Sawback Alpine Adventures

Shredding with the kids. 1200 m of perfect pow. #mountainguide #mountainguideslife #earnyourturns #fischerski #fischerhannibal106 #skitouring #skibanff #sawbackalpine #skiuphill #burnieglacierchalet #skibc #acmg #ifmga

Skiing in the Rockies is ok right now #mountainguide #mountainguidelife #ifmga #acmg #earnyourturns #skitouring #skitouren #skiuphill @skiuphill.ca #rogerspass #sawbackalpine #explorebc#exploretherockies#keepitwild#fischerski#mybcbackcountry#unpluginbc#tourismcanmore#betterthanexpected#backcountryskiing#journeysforthesoul#backcountrylodgesofbc#exploretherockies#explorecanmore#adventureawaits#freshairandfreedom#explorecanada#getlost#themountainiscalling#goneoutdoors#liveauthentic#choosemountains

Great skiing east of Rogers Pass #mountainguide #mountainguidelife #ifmga #acmg #earnyourturns #skitouring #skitouren #skiuphill @skiuphill.ca #bugaboos #rogerspass #sawbackalpine #explorebc#kootrocks#exploretherockies#keepitwild#fischerski#mybcbackcountry#unpluginbc#tourismcanmore#betterthanexpected#backcountryskiing#journeysforthesoul#backcountrylodgesofbc#exploretherockies#explorecanmore#adventureawaits#freshairandfreedom#explorecanada#getlost#themountainiscalling#goneoutdoors

Hero snow #mountainguide #mountainguidelife #ifmga #acmg #earnyourturns #skitouring #skitouren #skiuphill @skiuphill.ca #sawbackalpine#exploretherockies#keepitwild#fischerski#tourismcanmore#betterthanexpected#backcountryskiing#journeysforthesoul#backcountrylodgesofbc#exploretherockies#explorecanmore#adventureawaits#freshairandfreedom#explorecanada#getlost#themountainiscalling#goneoutdoors#getoutsidestayoutside#stayandwonder#destinationearth#mountaincultureelevated#wearewinter

Started the day off with an incredible skate on Lower Kananaskis Lake. Then Jay suggested we check out Spray... our 16 km, 50 minute skate from Buller to Driftwood today ranked as one of my top experiences of a lifetime. "6 out of 5. Maybe 7"

Our Fall 2020 Newsletter is out Powder skiing in Western Canada with Sawback Alpine - https://mailchi.mp/c2ca5eddec30/sawback-2020-newsletter A look back at our winter 2020 and forward to the coming ski season.

WEEK 1 with the South Tyrolians: I was really looking forward to this trip: two weeks guiding beside one of my favourite mountain guides, Hansjorg Hofer, with two back to back groups of South Tyrolians. I met HH in 2010 when he brought a group of 12 clients to ski at Rogers Pass. The South Tyrolians are a lot of fun. They all grew up in the mountains and learn to ski tour right around when they learn to walk. They are confident, easy going, and incredibly fit. And they have s...ome wonderful idiosyncracies. For example, at every break a bag of treats -- usually dried fruit, such as figs, they have harvested from their gardens and dried at home -- is passed around followed closely by a bottle of Schnapps. And at the top of every peak there's a round of "Gruess Gott" where every man shakes ever other man's hand, and every woman kisses -- three times -- the cheeks of every member in the group. Had I known that we were on the brink of a pandemic I may have been a bit more careful. But like all things, what you don't know (probably) won't kill you. I had the best time. Over the course of two weeks HH and I logged over 30,000 vertical meters. For a bit of perspective, that's about half the amount of skiing you would get in a standard two-week heliski package and yet we earned every turn through the sweat of our brows. We did some amazing tours, and were able to hit the high Telkwa over the Burnie Step twice. Pretty awesome!

Last ski of the season, or first ski of the season? Forecast was accurate, 8C and rain. As is often the case #youneverknowuntilyougo. Great turns on creamy wet snow!... #mountainguide #mountainguideslife #earnyourturns #fischerski #fischerhannibal106 #skitouring #skibanff #sawbackalpine #skiuphill #skiab #acmg #ifmga

A beautiful walk above the Bow River this weekend.

