by Chelsea Sullivan
The diurnal cycle has begun. In other words, it’s spring! Even though the snowpack is generally more stable at this time of year, that doesn’t mean that the time for vigilance is over. We’ve got warming temperatures and a consolidating snowpack, as well as bridging crusts that can limit the transport of gases through the snowpack, maintaining the structure of faceted crusts, held deep within.
This is a snowpack structure that makes for difficult forecasting of avalanche hazard, even for the most seasoned professionals. So, I’ll give you a mission…time it early, investigate often, and if uncertainty rears its ugly head, remember that the only thing we do have control over out there is managing the terrain in which we choose to recreate. You can always find safe terrain.
This was my second season as a fully certified Association of Canadian Mountain Guides Ski Guide. My career this season has taken many new directions from lead guiding at all the operations I work for to building forecasting protocols for major companies like Tyax and Bella Coola Heli Sports. I spent the month of March at work. Literally… 30 days of work in a row. What an adventure! Here’s a list of all the places I got to shred.
Pantheon Ranch
My first time visiting the iconic Pantheon Ranch will also be my last. Unfortunately, there are some big changes a foot in the valley below Mount Waddington, British Columbia’s highest peak. The valley is owned by two competing farmers—the Fosters and the Kings—and is now at risk for development. Kind of like the real life “Yellowstone” show in the mountains of Northern British Columbia.
Sand Creek Ranch
Welcome to Sand Creek Ranch, an outpost of Bella Cool Heli Sports. Nestled amongst the outflows of some of the largest glaciers in Canada, this little piece of paradise is like a time-warp. Wrapped in the warm embrace of Mosley Creek, you’ll take a five-minute heli flight to be amongst the giants, and at the end of the day you’re flying home to your executive chef waiting for you in a 1960s farmhouse with a wood-burning stove. It’s so iconic that even MSP shows up there to film on occasion.
Tyax Lodge
Tyax is a Chilcotin heli lodge. More like a hotel. This place is huge. With up to 50 guests at any time flying around in the mountains,there is more than enough space for everyone. It snowed just over a meter during our stay and once the skies cleared, we finally got out to enjoy nature’s gift.
Rogers Pass
The Wheeler Hut was the epitome of wilderness access in the early days. It sits a short 15-minute walk off the highway, at the entrance of the Asulkan Valley. The area originally accessed by train had a posh hotel that was frequented in the early days of exploration. Now many huts endow the area with refuge from the incredible Selkirk Mountains. I took the students of Thompson Rivers University’s Adventure Program there to test their vigor for a good seven days of deep trail breaking, and 2,000-meter climbs out of the valley to the summits of Rogers Pass.
Journeyman Lodge
To Journeyman Lodge we go. I was there this winter for year three of the inarguable women’s adventure camp, the Rippin Chix, in the Callaghan. With Altus Mountain Guides, I took 12 lucky slaydies out ski touring during the day and they logged hours in the sauna and at the pool table during the night. It’s always so rewarding to see women come to life in supportive environments. So much learning and calorie burning, all wrapped into a neat little adventure.