Our Ultimate Powder Skiing Adventure

This is your chance to spend a once-in-a-lifetime week skiing at the ACC's renowned Fairy Meadow Hut. Situated in the Adamant Range of the Selkirk Mountains, this destination was named “THE backcountry ski destination in Canada” by none other than legendary backcountry skier Chic Scott and was recently ranked the fourth best ski hut in all of North America by this blog.

If spectacular scenery, long glacier runs, and abundant ski-mountaineering opportunities weren't enough, you'll also be treated to a wood-fired sauna and hot drinks and delicious meals prepared by your own group chef.

Our highly experienced guiding team led by long term favourite Conrad Janzen know the region intimately and will be able to divide the group based on abilities, keeping the camp safe and the skiing satisfying for everybody.

The only catch? This camp sells out every year so grab your spot early to avoid disappointment!

Smartwool supports our Powder Program and we thank them for their assistance.

Camp Objectives

The clue is in the name - the primary objective of this camp is to ski great powder in a stunning alpine setting! The high cols between the Adamants offer world-famous skiing, accessing the Gothic Glacier and the Granite Glacier.

But this camp is geared toward climbing peaks as well as skiing great powder (often in the same day). There are plenty of exciting ski mountaineering objectives available, including East Pioneer (3,164 m), Mt. Sir William (3,002 m), Sentinel Peak (3,033 m), Colossal (2,940 m), and Enterprise (2,910 m).

Due to the superb location and accessibility of the hut, participants will be able to take each day at their own speed and get in as much skiing as conditions permit. Choose between short days, long days or days of complete relaxation in the hut.

Day by Day Adventure Itinerary

Day 1: Meet in Golden, BC, at the the Big Bend Cafe at 9am, where you will be introduced to your group and your guides. Travel to the nearby staging area at Sorcerer Lodge Heliport where you will fly into the Fairy Meadow Hut by private helicopter (on a clear day, the views over the Adamants are stunning). There will still be plenty of time for a first day of skiing once you arrive and unpack. This is a good opportunity to review gear, companion and crevasse rescue skills briefly before being orientated to the area by you guides.

Day 2 - 7: There are so many great objectives accessible from the hut that we can't really speculate on exactly how each day will look. Each evening the group and guides will gather in the hut to discuss and decide on objectives and groups for the next day. As long as the weather plays ball, you can all-but guarantee climbing classic mountaineering objectives at around 3000m of elevation and then being rewarded with long powder runs back down to the hut. Nearby gladed runs ensure there's plenty to do when the snow is flying.

Day 8: Pack up, take some final pictures of the breathtaking views and travel back to Golden by helicopter

Is this Camp For Me?

Advanced

This is an advanced powder camp program. The strong, experienced skier will enjoy and be challenged by this camp. Previous backcountry ski experience is required. An advanced level of fitness and high-intermediate to advanced downhill ski abilities are essential. This means being comfortable skiing black diamond runs with a 7-9 kg (15-20 lb) pack in backcountry snow conditions (read: deep powder!). For those individuals who live at lower elevations (less than 1000m/3300’), we recommend that you arrive in the mountains a few days before the camp to do some skiing on your own and acclimatize to the altitude. This camp involves living at and above 2050m/6800’ for the week. If you are unsure about whether this camp is right for you, please contact the office.

Food, Accommodation and Guiding

Food

Evenings will be spent enjoying great food, socializing in cozy hut surroundings and resetting for the next day’s skiing. Food supplies will be flown in by helicopter (no dehydrated stuff here) and cooked up by our dedicated chef. All meals are designed to be healthy, sumptuous and plentiful and special dietary needs can be accommodated. Because we want you to be able to focus on the powder not the cooking!

Accomodation

The Fairy Meadow Hut is truly one of the jewels in the crown of the ACC's hut network. Perched on a bench deep in the Selkirks and surrounded by granite spires, glaciers and powder slopes, it is the quintessential base for a week of ski touring. The hut is very comfortable with a wood stove, propane lighting, ever-popular sauna and comfortable outhouses located just outside the hut - the perfect setting for apres-ski relaxation!

Guiding

The ever-popular Conrad Janzen leads our team of three ACMG certified guides who will ensure your time at Fairy Meadow is both safe and enjoyable. All our guides come back year after year so are super knowledgable about the area and welcome to answering any questions. Our low guiding ratios (maximum 16 participants to 3 guides) allow us to form groups based on abilities and ambition, making sure the pace and difficulty is right for you.

