Private Ski Guiding & Splitboarding

Options & Program Ideas

Design your dream backcountry ski or splitboard adventure in the Canadian Rockies. Whether you’re looking for a single epic day, a multi-day hut trip, or a full ski mountaineering expedition, our private programs let you set the pace and choose the objective. Below are some of the most popular options to spark ideas—but we’re always happy to customize a trip around your goals.

Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding – Day Tours in the Rockies

Discover the ultimate backcountry skiing and splitboarding day tours in the Canadian Rockies, easily accessible from Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise. Explore some of Canada’s most iconic backcountry destinations, including Kananaskis Country, Banff National Park, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay National Park, and the legendary Icefields Parkway.

From gentle alpine slopes and scenic tree glades to steep chutes and expansive high-glacier terrain, there’s terrain for intermediate to advanced skiers and splitboarders of all abilities. Enjoy breathtaking mountain views, untouched powder, and an unforgettable backcountry experience that will leave lasting memories.

Private day tours are flexible and easy to organize, covering guide services, gear rentals, and optional extras. Whether it’s a single day in the backcountry or a custom multi-day adventure, these tours are perfect for anyone looking to explore the Rockies’ premier skiing terrain without the hassle of planning.

Lift-Assisted Backcountry Skiing – Lake Louise

Through our exclusive partnership with Lake Louise Ski Resort, we offer lift-assisted backcountry skiing and splitboarding. Just beyond the chairlifts lies a playground of untouched bowls, hidden valleys, and wide-open powder fields.

Whether you’re making your first turns in powder, exploring the “slackcountry” for a new challenge, or chasing fresh lines with expert guidance, our guides will match you with the terrain that fits your skills and goals.

Rogers Pass – Selkirk Mountains

Known worldwide for deep powder, big vertical, and challenging terrain, Rogers Pass is a must-ski destination. From high glaciers and alpine bowls to legendary couloirs and tree skiing, it’s a paradise for advanced backcountry skiers and splitboarders.

Easily accessed from the Trans-Canada Highway and close to Revelstoke and Golden, BC, Rogers Pass works best as a multi-day trip. Options include day tours, overnight stays in the historic Wheeler Hut, or custom hut-based programs. Expect heavy snowfall, endless lines, and some of the most exciting terrain in North America.

Multi-Day Hut Trips & Ski Traverses

For the ultimate Canadian Rockies backcountry experience, join a hut-based or multi-day ski traverse. Options range from cozy Alpine Club huts to fully equipped chalets with saunas and running water. These programs are ideal for groups and must be booked well in advance due to high demand.

Classic multi-day trips include:

• Wapta Icefields – One of North America’s most famous ski traverses, with linked huts, beginner-friendly options, and stunning glacier skiing.

• Clemenceau Glacier – Remote, heli-accessed terrain with access to Apex and Chaba Icefields.

• Columbia Icefields – Ski Alberta’s highest peaks, including Mt. Columbia, Kitchener, and Snow Dome.

• Freshfields Icefields – A true expedition-style experience with a scenic flight into a rarely visited powder paradise.

• Iconic Ski Traverses – Cariboo Traverse, Bugaboos to Rogers Pass, Clemenceau to Columbia, and more.

Ski & Board Mountaineering

In spring (March–May), the Rockies open up to big alpine objectives. From Kananaskis to Lake Louise and Bow Lake, ski mountaineering combines high ascents, technical terrain, and long descents.

Whether it’s a single-day objective or a multi-day glacier mission, our guides can lead you through incredible terrain where every climb and descent feels like a true alpine adventure.

Avalanche Skills Training

Build your safety toolkit by adding avalanche training to your backcountry program. Based in Canmore or Lake Louise, these courses combine classroom learning with practical field days in the mountains—perfect for private groups or individuals looking to learn while they ski.

Costs:

Yamnuska’s ski guides are some of the best in the industry.  Our standards are very high and we are totally committed to providing you with the best possible experience.  Our ski guiding team benefits from staff training, peer and client review, daily conditions reports, and support from senior staff. We back up all of our programs with a full-time, on-call Duty Manager and support network ready to help in any situation.  We also have cutting-edge, modern equipment ready to rent or borrow on all of our programs.

When you arrange a private or custom ski program we will quote you a guide fee plus the expenses incurred in running the program. It is important to understand that should you wish to shorten your trip due to weather or personal reasons will we not be able to offer refunds since resources would have been fully committed by this time.

