Discover the rewards of backcountry touring by earning your turns in untracked powder!

Ski touring or backcountry touring is the sport of mountain ascents in the pursuit of exhilarating powder descents. Backcountry ski touring offers physical challenge, exclusive powder, remote wilderness and an endless panorama of views. Join us for the ultimate backcountry adventure and ski/ride “off piste” far from crowds.

Every winter, Summit Mountain Guides offers various ski touring programs in Nelson BC, Western Canada, Japan and in the European Alps. We offer single or multi-day guided and instructional ski touring programs in the Selkirk’s, Monashee’s and Purcell mountains as well as the Coast Mountains, the Canadian Rockies and the European Alps.

Whether you are interested in taking an Avalanche course, Day ski touring, a Ski Traverse or Ski Mountaineering, we have a program that suits your needs. Browse our guided and instructional programs below and contact us for specific or custom trips. We look forward to guiding your adventure…

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Professional Ski Guiding

Summit Mountain Guides offers a professional ski touring guiding service with fully certified ski and mountain guides (ACMG/IFMGA). Skiing with a certified guide provides you with the highest industry expertise and safety standards. At SMG our experienced guides take pleasure in helping you achieve your mountain adventure and goals. We specialize in designing trips to suits your needs and experience. By leaving all the logistics to the experts, you will maximize your skiing!

Ski Touring Adventure

Every winter, Summit Mountain Guides offers various ski touring programs in Nelson BC, Western Canada and in the European Alps. We offer single or multi-day guided and instructional ski touring programs in the Selkirk’s, Monashee’s and Purcell mountains as well as the Coast Mountains, the Canadian Rockies and the European Alps.

We look forward to guiding your adventure…

Browse our ski touring trips and courses

Avalanche Skills – AST 1

Learn the basics of safe winter travel in avalanche terrain. Knowing more saves lives…

Avalanche Skills – AST 2

Deepen your knowledge, broaden your perspective and refine your decision making skills in avalanche terrain leads to serious fun!

Managing Avalanche Terrain

The MAT is a one-day, field-based course, designed to expand on the terrain management skills taught in the AST 1 course.

Lodge Based AST Courses

Avalanche education by immersion! Take our lodge based AST courses and deepen you knowledge by immersing yourself in a remote backcountry lodge.

Steep Lines Skills

An introduction to the skills required for big lines skiing and snowboarding

BURST

Bridge the gap between avalanche training, wilderness first aid, and backcountry emergencies…

Rock Climbing with summit mountain guides

After School Youth Rock

A fun after school program for youth ages 12 and up to build skills and confidence. A Nelson based program available in Spring and Fall.

Ski Mountaineering 101

An introduction to ski mountaineering covering the skills to plan & execute big mountain objectives. Learn a safe progressive approach to get after big peaks, glaciers, steeps, couloirs & high summits! This 3 day course will take your backcountry skiing skills to the next level.

Natural History & Ecology

For budding naturalists or guides interested in upgrading skills, we offer custom programs in nature interpretation for hikers interesting in understanding the ecology.

Introduction to Backpacking

Develop the backcountry and wilderness skills need to effectively plan your route, navigate and set up campsites safely and with ecological integrity. Explore into scenic wilderness areas such as Valhalla, Kokanee Glacier or Goat Provincial Park.

Day Skills Series

Our Day Skills Series is for people interested in acquiring or refreshing very specific mountaineering skills. It is a 1, 2 or 3-day series where participants can choose from various skills.

Crevasse Rescue

This 1 day course is designed for mountaineers & skiers interested in learning the skills required for safe glacier travel and crevasse rescue.

Snow & Ice Focus

This 3-day course is a condensed introduction to mountaineering with a focus on snow, ice and glacier travel skills. It is specially designed for motivated students just starting up or people with previous exposure to mountaineering & rock climbing looking to refresh specific skills.

Advanced Mountaineering

This 4 day course is for people interested in fine-tuning their existing mountaineering skills & bringing them up to the next level. On this course, you will learn modern advanced mountaineering skills from professional mountain guides.

Intro to Ski Touring and Backcountry Skiing

Intro to Backcountry Skiing

Get started the safe way! This one or two day introductory course focuses on safe backcountry touring practices. Participants will learn a great deal about trip preparation, gear use, touring skills, powder skiing skills along with basic avalanche awareness skills required for a safe and enjoyable ski tour.

