Canada Backcountry Skiing at the Mount Carlyle Lodge

Ski,

Advanced,

Winter,

Ratio:

5:1

Length:

8 days

Price:

$4200

Dates:

Pre-trip meeting on the evening of February 13, 2027 in Kaslo, BC
February 14-21, 2027 at the lodge

Location:

British Columbia, Canada

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Trip Details

Mt. Carlyle Lodge is located in the heart of the Kootenay region of British Columbia. This slice of the Selkirk mountains is famous for the powder snow that results when the jet stream brings cold air from the north and combines with moisture coming from the pacific. Kootenay “cold smoke” is not just snow, it’s an experience. The lodge is surrounded by incredible terrain with open slopes and bowls, and plentiful tree skiing. With a variety of aspects, we can have our pick of the terrain that will hold the best snow for that day.

This trip is ideal for strong skiers and splitboarders who love powder snow, moderate climbs, and rewarding descents. Most days include:

3,000+ feet of vertical gain
4–6 miles of ski touring

Mountain Life:

Life in the lodge is mountain living at its best. All meals are provided by the on-site chef. Much of the food is sourced from the local area. The lodge comfortably holds 12 people with bunk room style sleeping quarters. There is a hot water on-demand system and a sauna in a separate building. The common area has couches next to a wood stove where you can unwind, read a book, or regale each other with tales from the mountains.

Meet Your Guides:

Your trip is led by experienced IFMGA and AMGA-certified Ski Guides, the highest internationally recognized standard in mountain guiding. Their expertise in snowpack assessment, route selection, and group management ensures a safe and rewarding week in the backcountry. Beyond technical skill, our guides bring a warm, supportive, and fun presence—balancing professional decision-making with the kind of camaraderie that turns a good trip into an unforgettable one.

Itinerary:

Pre Trip:

You will meet in the charming town of Kaso, BC for dinner and an informational session with the lodge staff and your guides. We will go over logistics and packing for flying into the lodge and what you can expect for the week.

Day 1:

Meet at the helipad and stage for flying into the lodge. It will take multiple flights to get all the people and gear into the lodge. Once we are all at the lodge, we will have a delicious lunch prepared by the chef. Following lunch we will do an avalanche safety review and then go out on a tour. We will be back at the lodge in time for apres and dinner.

Days 2 – 7:

Coffee comes out around 6:00AM followed by breakfast at 7:30. The lodge staff prepares lunches for us to take out on our day of touring. Following breakfast, we will have a morning briefing about the plan for the day. Then we go ski all day and explore the plentiful terrain in the surrounding mountains. We will ski into the lodge around 4:30PM just in time for delicious apres appetizers followed by a family style dinner. Spend the evening relaxing in the sauna, reading a book by the wood stove, and recounting the day’s ski adventure.

Day 8:

Following breakfast, we will pack up and get staged for the helicopter flight back to Kaslo.

What’s included

Helicopter flight into and out of the lodge.
All accommodations and meals while at the lodge
Guided skiing

What’s not included

Travel to and from Kaslo, BC.
Hotel in Kaslo the night before we fly into the lodge (you will need to make your own reservation)
Dinner in Kaslo on the night before we fly into the lodge
Alcoholic beverages (you can pack your own to bring into the lodge)
Gratuities for your guides and the lodge staff

Get Started

Interested in a trip? Call us today to get started on your trip reservation. We will take the time to place you on the expedition that is a fit for you.

(541) 312-9242

When you call us you will speak to someone knowledgable about all or our trips and locations.

I'm Interested

British Columbia, Canada

Elevation:	3,000+ feet per day
Style:	Backcountry Skiing
Skill Level:	Advanced

"I am very happy with my TMG experience. The guides were professional, personable, and extremely concerned about safety. . . I absolutely give highest marks to these guys. If you don't have much Alpine experience, or just want the security of seasoned veterans guiding you up this mountain, then I strongly recommend you sign up with them. Thanks, guys, for a great experience!!"

George C

Highland, UT

"What a fantastic experience gaining the summit of a mountain we've gazed on from Portland for 25 years! . . . We learned a great deal, had a ton of fun, felt in very capable hands, and had the reward of summiting on a beautiful clear day. The value of being with a professional, certified, guide and guiding organization was evident throughout. Kudos to the TMG team who were responsive, supportive, and fun to work with every step of the way."

