but equally as interesting and much more appropriate for this competition, are the days in 1935 when Bradford Washburn and his team used Carcross as their launching point for exploring and mapping the area between the Canadian/Alaskan border and Kluane Lake in the Yukon.

The 6400 square mile area was the largest remaining blank on the map of North America at the time. &amp;nbsp;The last U.S. Geological Survey of the border had been 21 years earlier. Bradford Washburn, Alaska&amp;rsquo;s most famous mountaineer and arguably one of the best mountain photographers of his time, took this task on while under contract for the National Geographic Society and capped off the expedition by making the first ascent of Mt Hubbard named after National Geographic Society&amp;rsquo;s founder. Innovatively using sled dog teams, bush pilots, and glacier landings, Washburn accomplished an amazing feat for his time. (ref: The Last of his Kind by Brad Roberts).

On our last trip from Whitehorse, through Carcross, on our way to the White Pass area, we coincidentally met a young guide that embodied some Washburn traits and we too tried to emulate Washburn&amp;rsquo;s impressive photography skills.

We arrived late (ok so we like to sleep in) and I remember feeling quite down that day overloaded with the stresses of the workweek that had just ended. As we got our gear ready in the parking lot we met a guide on his weekend off that happened to be heading into an area adjacent to our usual Feather Peak stop called Cleveland.

He set a pace that was manageable for us beginners as any experienced guide would. Leading us south down the gulley we usually crossed, through a large rock opening feature, and then up the other side off the gulley, along a long side hill gradually climbing to the alpine bowl. He stopped occasionally along the way to share his various mountain observations with us.





A couple of hours later we got our first glimpses of the magnificent mountain bowl we would be playing in.







And an hour later we made our first turns off the first ridge we ascended. Incredible turns in incredible snow under clear blue skies.




Up we went again, up to the ridge we had just ascended, and beyond summiting the mountain ridge that skirted the bowl we would descend.



We were lucky enough to see the most incredible views of the coastal mountains stretching in every direction we looked. And below, the best descent that we could have expected. A step above our ability, but a challenge we were up for.




I remember how nervous I was I set up my split board in downhill mode. I remember the look on my partners face as she put away her touring skins and set her bindings.

Those nerves got more intense as we watched our new friend jump off a cornice and then gracefully and effortlessly telemarking turns (yes telemarking) until he stopped in a safe location below.



&amp;ldquo;Be careful eh.&amp;rdquo; I said nervously to my partner as I worked my way carefully to the edge. &amp;ldquo;You too&amp;rdquo; was the reply.

The nerves quickly gave way to the exhilarating rush we all enjoy as I slipped over the edge, landed in the powder, and made the next set of turns until I stopped beside the guide.

&amp;nbsp;My partner followed and surprised herself with how well she made each turn on the steep descent.

The turns continued. The smiles grew. The hoots and cheers got louder as each turn felt more exciting and rewarding then the last.

And then we were at the bottom, looking back up to the mountains, high fiving, complimenting each others skills, and trying to keep our tired legs from shaking.



As we traversed back down the long gradual hill to the gulley below the truck the sun began to set. We hiked out of the gulley and threw our gear into the truck with just enough time to watch the last of the sunset.



&amp;nbsp;An amazing end to an amazing weekend getting great turns in the backcountry powder.
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-02-28 04:38:36</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/comp-mountains-fresh-snow-and-sunshine-maybe-a-little-history-too</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/comp-mountains-fresh-snow-and-sunshine-maybe-a-little-history-too</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[The Hankin-Evelyn Model]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Smithers&amp;#39; unique backcountry experience

After several years of winter road trips that followed the East-West highways (the most travelled being the white knuckle drive along sections of Highway 3), it was time to switch it up.
North.