For your convenience and information, we offer an outline of the sample costs involved.

These costs do not include Goods & Services Tax (GST) which is 5%. Gratuities are not included.

Guide’s Expenses

Your quote will contain reasonable and modest guide expenses during your program. These include driving costs (unless you drive the guide), accommodation and meals (doesn’t apply to day tours), rental equipment, helicopter costs, etc.

Miscellaneous Expenses

Other charges that may apply to a private program are:

Park Entry Fees: If we ski in Banff or the other National or Provincial Parks entry fees apply.

National Park passes are available both online at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/admission and in-person at National park gates and some information centres.

Kananaskis Country conservation passes are available online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx

Helicopter Access: Some backcountry huts (e.g. Fairy Meadows) or areas (Mt. Assiniboine) are accessed by helicopter. Where the fee is fixed, we can include it in our package price.  In some cases, this fee can vary and we will give you our best estimate and arrange for you to pay the helicopter pilot or company directly.

Porters: We can arrange for a porter to help on the climb up to a hut to lessen your loads. We may recommend this when accessing Bow Hut in the Wapta Icefields depending on your fitness and experience.

Before booking your private program we will give you a final quote as to cost.

 

Transportation

You can either provide the transportation for you and the guide or, should the guide need to drive him/herself to the program area then a charge, based on distance will apply. This ranges from $20 on up depending upon where you go. Once we know whether you will be able to drive the guide or where you will be going we will include transport costs in your quote.

Yamnuska has several commercial vehicles and in some cases, we may be able to supply transportation for your group. We can quote you a cost for this which will also depend upon how far you are driving and how much the vehicle will be used.

Accommodation

There are a number of accommodation options in the Canadian Rockies and we recommend you do your homework to find appropriate lodging. During peak seasons, all accommodations are usually booked. We may be able to recommend an option for you.

For overnight ski trips, the cost of backcountry and mountain huts varies. The simplest huts are those operated by the Alpine Club of Canada, their hut fees average $30/night/person. More elaborate private huts cost proportionately more. In constructing your private program we will include the cost of these huts for you. The actual costs will be outlined in the quote.

Meals

Yamnuska can supply all your out-trip meals. Should you choose to supply your own we charge you only for the cost of your guide’s food for multi-day trips.

In planning your menu we will need to know of any special dietary restrictions or preferences you may have (e.g. vegetarian) and of any allergies you may have (e.g. shellfish).

Food charges will be prorated where less than 3 meals are supplied in a day. Included in the charge is the supply of group cooking gear (stoves, pots & pans). There is also a daily surcharge for special dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies, etc.).

For larger groups, we can also arrange for a cook when requested and appropriate (backcountry huts).

Definitions

Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding we think of as mainly happening in the zone just above treeline and below. Objectives would typically be interesting ski tours or in finding good quality skiing. The challenges tend to be in the areas of route finding and in avoiding avalanche hazards. We can adjust the focus of your program towards finding good snow and making lots of turns at whatever level of difficulty you prefer or towards making tours that cover lots of distance and interesting scenery. We can do this on day trips from the highway or we can base ourselves in backcountry camps or huts.

Ski Mountaineering happens on glaciers at higher elevations and is often oriented to climbing suitable peaks. Considerations include safe glacier travel, whiteout navigation, and basic mountaineering skills. Because we need to get higher up we tend to base ourselves in high huts (e.g. those on the Wapta Icefields) or camps. It is also possible to do high ski mountaineering traverses that go hut to hut or camp to camp. For clients with a very high level of physical fitness, we can do certain ski mountaineering objectives in a single day.

Avalanche Skills programs focus on teaching you the knowledge and practical skills to avoid avalanche hazards and deal with emergencies. Instruction combines classroom sessions with backcountry field trips. Courses can include certification or just be general avalanche awareness or companion rescue training.

What is the season?

Backcountry skiing can happen any time from when the snow first begins to settle (typically early December right through to early May). When the weather is bad the skiing is often great in the trees. When the weather is good we can often get into the open bowls above treeline.

Ski Mountaineering is best done later in the winter and in spring when the crevasses on the glacier are largely filled in and covered by snow. In March, April and early May the days are longer, warmer and the weather often better. These are the best months for Ski Mountaineering.

Avalanche Skills Training is best taught in the winter months, December through March when the snowpack is less stable and there is more instability to study.

Equipment & Clothing Lists

You will need to bring your own clothing and personal gear (skis/splitboard, poles, climbing skins, backpack, sleeping bag, etc). We have many of these items available to rent and if not can pre-arrange them for you.