Mountain Navigation

Mountain navigation for recreational hikers or mountain leaders interested in streamlining their navigation and trip planing skills. Learn modern skills for effective navigation, leadership and organization hence reducing hazards and increasing terrain understanding.

Day Skills Series with Summit Mountain Guides

Intro to Mountaineering

This 4day course is a comprehensive introduction to general mountaineering on rock, snow, glaciers and mixed terrain. It is designed for people with minimal experience interested in acquiring the basic skills and knowledge to start mountaineering.

Intro to Ice Climbing

Join highly qualified instructors and guides on this exciting 2 to 3-day introductory ice climbing program. The focus of the intro course is to give you the basic skills and confidence with modern ice climbing technique on vertical ice and mixed terrain.

Intro to Rock Climbing

This 1 or 2 day beginner program is for families, groups and individuals wishing to safely learn the basics of outdoor rock climbing.

Rock Transition

A one day course focused on basic safety for outdoor top-rope climbing practices with an introduction to lead and multi-pitch climbing standards.

Companion Rescue Skills

The CRS is a one-day, field based, refresher of current rescue skills, preventative measures and modern technology to maximize safety.

Advanced Rock Skills

Our line of advanced rock climbing training programs include skills like; lead climbing, advanced movement skills, traditional gear & anchors, multi-pitch climbing systems, aid climbing, rock rescue & more.

Rock Rescue

This one-day course is an introduction to improvised rock rescue skills. Topics include rope ascending, escaping the belay, load transfers, raising and lowering systems along with troubleshooting various scenarios. Intermediate to advance climbers welcome.

Burnie Glacier Chalet, March 2025

A remote ski touring paradise from the comfort of a beautiful lodge. Located in the Howson Range near Smithers, the Burnie Glacier Chalet is the ideal base for exploring BC’s Coast Mountains.

Japan Powder Safaris with summit mountain guides

Japan Powder Safaris, Winter 2026

Japan is known for its deep low-density powder and perfectly spaced birch forests. The amazing hot-spring network & incredible food also contribute to the uniqueness of this cultural ski experience. Join us and explore this mythical ski paradise as we return to Hokkaido in January 2025.

LQ Outpost, Valkyr Adventures

The latest in the Valkyr lodge family is generating strong interest for good reasons. This backcountry touring paradise is located in the powder triangle of Southeastern BC. It boasts a unique blend of steep north facing tree skiing and alpine terrain.

Klondike Ski Safari, April 2025

Ski touring safari in a remote corner of the St-Elias Mountains near the intricate Yukon, Alaska and BC borders. The terrain at Haines Pass and White Pass offer accessible and diverse alpine opportunities in the hearth of the Klondike region.

Barbeau Peak, Canadian Arctic

Barbeau Peak is a 2616m mountain in Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. Located at 82deg North on Ellesmere Island within Quttinirpaaq National Park, it is the highest mountain in Nunavut and the Canadian Arctic. Summit Mountain Guides is planning to conduct a ski mountaineering ascent of Barbeau Peak in early June 2026.

Ski Touring Arctic Norway

Nestled amidst snow-capped mountains and breathtaking fjords, Northern Norway is a paradise for ski touring enthusiasts seeking unforgettable adventures. With its pristine wilderness, abundant snowfall, and dramatic landscapes, this region offers an unforgettable experience for those yearning to explore above the arctic circle.

Valhalla Lodge

Built in 1987, Valhalla Lodge is a premier backcountry ski touring lodge. This remote paradise is located in the powder triangle of Southeastern BC. It boasts a unique blend of steep tree skiing and alpine terrain.

Custom Ski Mountaineering

Tell about your dream ski peaks! We have the expertise and experience to co-create a custom ski mountaineering trip to suit your needs and interest. We regularly create such custom programs in Western Canada, the Alps, Patagonia, the Arctic, and beyond. Trip length may vary greatly depending on venue and access from 3-21days.

Andermatt Freeride

Andermatt Freeride is a ski touring program in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The town of Andermatt is a mecca for deep powder ski touring in the Alps and deservedly the birth place of freeriding. This area offers a variety of classic European ski tours accessible by lifts, trains or vehicle.

