Adventure onto ancient ice with our glacier treks…
Seasoned hikers looking for additional adventures should try backpacking across high mountains and glaciers. Our Glacier treks will take you one step further. With a certified guide you’ll learn how to rope up, walk on glaciers with crampons and move safely around crevasses.
We offer 2-5 day Glacier treks in various alpine areas of Western Canada and the European Alps. Glacier trekking can be a fun experience with a group or family and gives a window into the high mountain alpine terrain.
Have a look at some of our regular trips below and let us know what you think. You can also visit our favorite trails page for inspiration.
Kokanee Glacier Trek (Kokanee Glacier Park)
a 2-3day hut based trek across the Kokanee Glacier near Nelson BC. A great introduction to Glacier trekking with stunning Kootenay vistas.
Wapta Icefield Traverse (Banff National Park)
3-5 days hut-based traverse depending on itinerary. A Canadian Rockies classic! This glacier trekking trip is a fine hut to hut trip along gentle glaciers and amazing alpine vistas.
Macbeth Icefields Traverse (Purcell Mountains)
A 4-5day tent-based traverse in a remote corner of the Southern Purcells. This area is blessed with large glaciers, deep lush valleys and high summits.
Horseshoe Glacier Trek (Purcell Mountains)
A 3-5day tent-based trek up the headwaters of Glacier Creek. This area is in the hearth of the fabled Jumbo Glacier wilderness.
Summer Haute Route, Chamonix-Zermatt (European Alps)
The 7day Summer Haute Route is a spectacular and demanding trek through the French and Swiss Alps, from Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland. You will stay in high mountain refuges and hotels each night as you follow the route that traverses below the summits of many of the highest peaks in the Alps.
We will meet the night before any of our trip in the town located closest to the starting point of your program. The complete itinerary is somewhat flexible and will vary depending on participant needs, weather, conditions, and location. Our Glacier Treks vary in length from 2 to 5 days. Contact us for more details.
Programs are beginner to advanced. Guests are responsible to self evaluate their skills as groups need to be matched together based on prior experience and ability.
Good physical fitness and ability to carry a pack is required. Please contact us to discuss your background and what kind of backpacking location would suit you best.
Off trail program require significantly more experienced than on trail programs.
Trips initiate in the town nearest to the start of your trip location. Our local Glacier Treks occur in the Selkirk and Purcell Mountains near Kaslo, Slocan City, Nelson and New Denver. We can also organized a custom trip in a remote location of your choice in Western Canada. Contact us with your ideas and recommendations.
Due to the higher elevations, proximity to dominant winds and weather conditions, mountain weather is difficult to predict. It is most often worse than the weather in the surrounding valleys and can change quickly as it is really hard to predict for more than 24hrs ahead.
In summer you expect temperatures to be from 10 C to 28C in the day while overnight temperature can drop dramatically in the high alpine, even below zero. Temperatures are much colder at higher elevations, even in the summer. It is not uncommon to have overnight freezing temperatures in the alpine, outside a mountain hut or near a back country camp.
It is always an interesting challenge to know exactly what you are going to get, therefore is important to be flexible with timing and not too attached to a particular goal or objective. Be prepared by bringing all required items, this ensures you will be dressed for all variations as temperatures, wind, precipitation.
How experienced do I need to be?
On this backpacking program will benefit from previous hiking experience. Good physical fitness is a must, comfort and experience with carrying a pack is very useful.
Is it safe?
On all backcountry programs, we provide you with fully certified IFMGA / ACMG Mountain, alpine and hiking guides. This gives you the highest safety standards in the industry. While it is impossible to eliminate all the hazards, our guides will maximize your experience and greatly minimize the risks involved.
Can I rent some of the equipment needed during the programs?
On the overnight tenting programs we offer participants access to hiking or camping equipment at no extra charge however, you are welcome to bring your own. This includes hiking poles, tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, stove, pots. Contact us for specifics and availability.
Where can I rent/buy outdoor equipment?
Here are a few outdoor stores in Nelson that supply good service and quality outdoor equipment and gear rental, please ensure you rent gear well in advance.
Rivers Oceans and Mountains www.roamshop.com
Valhalla Pure Outfitters www.shop.vpo.ca