Gear

Group safety and technical gear (e.g. ropes, rescue gear) are included in the guide fee. You will need to supply personal clothing and gear (e.g. skis, avalanche beacons), see Gear & Clothing Lists for an idea of what you’ll need to bring. Some of these items can be rented and the cost included in your package price.

Yamnuska has these items for rent: avalanche beacons, probes, snow shovels, backpacks, daypacks, harnesses, sleeping bags, sleeping mats (‘Thermarest’) & tents. Rental Price Lists

We provide our guests with only the highest quality equipment from our trusted partners at Arc’teryx, Petzl, and BCA. All of our gear is top-of-the-line, carefully selected for performance, safety, and comfort in the mountains. Each piece goes through rigorous inspection and regular inventory turnover to ensure it meets the highest standards, so you can focus on the adventure knowing you’re outfitted with reliable, professional-grade gear.

Skis, boots, skins, poles & snowboards can be rented locally.

What Gear To Use?

Alpine Touring or Splitboard?

Skis

Alpine Touring skis are essentially ‘downhill skis’ with a special touring binding that allows the heel to lift whilst going uphill or across the flats and then ‘locks down’ to become a regular downhill safety binding. We recommend this system to anyone with a background in downhill skiing.

Splitboards

Often used in the backcountry or for “board mountaineering”. It is important though to choose an area with terrain that is board friendly: reasonably steep with not too many flat areas and with easy access.

If ‘boarding’ you need to be an advanced boarder and you need to be on a splitboard. Don’t bring a board if you’ve never boarded in the backcountry before. We highly recommend you have experience transitioning your gear from skiing to walking.

We will supply you with a quote that will include all expenses such as meals, accommodation, and rental gear when we know your requirements. Registration requires a deposit of 35% of the quote or, for trips of three days or less, full payment.

We ask that you familiarize yourself with our detailed booking instructions and conditions.

Risk is an inherent part of all mountain activities. We strive to manage and reduce it however, it is impossible to totally eliminate. Learn more about our safety and risk management approach here.  Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Please view our sample waiver copy.

The balance of payment is required eight weeks before trip commencement. Should you cancel more than eight weeks in advance of the trip, a $105 cancellation fee will apply. Cancellation between six and eight weeks before trip commencement will mean a loss of your deposit. Cancellation less than six weeks before trip commencement will result in a loss of all payments made.

In most areas, there is no fee for rescue. In the National Parks, you must have a valid entry pass to qualify for free rescue. You can obtain this on entry to the Parks. In Assiniboine and other British Columbia Parks, you may be liable for the cost of the rescue. In this case, you need insurance to cover rescue. If in doubt consult us to check whether or not you will need this.

The Simpson Group offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical, and Personal Effect Loss for both Canadian and International Travelers. Other providers offer similar services and we encourage you to select an appropriate level of coverage. We highly recommend purchasing this insurance to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. The two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider are Medical and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

Insurance Risk 
One of the ways to mitigate risk is by purchasing appropriate insurance. Simpson Group Insurance Services who are travel & health risk specialists, work with technical and high-risk insurance solutions both in medical and non-medical spheres.  We highly recommend that you review your insurance needs to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Simpson Group have a team standing by to answer any of your questions.

Emergency Medical Evacuation
While there is typically no charge for search & rescue in the National and Provincial Parks for active pass holders, costs such as air & ground ambulance after the rescue are not covered by your park pass. The chance of a large bill associated with this risk is a real possibility.

For Canadians
A common myth is that healthcare across provinces is fully covered. There are many things which do not carry interprovincial agreements. Ambulance services, medical evacuation, and some services which one province charges more than another you’d be responsible to pay the difference.

For Internationals
A common myth is that healthcare in Canada is free. Although it is less expensive than US healthcare, charges for non-residents can still be very high. Proper medical health insurance is essential if you were to get injured. Most coverages exclude rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, backcountry skiing and the like. Simpson Group can make sure all those risks are well covered.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
We recognize that our guests’ schedules may change for many reasons, business, family, flight delays, injuries, and other unplanned events.  For these eventualities, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment. We can assure you that circumstances do arise that prevent guests from participating in trips or courses and trip cancellation & interruption insurance is a relatively easy way to manage your level of risk of unforeseen events.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend Simpson Group Insurance Services.  For more information and to purchase a plan, visit Simpson Group’s website.