Backcountry skiing day tours around Nelson, British Columbia

The mountains around Nelson, Kaslo and Rossland in British Columbia are well known for its consistently deep snow, amazing powder and wide diversity of terrain. Join me on a day tour and explore this incredible destination while you enjoy a unique backcountry skiing experience.

Our ski tours take place in the breathtaking backcountry of the Purcell, Monashee and Selkirk Mountains. I am an experienced local guide and I know this area like the back of my hand.

Please note these day tours are suitable either for beginners or advanced skiers. We can discuss your background and skills and choose the tour that would suit you best. However, you need to have previous advanced or intermediate boarding or ski experience, and you also need to be able to ski blacks or blues at hill.

These are some of the local classic ski touring locations where I usually take my clients, all of them located just an hour drive from Nelson:

• Kootenay Pass. This classic West Kootenay skiing spot is a must for ski tourers visiting the area. Located between the small villages of Creston and Salmo, at 1780 meters high, this is the highest accessible mountain pass in British Columbia. Here we find a wide diversity of day touring options, in 5 different valleys, with spectacular tree skiing and superb sub-alpine ridges, and an immense variety of open terrain. There are also some interesting ski peaks.

• Nelson and Whitewater Backcountry. There are amazing ski touring spots in this area, with accessible and diverse backcountry terrain. We find a great combination of alpine bowls and open tree skiing, and also attractive ski peaks. The ski lifts and roads offer an easy access to many day touring options in 4 different valleys. In this area, our ski tours may include Five mile basin, Ymir Peak, Evening ridge, Qua creek and Kutetl creek.

• Rossland & Red Mountain Backcountry. This section offers great road and lift access to incredible backcountry ski touring on awesome powder. We also have the option of quick access to great touring terrain from the Red Mountain ski resort. There are many possible peaks and ridges to be explored in this area, and you will be amazed by the regularly deep snowpack and the amazing tree skiing. Whitewolf Ridge, Record Ridge, Kirkup and Mount Roberts are some of the areas we can explore.

• London Ridge & Mount Brennan . This area offers some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery, together with spectacular and vast  alpine terrain and amazing long ski descents. This is one of the biggest alpine ski tours in the area. You need to drive 1.5 hours north of Nelson in order to reach the trailhead. Mount Brennan is a 2-day trip or a long tour day whereas London Ridge offers the option of several day tours. Bear in mind the best period for these tours is Spring, when the snowpack is deeper, days longer and warmer.

We will meet at a predetermined location for a final gear check the evening before or the same morning of our tour. We will also go over avalanche and weather conditions and sign waivers. Our tours usually start about 7:00 or 7:30 am. Then, we drive to our touring destination and we either take the ski lift or skin up from the car.

So what are you waiting for? Request your booking and come explore the spectacular backcountry terrain around the Nelson and Rossland areas with an unforgettable ski tour.