BY: S. Threndyle
This scenic town of 4,000 acts as the jumping off point for B.C.’s burgeoning guided ski touring industry, with the highest density of backcountry lodges in North America.
Virtually all 29 members of the Backcountry Lodges of British Columbia Association offers accommodation and meals that are easily on par with their larger brethren; in fact, many lodges employ the very same skilled mountain guides you might find in a helicopter skiing operation. Backcountry skiing around Golden occurs mainly in the Selkirk Mountains, perhaps the world’s most perfect mountain range for skiing. Huge glaciers (no, they have not all melted), upwards of 20 metres of snowfall, reliably cold (but not frigid) temperatures and remote, spectacular mountains are the draws here. The beauty is that most of the lodges (Selkirk Mountain Experience, Selkirk Lodge and Golden Alpine Holidays are perhaps the best known, though Purcell Lodge, Amiskwi Lodge and Sorcerer Lodge are also spectacular) are just a short helicopter ride away from the staging area at Revelstoke airport. Once you’ve arrived in aerial style, your week long adventure will begin. Avalanche safety gear, guided tours suitable for all ability levels and gourmet meals are all part of the fun.
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