Rich’s BC Hut Trip

Mid-December on a random Tuesday evening my phone buzzed with a text message. “Do you have a ski trip booked? My buddy has spots open at the Boulder Hut in BC” It took me about half a second to reply I was certainly interested, and about 24 hours to obtain time off from work and home responsibilities. I’m In. Within a few days, I had paid my deposit, and committed. Shortly, I would be on my way to the Boulder Hut outside of Kimberly, BC for seven days of backcountry skiing in the Southern Canadian Rockies and the Purcell Mountain Range.

Two weeks later Ryan called, I presumed to begin getting each other pumped up for an awesome ski trip. “I tore my ACL, MCL, PCL. I’m in a bad way – my ski season is over”. Ryan was down for the count and certainly wouldn’t be going on a backcountry ski trip in a couple weeks. Crap! Now what do I do? I’ve secured the time off, gotten the blessing from my wife to run away from home for a week, and I’d paid in full. Other than Ryan, I didn’t know a soul who would be on this trip. As the date in February drew closer, my wife convinced me to swallow all my insecurities – Will I be able to keep up? What if I don’t fit in? etc. and pack my bag.

With her encouragement, I got on the plane and flew to Spokane. I picked up a rental car and drove four hours north to Kimberly, BC. The next morning at the appointed time, I met the guides and the crew for the gear up, and prepared to load the heli for the short flight into the lodge. I met up with Ian and Matt, the two guides, and a friendly crew of five other clients. Most of all I was relived to find I wouldn’t be the only tele skier. John from Portland would be free heeling as well on some new age tech NTN gear, but free heeling none-the-less.

In three different loads, the helicopter had ferried our team of eight, Allie the chef for the week, and all our gear, food, and beer; landing at the Boulder Hut around noon. After a warm welcome by owner Sarah Yancy and her family and quick tour and ground rules discussion from hut custodian Ben, we quickly divided into two groups for an afternoon initiation tour. I joined up with Ian Nicholson, AMGA/IFMGA guide from Seattle, along with my new tele buddy, John from Portland and Chip from Seattle. Chris, Trúc (pronounced True), and Ted formed Team #2 with guide Matt.

We quickly realized on that first afternoon tour that we were in for a banner week. It had been cold prior to our arrival, and remained cold throughout our week. The snow was in great condition; light, deep, and more deep. And the terrain around the Boulder hut is indescribably endless and endlessly varied. I was really glad I brought my 118mm skis and left the skinny sticks at home. The Purcell’s is the place for fat skis, deep dumps and strong lungs.

Of the 30 or so backcountry lodges in BC, the Boulder Hut , claims to be one of the original to offer an authentic backcountry ski touring adventure. The experience is rustic, and genuine; sure to satisfy the desire to unplug, relax and ski some of the best snow and incredible terrain anywhere in the world.

With communal sleeping quarters, outdoor privy, and a distinct log cabin vibe, Boulder Hut gives one a throwback feeling of being totally isolated, deep in the woods, in a time before complicated technology and overwhelming civilization. Boulder Hut can be booked as completely guided and catered and they offer full week trips and half week trips. One can also choose self-guided and self-catered trips. Our trip was fully catered and guided leaving the clients to only worry about stamina. The real stamina needed was one for eating. Allie was up before dawn each morning creating incredible, fulfilling breakfasts. Sandwich fixing, leftovers and snacks were provided to pack lunch. In the late afternoon we would return to the hut to find warm soup, nachos or some other après snacks to the take edge off before a huge, delicious, truly gourmet dinner.

Ian is an incredibly experienced and skilled guide. We would ski and skin around 4,000 + vertical feet every day following Ian on a perfectly laid skin track at the perfect pace. With careful evaluation of the weather, terrain, and snow conditions throughout the week, Ian led us up into the high alpine, he showed us safe, beautiful tree shots, and chutes with bottomless pow to get the heart pumping. Temps that never reached much above -15c kept the snow light and fluffy all week long providing exclamations such as; Epic! Creamy! Blower! Perfect!

Heading into the trip I wasn’t sure I’d have the legs to climb and ski seven days in a row. Having guided ski tours many, many times all over the world, Ian was an expert at keeping the pace such that we all got in plenty, but never suffered too hard.

This trip ended up being such a success, I’ve already booked another BC hut trip with Ian next year. Details:

Boulder Hut: http://www.boulderhutadventures.com/
AMGA/IFMGA Guide Ian Nicholson: https://www.facebook.com/ian.nicholson.7165

Gear:
Outdoor Research
• Hemisphere’s Jacket – Perfect stretch Gore shell to keep dry and block the wind on those descents.
• San Juan Jacket – the perfect mid layer on cold days, outer soft shell layer on the skin track or when things heat up.
• Illuminate Down Hoody – When it -20c out and you need to stop and rest your legs. Better stay warm!
• Trail Breaker pants – no matter the weather it’s the perfect ski touring pant.
• Extravert Gloves – the wool lining is perfect and they are a perfect weight when working hard on cold days.
• Vitaly Gloves – When your heart isn’t pumping as hard or when you just can’t get your digits warm, this glove provides the dexterity and warmth needed.
• Tundra Aerogel Booties – perfect for keeping snug in the hut, or quick trip out to the privy.

Osprey Packs
• Kamber 22 – When you simply only need a few extra layers, lunch, and your avalanche gear this keeps everything nice and tidy. The Kamber 32 is perfect for longer days or when you just a bit more gear.
• Transporter Duffel – to get your gear there safe and sound.
• Osprey Snowkit – Gear duffel to keep the ski specific gear organized and in its place through the duration.

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