Chamonix Freeride

Sample some of the best steep skiing around Chamonix with an experienced guide. This Spring ski mountaineering program is a progressive steep skiing course. It is intended for advanced downhill skiers/riders wishing to experience steep skiing without going extreme.

Custom Ski Traverses

Let us know about your dream ski traverse! We have the expertise and experience to co-create a custom ski traverse to suit your needs and interest. We regularly create such custom programs in Western Canada, the Arctic and beyond.

Waddington Icefield Traverse

The Waddington Range is a sub-range of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in southwestern British Columbia. This 8 day heli-access ski traverse follows the height of land across the Icefield from East to West over roughly 50km.

Nelson & Rossland Ski Touring

Explore outstanding powder runs in the backcountry near Whitewater & Red Mountain Resorts. Discover world class tree skiing at Kootenay Pass or challenge yourself on alpine tours up Mount Brennan and London Ridge.

Rogers Pass Ski Touring

Roger’s Pass offers a deep and reliable snow pack along with relatively easy access. There are countless unique venues in various ski touring accessible valleys. This world-class venue must be experienced by all avid backcountry skiers.

Lake Louise Ski Touring

Located in the heart of Banff National Park, Lake Louise is surrounded by the Canadian Rockies. Famous for its natural beauty, this area offers fantastic alpine and glaciated ski touring with possible ski mountaineering ascents.

Heli-Access Ski Touring

Get the most out of your ski touring holiday by flying directly into the backcountry. Start your day with an exciting run down a remote peak, followed by many more untracked powder ascents and descents with fantastic views. Enjoy being far from crowds while ski touring an exclusive mountain area for the day.

Custom Backcountry Touring

Organizing custom backcountry skiing trips is one of our specialty. Western Canada is blessed with hundreds of quality touring destinations. We have many years of experience organizing and carrying out successful touring trips in remote locations of Canada and around the world.

Mount Waddington NW Summit

A ski peak like no others. Mount Waddington, 4019m above see level, is the highest peak in the Coast mountain range of British Columbia. While the main summit is technical and only accessible in summer by advanced mountaineers, the North West summit (4000m high) provides one of the most interesting and aesthetic ski mountaineering challenge in the coast mountains. It is a Canadian Classic!

Sorcerer Lodge

Discover a backcountry skiing paradise in the Selkirk Mountain Range. Perched right at treeline (6660 ft/ 2030m), this fly-in lodge is a comfortable 3 level accommodation. It is located near the northern boundary of Glacier National Park in Southeastern British Columbia.

Backcountry Basecamps

This remote, tent based, backcountry trip is ideal for those looking at ski touring in seldom visited terrain far from the crowds. It is an exciting heli access program similar to a ski traverse however, here you will enjoy skiing with a light day pack while touring from a well located camp site.

Jumbo Glacier Traverse

An advanced tent based ski traverse at the headwaters of the well-named Jumbo & Glacier creeks in the Purcell Mountains. This 7 day trip links together the Horseshoe Glacier, Jumbo Pass, the Starbird Glacier and the Macbeth Icefield in a high-level circuit.

Kokanee Glacier Traverse

This little known gem is our local favorite! It is an interesting 5-day trip and a good introduction to tent based ski-traverses. The highlight includes fantastic steep ascents and descent, complex but intriguing alpine terrain and beautiful scenery while traveling through the famous Kokanee Glacier Park.

Bonnington Traverse

A West Kootenay classic! This hut-to-hut tour is a good introduction to ski traverses. It offers fantastic tree skiing, open bowls and sharp ridges along with a reliable snowpack. Along the way, there are plenty of good views from the many ski peaks in the 7000’ (2300m) range.

Valhalla Traverse

The Valhalla traverse is the ultimate West Kootenay traverse. This committing, 7 day, tent-based ski traverse is a challenging trip with big ascents and descents over rugged and remote alpine terrain in the famous Selkirk mountain.

Monte Rosa Ski Peaks

Located near Zermatt, the Monte Rosa massif contains several challenging ski-mountaineering summits including the highest peak in Switzerland, Dufour Spitz 4634m.

Get in touch to book or plan your next custom adventure

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