As a family this spring March break, we headed down south for nine days, joining two other families with young kids. Wander through the dry Mojave desert of Joshua Tree National and learn about the array of walks and incredible desert ecology.

Winter 2012 is off to a strong start here in British Columbia! This year we have a great program line up with scheduled trips in Western Canada and Europe. Click here and enjoy SMG's Winter 2012 newsletter. We look forward to skiing and climbing with you...

We have just finished our poster highlighting some exciting local and not so local winter programs for 2012. Click here to see the poster.

Cam Shute and I returned to beautiful Mulvey Basin in Valhalla Provincial Park this past July and completed a new route on the South Face of Asgard Peak. Our cumulative efforts spread over two years along with an evolving vision resulted in a new independent line on the right side of the South Face. Click here for more info.

We started The 2011 alpine guiding season in Chamonix this year. David is back in the Alps working on Mont Blanc ascents, classic alpine mix routes and teaching mountaineering. If you happen to be in the area, he is still available most week-ends till July 10th. Click here for photos and more info.

Winter 2011 has been amazing and will stand out as one of the best! We have enjoyed a full season of daily guided ski tours, classic traverses and avalanche courses. David is heading over to the Alps soon for our Spring ski touring progams Click here and enjoy SMG's Spring 2011 newsletter!

Winter 2011 is here! We have been busy developing programs and courses for this season and just finalized our newsletter for the upcoming season. Click here and enjoy SMG's Winter 2011 newsletter!

November has shown all the exciting signs that another snowy winter is underway. Down in the valleys the once vivid foliage has fallen to the ground, the daylight hours have decreasing and the temperatures have cooled off. Winter has already made an appearance in the valleys over the last few weeks with a welcome dump of snow in town and arctic temperatures. With all the natural elements aligned, the human excitement is slowly building with anticipation of another great winter in the mountains.

At lower elevations it is hard to imagine summer is coming to a close. Trek into the alpine and experience the flowers turned to berries and trails being covered with dusting of snow and ice. Learn more about a great late season walk that will lead you into the early signs of winter!

Spring 2010 is here and Summer is approaching fast! We have been busy developing programs and courses for this season and just finalized our newsletter for the upcoming season. Click here and enjoy SMG's 1st ever newsletter!

From ski boots to rock shoes, it was in Zion and Red Rocks that we kicked off the 2010 rock climbing season this year. We flew down to Vegas, rented a car and climbed as much as our body allowed on this 10 day personal trip!

Gray's peak, located near the southern boundary of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, offers easy mountaineering on glaciers along with a few fun granite alpine ridge climbs. This 2740m peak is easily accessible from Nelson and can be climbed in a day from the Gibson lake trail head near Nelson B.C. Here you will find a brief route description for the south-west ridge, the full south ridge and the regular north glacier route.

What level of risk is acceptable when you go back country ski touring? Acceptable level of risk or risk tolerance is very subjective. It is very personal and often based on previous experience, judgment and decision making ability. Some of the close calls that skiers live through are also a valuable opportunity to learn how to better mitigate future risks.

About this time of year, when Whitewater Ski Hill near Nelson closes, both little and big people are hiking up snow free trails like Pulpit Rock and the early season flowers pave a wave of floral succession. Learn about two early season flowers that show off their petals as winter recedes.

Aesthetic and challenging, the North Ridge Bypass, IV 5.10b on Gladsheim Peak is in Valhalla Provincial Park. It is a great day out involving lots of traveling on snow, ice, glacier and challenging alpine rock climbing along with a technical descent via the west ridge. Click on this link for more info.

“The Date” 5.10a is a 80m long fully bolted 3 pitch sport route on Pulpit Rock in Nelson, B.C.

Megawatts, II 5.8, 280m, is a fully bolted 8-pitch sport route in Castlegar, BC. Megawatts is a long moderate multi-pitch sport route, easily accessible near Castlegar. It offers a fun variety of climbing, great exposure and fantastic views. Click on this link for more info.

The Gift, III 5.11+, 200m, is a fantastic hard alpine rock climb on the South face of the West Wolf's Ear in Valhalla Provincial Park. Click on this link for more info.