The Ride

Yeah, we can put it into words…

The Mountain

Baldface Lodge is nestled in the sub-alpine region of the Selkirk Mountains at an elevation of 6,700 feet where guests experience a range of different riding during their stay. Our 32,000 acres of terrain includes open bowls, sustained steep forests, “God-gladed” mid-alpine tree sections, and natural terrain features like log drops and mini-pipe gullies.

A network of interconnected ridges enable our fleet of Pisten Bully 400’s to travel efficiently and safely from the sustained steep trees in the Cheeky Monkey region to the high alpine spines and gullies of Cherry Bowl, and all the way out to the previously burned forest-fire glades in the North Zone.

A TYPICAL DAY

A typical day at Baldface begins with locally roasted espresso and a bountiful breakfast buffet, followed by a full day on the slopes. Apres in the lodge consists of appetizers, massages, and sauna time. Enjoy a glass of wine and a gourmet meal prepared by our culinary team. Here is the full itinerary, at a glance:

ARRIVAL AT NELSON AIRPORT

Arrive at the Norman Stibbs airport in Nelson, BC at 1:30pm (before February 15); and 2:30pm (after February 15)
Check in with a Baldface staff member
Unload and tag your luggage
Park your vehicle along the fence
Watch helicopter safety video before flying up to the lodge
**If the weather is stormy (read: dumping), your transfer to the lodge may be split heli/snowcat, or boat/truck/snowcat.

ARRIVAL AT THE LODGE

Arrive at the Lodge between 2 and 6pm
Welcome tour by Baldface staff
Hot soup available in the bar

THE FIRST EVENING

Welcome orientation talk
6pm Dinner
8pm Get your boards set up in the demo room
Relax, stretch, play pool, ping pong, enjoy drinks at the bar

THE SKI / RIDE DAY

6:30am Stretch class
7am Breakfast Buffet / Pack your lunch
8:30am Gear up and meet your cat! **On the first day, you will receive hands-on safety training with the guides prior to getting out on the slopes. Don’t forget your new Baldface x Mizu water bottle!
3 – 4pm Return to the lodge for drinks, soup, hot appetizers, massages and sauna time.
5:30pm Slideshow of the day’s events on the big screen
6pm Dinner

TRANSFER DAY

Your transfer down the mountain will be by helicopter if the weather is clear or by snowcat if it’s stormy. Transfers begin at approximately 2pm and we try to have the last group in town by 5pm. If you are scheduling a flight home, you should not plan on getting to Nelson before 5pm

Safety

Wilderness skiing is not inherently safe and there are risks, dangers and hazards skiers must accept. Safety is our number one priority. Our guides strictly follow snowcat skiing industry standards for safety. All of our guides are ACMG, CAA, or CSGA certified and are wilderness first-aid caregivers.

Once at the lodge, every guest will be given a transceiver and hands-on personal instruction on how to use it. We strongly urge our guests to listen carefully to their trained guides.

Furthermore, all skiers are required to sign a comprehensive release of liability and waiver prior to participating in wilderness skiing with us. It is recommended that all skiers purchase travel or accident insurance. Your insurance broker can advise you as to what other types of insurance you may require, such as disability insurance and life insurance.

Guides

Our highly experienced and industry-certified guides have an intimate knowledge of the mountains we operate in. No two trips are ever the same. Each group of 12 guests has a certified Lead Guide in front and a certified Second Guide bringing up the rear so no skier or rider is left behind. Guests get approximately 8 to 12 runs per day, depending on conditions and group speed.

During each trip, a photographer joins the group and collects content for the always-entertaining slideshow that happens every night in the bar. Guests also receive an online folder full of content from their trip that they are free to use as they wish.

Required Skill Level

Baldface Lodge’s terrain requires intermediate/advanced-level powder skills in tight trees. If you’re not sure, give us a call. The only way to guarantee the speed/ability levels of your group is to book an entire snowcat with like-minded friends.

Guests will be riding up to 15,000 feet per day for three or four days straight and need to be in good physical condition. Consider a conditioning program to prepare for your trip. If you are unable to keep up with the group you may be asked to sit out and will not be reimbursed for any missed time in the cat.

Weather and ski conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride or ski anything. We do not groom any runs! If you have never shredded powder or shy away from it at you local resort, this is not the place to learn. Baldface terrain has lots of glades and trees – please be prepared to ride and ski in the trees!

The Ride

Yeah, we can put it into words…

Total Acreage

32,000 acres

Highest Peak

7,678 feet (2,340 meters)

Longest Run

3,100 vertical feet
(945 meters)

Lodge

6,700 feet (2,042 meters)

The Mountain

A TYPICAL DAY

ARRIVAL AT NELSON AIRPORT

ARRIVAL AT THE LODGE

THE FIRST EVENING

THE SKI / RIDE DAY

TRANSFER DAY

Safety

Guides

Required Skill Level

The Ride

Yeah, we can put it into words…

Total Acreage

32,000 acres

Highest Peak

7,678 feet (2,340 meters)

Longest Run

3,100 vertical feet (945 meters)

Lodge

6,700 feet (2,042 meters)

The Mountain

A TYPICAL DAY

ARRIVAL AT NELSON AIRPORT

ARRIVAL AT THE LODGE

THE FIRST EVENING

THE SKI / RIDE DAY

TRANSFER DAY

Safety

Guides

Required Skill Level

3,100 vertical feet
(945 meters)