Tour

Ski Touring – Fernie

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Details

Please note, booking online is possible up to 14 days before your trip. For within two weeks of your desired trip date, please email us at info@mountainaddicts.ca

All participants must complete a waiver acknowledgement before booking.

Complex avalanche terrain and conditions can make ski touring a stressful outing. The Mountain Addicts are here to help. Hire an ACMG Ski Guide in Fernie or Revelstoke and get out ski touring for a day, weekend, or week!

In Fernie we have the ability to utilize the ski lifts at Fernie Alpine Resort to get out into the backcountry. This is particularly useful in the early season when the valley bottom does not have much snow to cover obstacles like bushes or in cases of warmer weather in the valley. From the ski hill we can access a variety of terrain from beginner friendly to thrill seeking.

Tunnel Creek is another option for ski touring in Fernie. A steady climb up an old forest service road will give us access to the hidden gem of the Lizard Range! There are several summits to bag and beautifully spaced trees for epic powder skiing.

We can also add an element of learning for those looking to get out on their own for future tours.

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More Info

  • You should be able to ski off-piste in a controlled manner
  • Some practice changing your ski touring equipment from walk mode to ski mode and back again
  • Ability to carry a 30L pack with extra clothing, food, and water

Equipment Lists

Required Items: Please bring the following items on your ski touring trip

  • Lift Ticket or Season Pass may be required depending on location: You can purchase a single-ride lift ticket from Mountain Addicts
  • Lunch & Snacks: Bring a variety of small snacks to eat on-the-go, such as bars, jerky, cheese, as well as a sandwich or wrap. We don’t often have the time/weather for a lengthy sit-down lunch
  • Water/Tea: A warm thermos of tea/hot chocolate as well as 1L of water, hydration packs are not recommended due to cold freezing the tube
  • Digital Avalanche Transceiver
  • Avalanche Shovel: collapsible & metal
  • Collapsible Avalanche Probe: longer is better
  • Skis: ‘Alpine Touring with touring bindings’ or ‘Telemark’. Please practice transitioning your bindings from ski-mode to walk-mode and back again. Mel Makepeace loves the Icelantic Nomad Lite for ski touring performance.

or

  • Split Board: with split board skins. Please practice transitions from touring mode to riding mode at home before the field day
  • Ski Poles: recommended for all modes of travel
  • Climbing Skins ‘Stick-on type’ (only required if using skis or split boards)
  • Boots: appropriate for your mode of snow travel
  • Day Pack: large enough for spare clothes, lunch, shovel and probe. 30 liter minimum size recommended.
  • Sunglasses and/or Ski Goggles: we recommend both as high output activities will fog up your goggles. Goggles with multiple lenses are especially handy; XSPEX Goggles “Chaos”
  • Sunscreen

Optional Equipment: Not essential, but feel free to bring

  • Chemical hand warmers & toe warmers packs
  • Skin Wax
  • Snow Saw
  • Snow Study Kit
  • Field Book & Pencil
  • Compass, Inclinometer

Mountain Addicts have limited gear available to rent. The Guides Hut in downtown Fernie have touring and safety equipment available to rent.

Ski Touring Clothing Recommendations

Throughout the day we can experience a variety of weather, and it can change quickly. Bring clothing of varying thicknesses that can be ‘layered’ to achieve comfort and versatility in any condition. Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. You may have heard the expression “Cotton Kills”.

Below is a recommended clothing list:

  • Base Layers (top and bottom): Wool or synthetic materials preferred, such as  Rab® Forge Leggings and Top
  • Water Resistant Jacket: A quality hardshell for staying dry when it’s dumping is an essential piece of ski touring kit. Our guide’s use the Rab®  Khroma Kinetic Jacket.
  • Water Resistant Ski Pants: Waterproof pants help keep you warm in the powder. Pants with ventilation that you can open and close are ideal. Check out the Rab® Khroma Kinetic Pants.
  • Warm Mid-Layer Shirt, Sweater, or Fleece such as the Rab® Alpha Flash Jacket.
  • Insulated Jacket or Vest: A feather down or Primaloft™ insulated jacket is essential for staying warm while taking breaks or when the weather gets really cold. Don’t be afraid to double down! The Mountain Addicts love the Rab® Neutrino Pro Jacket.
  • Socks: wool or synthetic, no cotton.
  • Wool or Fleece Hat that covers the ears.
  • Buff: great for protecting your face in cold and windy conditions. Mountain Addicts have buffs for sale.
  • 2 Pair of Gloves: we always recommend ski touring with at least 2 pair of gloves. One pair for sweating in, and another pair for keeping your hands dry and warm. Check out these options: Rab® Pivot GTX Glove and Rab® Khroma Tour Infinium Gloves.
  • Ski Helmet: recommended for skiers and riders. We love Pret helmets!

our Instructors and Guides

The Mountain Addicts team is obsessed with safety. All of our guides are members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). The ACMG is the only internationally recognized professional association of trained and certified mountain guides and instructors in Canada. Our guides come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and Mountain Addicts will find your perfect match.

Meet the Team

Mel Makepeace

Ski Guide & Owner

Mel is the owner of Mountain Addicts, an ACMG Ski Guide and Professional Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. She began her career as a ski patroller in 2008 and now travels the world ski touring and heli-ski guiding. Mel particularly loves facilitating mountain travel confidence in women.
Guide Bio

Steve Kloepzig

ACMG Ski Guide

“Big” Steve Kloepzig has over 20 years of guiding experience in the Elk Valley and is one of the most requested guides at Mountain Addicts and Island Lake Catskiing. To say that Steve is passionate about sharing his mountain wisdom would be the understatement of the year.
Guide Bio

Tyler McMillan

ACMG Ski Guide

Tyler started his career as a ski patroller in Fernie almost 20 years ago, before moving on to become a well rounded ski touring, heliskiing, and catskiing guide. He loves finding good snow and interesting terrain, and watching guests exceed their abilities in the backcountry.
Guide Bio

Anne Cayer-Huard

ACMG Ski Guide

Corin loves sharing the mountain experience and the connections that are made while learning and exploring in the backcountry. Since 2011, Corin has been guiding ski trips in the mountains of Western Canada. He lives in Fernie with his family and spends his summers running icewalks.com ; a glacier guiding business in Jasper National Park.
Guide Bio

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