Malcolm C

Portland, OR

"We booked 2-day overnight program on Mt. Hood with Timberline Mountain Guides. Our guides were great, . . super friendly and reputable. The program did not go as planned due to inclement weather but we still had fun and good experience. The guides were definitely flexible and provided guidance during the trip. I would recommend going with them if it's your first climbing trip on Mt. Hood for sure."

Lucyan

Portland, OR

Meet Our Guides

Know Before You Go

Comfort skiing black diamond runs at a resort both on and off-piste and in variable snow conditions
Strong level of fitness – can comfortably climb at least 3000+ vertical feet in a day with a 20 pound pack on, multiple days in a row
Previous experience with human-powered backcountry skiing/splitboarding

Timberline Mountain Guides reserves the right to cancel or modify a trip due to circumstances beyond our control. Payments are always non-refundable, even under these circumstances.

A 20% deposit per booking is required to reserve your trip. This deposit is non-refundable under all circumstances because we begin to spend this money on your behalf right away.
Full payment is due 60 days before your program’s start date. This payment is non-refundable under all circumstances. No cancellations, group-size changes, or date-changes are allowed after this date. (International programs, third-party organizations and large group programs are due in full 120 days prior to start date.)
Date-change requests are subject to availability and cost $50 per booking. Date-changes are not allowed within 60 days of your program’s start date, and your new date must be within the same calendar year.

We adhere to these policies under all circumstances, and therefore we recommend that you purchase trip/travel insurance or wait to register until closer to your desired date.

Private Group Registration:

If you plan to schedule a private group climb, the Group Leader will be responsible for all deposits and payments for the entire group. Each individual must still complete our Registration Form. We require younger climbers (under 16 years) to join us in a private setting.

Inclement Weather:
Challenging weather conditions are often a part of climbing in the mountains. Timberline Mountain Guides will lead your climb in any weather conditions, although there is no guarantee that we will reach the summit.

Once a trip begins, there are no refunds or date-changes available due to bad weather.
Regardless of the forecasted weather, we are unable to offer refunds, exchanges or rainchecks in the weeks or days before a scheduled trip.
We will uphold our cancellation policies in all cases.

Turning around without reaching the summit:
The guide will make a decision to turn back if they feel that the group is being placed in jeopardy. We are not in a position to evaluate your fitness level. Our guides can only make decisions based on the speed and coordination of the team relative to current conditions and forecasted weather. If you have any chronic health conditions, please consult your doctor before signing up for any trip.

Climber-to-Guide Ratios:
Each climbing program has a maximum climber-to-guide ratio, listed at the bottom of the climb description. These ratios are determined based on the hazard exposure and the limitations of protection systems that we employ. For that reason, our guides will not exceed this ratio in technical terrain, and climbers in open group programs can be turned around to maintain the maximum climber-to-guide ratio of 3:1 for those continuing climbing. Private Guides are available for anyone concerned about climbing with unknown partners.

Acknowledgement of Risk Forms:

At the start of your program you will be asked to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk form. We recommend that you take the time to read this form prior to arriving, and we invite you to call our office in advance if you have any questions about it.

Climbing and mountaineering involve inherent risks – many that we can manage to a degree – some that are beyond our control. By signing, you assume responsibility for all the risks associated with this activity, and you acknowledge the hazards that are beyond our control. We do not assume liability for injuries or death. All participants are completely responsible for all medical and hospital costs associated with any injury, rescue or evacuation. You go at your own risk.

Snowcat Transportation:

We partner with the Timberline Lodge to provide snowcat transportation on our Summit Program. This machine is a great resource for bypassing the lower flanks of the mountain however, due to the extreme weather and snow conditions that we experience on Mount Hood, there is no guarantee that it will be able to access any particular location or elevation. We do not offer refunds, nor will we reschedule programs in relation to the snowcat’s ability to travel in the conditions presented. Climbs will depart from the lodge at the planned time, with or without snowcat transportation.

Fitness and Training

Mountaineering, Rock Climbing and Ski Mountaineering are demanding activities and are very serious undertakings. The more prepared you are, the more enjoyable your trip will be. Physical fitness is one aspect of preparation that takes time and commitment. It is an important component of risk management, because the more fit we are as a team, the more capacity we have to deal with challenging situations.

Most mountaineering challenges involve long duration and medium to low intensity. All of our mountaineering climbs require very good physical fitness. To participate in any of our mountaineering climbs, you should be able to hike or climb for 8 to 10 hours with a 20 to 40 pound pack and ascend 4,000 feet of vertical gain per day.

