British Columbia Backcountry Report: 3,600-Vertical-Foot Powder Run = Our Longest Run of the Year

Miles Clark | Post Tag for BackcountryBackcountry | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report

Powder Skiing Spiney-Thingers in the British Columbia Sunshine

Report From January 19, 2025

We talked Axel, the hut keeper from our BC hut trip in early January, into showing us around the BC backcountry on Sunday.

We chose an obscure zone that doesn’t see many tracks.

We jogged along in the sun and couldn’t resist doing a mini-lap on the spiney-thinger zone on the way up.

Skiing a 3,600-Vertical-Foot Powder Run Down an Avalanche Path in British Columbia

The snow was superb.

The sun was lovely.

Then we left the sun.

Insane terrain. image: snowbrains

For hours…

We slogged and battled through tree and bush eventually topping out on a prominent knob on high.

We reveled in the vista of jagged peaks, old avalanches, brilliant sunshine, and endless layers of sawtoothed ridgelines.

Da crew. image: snowbrains

When we finally reached the ridgeline, I was a bit anxious about the wind, the single-digit temperatures, and the 3,600-vertical-foot run below us.

Axel guided us well and we broke it into manageable chunks talking about snow stability as we cascaded down a climax avalanche path.

The skiing was good.

Smoking mountain sunset. image: snowbrains

Small trees, gullies, pillows, and wide-open noses.

We were hyped at the base. 

It was a big day.

Rabbit? image: snowbrains

5,000 vertical feet, 8.3 miles, 7 hours, and 12 minutes.

The Village Idiot in Revelstoke started off our recovery with a huge plate of nachos and burgers all around.

Thanks Axel & Aaron and thanks, BC!

Photos

Axel in the bush. image: snowbrains
Everest? image: snowbrains
BC waterfall. image: snowbrains
Sunshine! image: snowbrains
Carve. image: snowbrains
The Rockies. image: snowbrains
Sun block. image: snowbrains
Axel breaking trail. image: snowbrains
Follow the sun. image: snowbrains
Low angle mid-day sun. image: snowbrains
The boys up high. image: snowbrains
Scary stuff. image: snowbrains
Intimidating. image: snowbrains
Open space. image: snowbrains
Stairway to heaven. image: snowbrains
Smoking mountain sunrise. image: snowbrains
RIP Jim Jack! I haven’t seen him since Las Lenas in 2009 when he gave me 8th place at that comp. Ate breakfast with hime twice that week. This guy lived for skiing. image: snowbrains
The Village Idiot. image: snowbrains
A-A-ron crushing big nachos. image: snowbrains
Posted by Miles Clark |

Related Articles

Got an opinion? Let us know...