Canadian Lodge Recommendations

I’m looking for recommendations for a backcountry lodge in the Canadian Rockies. I haven’t been to one myself but I’ve heard of remote lodges that you helicopter into and then spend 4-7 days with a guide. I’m based out of Portland Oregon so it would be a long drive or a plane flight. Have you been to anyplace you’d care to recommend?

Thanks, Scott

Does it have to be the Rockies, or would the Selkirks/Columbia Mountains (north/south-ish of Rogers pass, staging out of Revelstoke or Golden) be fair game too? What sort of terrain are you looking for (all high alpine, some tree skiing too, intermediate, advanced, etc)? Does it matter where the lodge falls on the plush/rustic continuum?

Good questions and thanks for asking. I’m new to all of this so I don’t know what to specify.  Anyplace near the Pacific Northwest with good snow and good skiing would be great. I’m not familiar with Selkirks/Columbia mountains but would love to check it out.

Terrain wise I’m pretty open. I enjoy tree skiing but high alpine would be fine too. My fitness level is OK but my skiing could be improved, I think my skill level is intermediate at best. It doesn’t matter where the lodge falls in plush/rustic. One option we are considering is staying in yurts in the Wallowa mountains in Eastern Oregon but I wouldn’t mind staying in a nicer cabin either.

Thanks for the response. I’m getting excited about a great winter.

Check out Golden Alpine Holidays which runs a string of 4 huts in the Selkirks. Not the highest terrain, but they are known for the great snow and for having a mix of tree skiing as well as alpine skiing. You won't be on the BIG mountains, but you'll see them nearby. We have friends from Edmonton who we met at an Alpine Club of Canada trip to Fairy Meadow (another fantastic location, but with a very different feel) - they help the ACC run ski trips each year, and they raved about the GAH operation - never a bad week there, less likely to be wind hammered than higher terrain, plenty of options when storms set in (some huts, such as Fairy Meadows have very limited tree skiing for storm skiing or high avy conditions) etc. Looks like you can get small groups in with them to fill the hut out on not-quite-full weeks, if that suits your purpose (or you can reserve an entire hut for your group).

There are plenty of other great options up thattaway, and I'm sure others will weigh in with some of them.

The Alpine Club of Canada runs some good outings which are worth checking out if you're looking to go alone or otherwise want a group to tag along with.

Both the Fairy Meadows Hut and Sorcerer Lodge are excellent.  Fairy Meadows is all done by lottery, so it might be tough to get a spot now.  Sorcerer also books up early, but may still have openings.  Of the two, Fairy Meadows has better steep, easily accessed terrain, while Sorcerer's lodge is a little more up-to-date (though Fairy recently remodeled).  Both are excellent

A friend's been to Powder Creek and said it was fantastic.  Many, many good options here .

Good luck!

EDIT -- should mention that Fairy and Sorcerer are both available as self-guided, self-catered, though you'll have a hut custodian at Sorcerer. Powder may be the same way.

I'll second Jim's recommendation of Golden Alpine. Varied terrain, reasonable hut accomodations, great guides. Sometimes the huts do not entirely fill up for the week and you can snag a spot. You never know who you'll be sking with but that's part of the fun.