In order to prepare for such a feat, you should be exercising 3 to 4 times per week for at least one hour per session. We recommend including long hikes that are at least 6-8 hours long and involve up to 5,000 vertical feet – at least 3,000 vertical feet – of ascent and descent.

The guide will make a decision to turn back if they feel that the group is being placed in jeopardy. We are not in a position to evaluate your fitness level. Our guides can only make decisions based on the speed of the team relative to current conditions and forecasted weather. If you are overweight or are in poor health, please consult your doctor before signing up for any trip.

On some trips you will be carrying heavy loads, climbing technical terrain with an overnight pack, climbing at high altitude, and climbing on little or restless sleep. These conditions require that you be in excellent fitness. If these activities are at your absolute physical limit, there will be little room to handle additional challenges like inclement weather, adverse conditions or discomfort. Please be in the best fitness you can be, before arriving to climb Mount Hood.

To help you prepare for your next mountain adventure, we recommend Lisa Thompson and her company Alpine Athletics. She founded Alpine Athletics in 2018 to help climbers of all experience levels prepare for their next mountain adventure. Lisa can work with you to develop the best plan based on your trip objective, your current fitness level and your training environment.

Medical History

First and foremost, it is imperative that you inform your guide of all your medical history and current physical condition. This information helps your guide to make informed decisions about your program, and in the event of an emergency, potentially life-saving decisions. Our programs operate in remote locations where advanced medical care and evacuation may not be available for hours or days.

If you have any long-term side-effects from past injuries or illness please include these in your medical history. Any current injuries or conditions – even those that seem irrelevant – should be disclosed, as well as a list of all medications that you are taking. Any asthma or allergies to food, animals or the environment must be included in your form.

Acclimatization

The key to this is to try to be well hydrated, and well fed before your trip begins. Another helpful tactic is to spend some time at 6000’ at Timberline Lodge before your trip. If you aren’t staying at Timberline, consider coming a couple days earlier and taking some day hikes above the lodge to gradually expose your body to the increased demands of exertion at altitude.

Altitude

Our programs operate between 7,000 and 15,000 feet in the United States, and up to 19,000 feet internationally. If you are traveling from sea-level we recommend that you arrive early to give yourself time to acclimate to the altitude before you exert yourself on the climb. If you are going to elevations above 15,000 feet, we recommend speaking with your doctor about obtaining a prescription of Diamox. If you have a history of altitude illness, you may want to talk to your doctor about using Diamox at even lower elevations, as well as obtaining a prescription for emergency dexamethasone.

Weather

On some trips you will be carrying heavy loads. Sleeping and eating conditions on overnight trips are not always ideal. Weather is often unpredictable and may disrupt climbing. The mountain environment is constantly changing, so you must be prepared for any weather.

Personal Responsibility

No one can control the weather and route conditions. We cannot control your fitness, but you can. Sometimes conditions make the climbing more tiring, for example in the cold and the wind. Sometimes conditions dictate that we move fast to catch a weather window, or else we’ll be forced to turn around. The more physically prepared you are, the better opportunity your team will have to reach the summit in the variety of conditions that we find in the mountain that we guide. We will make every effort to help you get to the summit. However, our priority is always to descend safely, even if that is because we can’t move fast enough to complete the objective. Please do your best to prepare adequately for the physical demands of mountaineering.

Life happens, and plans change. Travel insurance can help to cover the costs in the event of an unforeseen cancellation, including cancellation due to illness, injury, trip delay, lost baggage, job change, etc. Some policies include coverage for medical expenses and evacuation in the event of an emergency. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for your trip that includes “cancel for any reason” and evacuation. Please review our cancellation policy. We will adhere to these policies under all circumstances.

Travel insurance options are extensive, and oftentimes confusing to sort through. We are not the experts and ask you to consult the individual travel insurance company that you choose to go with. Make sure that you read the fine print of the policy before purchasing to ensure that it will cover any potential reasons for cancellations, and to be sure that the policy covers the activity that you are partaking in. Note that many policies do not cover “high intensity sports” or activities at high altitude, and some may require that you purchase an adventure add-on to cover such activities. Some policies require that you purchase coverage within a certain amount of time after your payment for the trip, so we recommend you look into purchasing travel insurance as soon as possible.

We do not have a business relationship with any travel insurance companies, but the following are a good place to begin your research:

Travelex adventure sports travel insurance

Click the above logos to be redirected to their website.