The ACC hires guides certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Visit the ACMG website to learn more about what they do!

Gear and Rentals

Don't have everything on the gear list (found on the right hand side of this webpage)? We recommend heading to Gear Up in Canmore to grab any items your might be missing. To ensure availability of items call ahead to book. ACC members get a 10% discount.

Backcountry Skiing Hazards

Avalanche
- Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering. Caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain
- Anyone caught in a avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and or property damage or loss
- Our ACMG certified guides have experience and training to manage this risk
- Daily risk assessment processes
- Guest training

Terrain
- Cornices
- Crevasses
- Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps
- Cliffs
- Creeks
- Rocks and Boulders
- Variable and difficult snow conditions
- Impact or collision with other persons or objects
- Encounters with domestic or wild animals
- Loss of balance or control
- Becoming lost or separated from the group
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Our ACMG certified guides have experience and training to manage this risk
- Radios and/or other communication devices

Boots and Binding systems
- Even when set up correctly, a ski binding might not release during every fall or may release unexpectedly. The ski boot/binding system is no guarantee that the skier will not be injured. Non-DIN-certified bindings, such as pin/tech bindings, present a higher risk of pre-release and/or injury as they are not designed to the same safety standards as a DIN-certified alpine binding.
- Unlike alpine ski boot/binding systems, snowboard and some telemark boot/binding systems are not designed or intended to release and will not release under normal circumstances. Using such a system increases the risk of injury and/or death when caught in an avalanche.

Communication, rescue, and medical treatment
- Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident rescue and treatment may not be available
- Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment or transportation out of the field,
- Alpine weather conditions can be extreme and change rapidly without warning making travel by helicopter, snowmobile, snowcat, dangerous
- If an injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow
- Your guide is trained in both backcountry first-aid and rescue techniques
- Emergency response plans
- Satellite communication tools

Other
- Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor
- Infectious disease contracted via direct or indirect contact, including but not limited to influenza or Covid-19
- Equipment failure
- Negligence of other persons, including other guests
- Negligence of the guide Including failure to to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, oh participating in ACC activities
- Your guide is trained in both backcountry first-aid and rescue techniques
- Satellite communication tools

Your Guides

TERESA YAU

Teresa Yau is an Apprentice Ski and Apprentice Rock Guide and is currently pursuing the ACMG Mountain Guide certification. In the winter months, Teresa spends most of her time heli skiing and ski tour guiding and also instructs avalanche courses. During the summer, Teresa enjoys taking people out rock climbing and spends her time training for the Alpine certification. Teresa also has a B.Ed and B.Sc. and on the off season, she works as a secondary school teacher. Teresa lives in Canmore, Alberta, but also calls Vancouver & Squamish, B.C. her home.

ALISON CARDINAL

Alison moved to Canmore from Northern Ireland. She's spent a lot of time hill walking in rainy Scotland, as well as climbing and skiing in Chamonix, the Dolomites, the Pyrenees and Kenya. She is a fully certified ACMG hiking and ski guide and we are lucky to have her as an active trip leader with the Rocky Mountain Section and guide on National ski and trekking trips.

Adventure Map

Click here for a cool map of the GPX tracks from one of our 2019 participants!

Details

March 4-11 2023
$3,345 + Tax

Registration and Cancelation Policy Trip Waivers and Liability Page

Before registering, please review our Waivers and Liability page as well as the Cancelation policies.

More Information

Please try to register online before calling. If you are having issues please try to have your emergency contact information and course questionnaire filled out before calling.

Email Us

(403)-678-3200 ext 312

Cancellation Policy
We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips:

Travel Insurance

Included WITH YOUR CAMP FEE

Professional guiding by three fully-certified ACMG ski guides
Exclusive accommodation at Bill Putnam (Fairy Meadow) Hut for the week
Helicopter transportation to and from the hut
All meals, beginning with dinner on Day 1 and ending with lunch on Day 8
Services of a dedicated camp chef
All group gear (ropes, emergency equipment etc.)
ACC office staff available Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm MST

Participants Must Provide

Transportation to/from Sorcerer Lodge Heliport close to Golden (carpooling lists will be provided ahead of time)
Breakfast and lunch on day 1, dinner on day 8
Personal gear (see gear list)