Having never travelled up the province further than Williams Lake, I&amp;#39;ve never truly grasped the extent of BC. There&amp;#39;s a lot of mountains up there and once you pass Prince George it&amp;#39;s only the beginning.
Smithers has had a burgeoning ski touring scene for the last few years, but a new addition to its backcountry offering is set to make it a mandatory destination for the travelling touring crowd. Hankin-Evelyn Recreation Area is unlike any other backcountry ski experience. There is a total of nine cut runs (seven on Hankin, 2 on Evelyn) all 20-25m wide, half the width of runs found in a resort ski area. This creates less impact on wildlife and keeps the runs sheltered from the wind.
The local visionary behind Hankin-Evelyn is Brian Hall, who for a man of 58 with a heart condition, moves rather fast up the skin track. He hatched the idea of a non-motorized, multi-use recreation area back in 2008. Today we are enjoying the fruits of his labour and that of all the other volunteers that made it happen.
&amp;ldquo;We&amp;#39;ve raised and spent over a million dollars in funding and labour on the project,&amp;rdquo; says Hall.
&amp;ldquo;That includes over 1000 hours per year in volunteer hours.&amp;rdquo;

Help from the government was crucial to make a project of this size happen and Hall manage to time its execution rather well. With thousands of displaced resource workers in BC over the last decade, the Province has been willing help with the cost of employing forestry workers to cut trails for recreational use. It&amp;#39;s win-win for everybody, including industry and the community.
As we walk through the entrance gate a permanent beacon checker flashes green, assuring us that our transceivers are working correctly. As Hall leads our group up the gentle terrain on the lower slopes of Hankin Mountain we pass several signs pointing to various runs. Signage like this is rare in the backcountry and together with an accurate trail map, makes the area accessible to anyone on skis, splitboards or snowshoes.
Signs pointing the way might seem like excess for the local backcountry purist, but it&amp;#39;s a boon for those skiing in the area for the first time. Instead of bushwacking through tight trees you feel like you are touring up a resort run, minus the people. It&amp;#39;s a refreshing backcountry experience.

After about two hours of chasing Brian up the skin track we arrive at the warming shelter, just above treeline elevation. Only for day use, the hut has enough firewood to keep folks warm during days of inclement weather.

Above the hut is where the terrain starts to to get interesting. Long ridges, massive bowls and tight couloirs are all within reach of a short bootpack and skin. Unfortunately none of them are in very good condition today with little snowfall the last few days and fierce winds that have been cross-loading the chutes. We ski cautiously and grab a few shots anyway, already looking at our goals for our next visit.


On the drive out from Hankin, on a road ploughed by a local rancher family and paid for by corporate donations, I start thinking about how such a simple yet effective model for a backcountry rec area could be adapted for the Sea to Sky Corridor. I&amp;#39;m not a visionary like Brian Hall, but hopefully others will follow his example.

For more information on the Hankin-Evelyn Recreation Area go to http://www.bbss.ca/hankin
Many thanks to Brian Hall for showing us his backyard and hosting us at The Stork Nest Inn in Smithers.&amp;nbsp;]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-02-12 14:14:36</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/the-hankin-evelyn-model</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/the-hankin-evelyn-model</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Rubble Creek Access to Garibaldi Park]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[As of Jan 22, the Rubble Creek access trail to Garibaldi Park is in pretty good shape considering the week long temperature inversion and no new snow... good snow coverage right down to the highway, except for a few tiny creek crossings that have melted out. Watch out for a fallen tree across the trail at the bottom if you&amp;#39;re skiing down.

]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-01-22 13:00:40</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/rubble-creek-access-to-garibaldi-park</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/rubble-creek-access-to-garibaldi-park</guid>
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                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Mt Currie Pencil Chute, without the Heli]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Temperature inversion and low avalanche danger up to the alpine&amp;hellip; it&amp;#39;s a good week to live in the Coast Mountains. Here are some pics from a 6 hour climb straight up the face of Mt Currie (Pemberton) 2 days ago, and an 8000ft+ ski down, starting from the Pencil Chute (Skiers Right). Pictures Mike Legare and Eric Dallaire.




]]></description>
            <pubDate>2013-01-22 12:35:46</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/mt-currie-pencil-chute-without-the-heli</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/coast-mountains/topic/mt-currie-pencil-chute-without-the-heli</guid>
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