Day 1 of our canoe adventure. We walked the canoe down to policeman's Creek and started paddling. We are camping above horseshoe canyon. It's beautiful. #viewfrommycanoe #bowriver #canoetripping #trippinginthetimeofcovid #paddleeast #churchillrivercanoeoutfitters #sawbackalpine

Last pitch down to the Telkwa glacier, from Allstones ... #burnieglacier #skitouring #earnyourturns #fischer #genuineguidegear #backcountry #mountainguide #mountainguidelife #fischerhannibal96 #ifmga #acmg #uiagm #skiguide #snow #winter #outdoor #skimountaineering #skibc #skismithers #burnieglacierchalet #sawbackalpine #skibc

The planes are getting bigger the further south I go. This one, a Dornier 328, seats 30

Here we go again. Homeward in the Beech 1900 ... #burnieglacier #skitouring #earnyourturns #fischer #genuineguidegear #backcountry #mountainguide #mountainguidelife #fischerhannibal96 #ifmga #acmg #uiagm #skiguide #snow #winter #outdoor #skimountaineering #skibc #skismithers #burnieglacierchalet #sawbackalpine #skibc #ifmga

Skiing down the Telkwa Glacier from the summit of Traverse Peak. The day ended with a 1400 m run from Polemic Pass to the valley bottom at 980 m above sea level, but the light wasn't very good for photography with an incoming storm a-brewing! ... #burnieglacier #skitouring #earnyourturns #fischer #genuineguidegear #backcountry #mountainguide #mountainguidelife #fischerhannibal96 #ifmga #acmg #uiagm #skiguide #snow #winter #outdoor #skimountaineering #skibc #skismithers #burnieglacierchalet #sawbackalpine #skiphotography

An AMAZING day on Loft Glacier today. Two laps in the alpine and two in Lower Ptarmigan finishing up at 930 m above sea level at Burnie Lake. Another 2000 m day with the South Tyrolians! ... #burnieglacier #skitouring #earnyourturns #fischer #genuineguidegear #backcountry #mountainguide #mountainguidelife #fischerhannibal96 #ifmga #acmg #uiagm #skiguide #snow #winter #outdoor #skimountaineering #skibc #skismithers #burnieglacierchalet #sawbackalpine #skibc #ifmga

This past week and next week I'm skiing with two groups from South Tyrol, back to back. Well that's not quite true, this week also featured 3 Canadians and 1 American. Today was the last of Week 1 and we really finished it off with a bang: up Burnie Glacier over the Step, to the top of Traverse Peak, down the Telkwa Glacier, back up to the Burnie via Allstones Col, across to Polemic Pass, then down Loft Glacier to Lower Ptarmigan and the old growth forest at valley bottom, 98...0 m above sea level. All told just under 25 km of travel and 2000 m of vertical. Then back to the chalet for a sauna and the last of many delicious meals prepared by Monika Loeschberger. Tomorrow finishes week 1 and begins week 2, and this time it's 100% pure South Tyrolian. Do ischt goaht! #burnieglacier #skitouring #earnyourturns #fischer #genuineguidegear #backcountry #mountainguide #mountainguidelife #fischerhannibal96 #ifmga #acmg #uiagm #skiguide #snow #winter #outdoor #skimountaineering #skibc #skismithers #burnieglacierchalet #sawbackalpine @ Burnie Glacier Chalet

Nearing the top of our second run today, Solitaire Ski Peak. 2450 m of excellent powder skiing today with a new crew of South Tyrolians!

Great day on Little Crowfoot Knob yesterday #mountainguide #mountainguidelife #earnyourturns #fischerski #fischerhannibal96 #skitouring #skibanff #sawbackalpine

Japan has suffered from a drought this winter. This didn't stop us from finding deep powder skiing last week. Thanks to Jun Yanagisawa for helping us find the goods, not just with the skiing but also navigating the amazing Japanese culture as well. JaPOW! @ Mt. Naeba, Kagura, Niigata

Birthday ski tour. Thanks @skiuphill.ca for going above and beyond with the service once again #skitouring #skitouren #mountainguide #mountainguideslife #ifmga #uiagm #SkiUphill #fischerski

If you're looking for a customized strength training program as you look forward to a winter of injury-free skiing, here's a great service to consider. Best would be to see Chelsea in person, but if you live away from the Bow Valley this is a good second best! You won't regret this investment in your fitness.