Mistaya Lodge - Winter - Cross-country skiing and hiking adventure

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Winter Rates and Booking Conditions
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Deep snow in the remote high country and the warm coziness of Mistaya Lodge combine to make a Mecca for backcountry skiers, from mid-December until early May. Located on the west slopes of the Canadian Rockies, the frequent up slope snowfalls and the dry powder of the Rockies provide us with excellent telemark and alpine ski touring. Our close proximity to extensive glaciated terrain as well as glades and open tree skiing, provides plenty of variety for novice to expert backcountry skiers using either telemark or randonee equipment. An unforgettably scenic 18 minute flight by helicopter from Golden, British Columbia will introduce you to this magically beautiful basin in the Rockies.

During the winter, moisture laden storms tracking eastward across British Columbia release most of their moisture content as they are forced to rise up the west slope of the Continental Divide. This phenomenon results in frequent and abundant snowfall in the Wildcat Creek Basin. Over the past several years total new snowfall has varied between 6 and 11 meters. Although we certainly cannot offer guarantees regarding the snow conditions you will encounter during your stay with us, we have found that skiing conditions are very good to excellent the majority of the winter. We can however, virtually guarantee that your group will have the entire Wildcat Creek basin to yourselves during your stay. No helicopter skiing or snowmobiling takes place anywhere near our area. The powder is all yours!

The extensive alp lands and glades on the east facing slopes near the lodge, being relatively gentle and free of avalanche hazard, are ideally suited to intermediate skiers with limited back country experience. The glaciated terrain on the north and west aspects is much more varied and provides a vast mélange of exciting options for intermediate to advanced skiers, whether on telemark or randonee equipment. Several of the peaks over 9000 feet (2700m) which surround the basin are accessible via straight forward ski and scramble routes. On those snowy days when visibility is limited on the glaciers the basin is blessed with abundant and varied tree skiing.

On-going discussions between our guides and guests regarding terrain, snow characteristics, weather forecasts, physical conditioning, and group expectations provide the basis for planning each day's skiing. With two certified guides and an experienced apprentice skiing everyday we can readily accommodate differences in skiing abilities and enthusiasm levels within a group on any given day. We can also take the time to offer clinics in powder skiing techniques, snow science, glacier travel, geology or other topics of interest when requested. Avalanche transceiver instruction and practice is provided for all individuals before we hit the slopes!.

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Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, just outside Banff and Yoho National Parks in British Columbia, Mistaya Lodge offers idyllic backcountry accommodation where you can enjoy year round activities such as hiking, scrambling, photography and mountaineering in the summer, and backcountry powder skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering in the winter.