Fairy Meadow Powder Camp

Our Ultimate Powder Skiing Adventure

Fairy Meadow Powder Camp

Our Ultimate Powder Skiing Adventure

The Powder Destination!

Fully Catered Meals Prepared Fresh By Our Cooks

Stunning Peak Bagging Opportunities

Is This Camp For You?

Advanced

This is an advanced powder camp program. The strong, experienced skier will enjoy and be challenged by this camp. Previous backcountry ski experience is required. An advanced level of fitness and high-intermediate to advanced downhill ski abilities are essential. This means being comfortable skiing black diamond runs with a 7-9 kg (15-20 lb) pack in backcountry snow conditions (read: deep powder!). For those individuals who live at lower elevations (less than 1000m/3300’), we recommend that you arrive in the mountains a few days before the camp to do some skiing on your own and acclimatize to the altitude. This camp involves living at and above 2050m/6800’ for the week. If you are unsure about whether this camp is right for you, please contact the office.

Open

Details

Before registering, please review our Trip Waivers and Liability, and Cancellation Policies.

Camps are subject to minimum enrollment in order to run.

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Trip Description

This is your chance to spend a once-in-a-lifetime week skiing at the ACC’s renowned Fairy Meadow Hut. Situated in the Adamant Range of the Selkirk Mountains, this destination was named “THE backcountry ski destination in Canada” by none other than legendary backcountry skier Chic Scott and was recently ranked the fourth best ski hut in all of North America by this blog.

If spectacular scenery, long glacier runs, and abundant ski-mountaineering opportunities weren’t enough, you’ll also be treated to a wood-fired sauna and hot drinks and delicious meals prepared by your own group chef.

Our highly experienced guiding team know the region intimately and will be able to divide the group based on abilities, keeping the camp safe and the skiing satisfying for everybody.

The only catch? This camp sells out every year so grab your spot early to avoid disappointment!

Fairy Meadow backcountry skiing

Guides

teresa-yau
Teresa Yau
Teresa Yau is an Ski Guide and Apprentice Alpine Guide and is currently pursuing the ACMG Mountain Guide...
Michael-Shynkaryk-BIo-300x300
Michael Shynkaryk
I am a ACMG Ski Guide because I want to share the experience and joy of skiing/snowboarding in the backcountry...
conrad-janzen
Conrad Janzen
Conrad is an ACMG Mountain Guide based in Banff, Alberta. He has been passionately engaged in skiing...
teresa-yau
Teresa Yau
Teresa Yau is an Ski Guide and Apprentice Alpine Guide and is...
Learn More
Michael-Shynkaryk-BIo-300x300
Michael Shynkaryk
I am a ACMG Ski Guide because I want to share the experience...
Learn More
conrad-janzen
Conrad Janzen
Conrad is an ACMG Mountain Guide based in Banff, Alberta. He...
Learn More

The ever-popular Conrad Janzen leads our team of three ACMG certified guides who will ensure your time at Fairy Meadow is both safe and enjoyable. All our guides come back year after year so are super knowledgeable about the area and welcome your questions. Our low guiding ratios (maximum 16 participants to 3 guides) allow us to form groups based on abilities and ambition, making sure the pace and difficulty is right for you.

The ACC hires guides certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Visit the ACMG website to learn more about what they do!

*Guiding Staff for a trip sometimes have to be swapped out due to unavoidable circumstances. In this event ACC staff with contact you as soon as possible to update you on any changes to trip staffing

Objectives

The clue is in the name – the primary objective of this camp is to ski great powder in a stunning alpine setting! The high cols between the Adamants offer world-famous skiing, accessing the Gothic Glacier and the Granite Glacier.

But this camp is geared toward climbing peaks as well as skiing great powder (often in the same day). There are plenty of exciting ski mountaineering objectives available including:

  • East Pioneer (3,164 m)
  • Mt. Sir William (3,002 m)
  • Sentinel Peak (3,033 m)
  • Colossal (2,940 m)
  • Enterprise (2,910 m)

Due to the superb location and accessibility of the hut, participants will be able to take each day at their own speed and get in as much skiing as conditions permit. Choose between short days, long days or days of complete relaxation in the hut.

Day-by-Day Adventure Itinerary

Day 1
Meet in Golden, BC, at the Big Bend Cafe at 9am, where you will be introduced to your group and your guides. Travel to the nearby staging area at Sorcerer Lodge Heliport where you will fly into the Fairy Meadow Hut by private helicopter (on a clear day, the views over the Adamants are stunning). There will still be plenty of time for a first day of skiing once you arrive and unpack. This is a good opportunity to review gear, companion and crevasse rescue skills briefly before being orientated to the area by your guides.
Day 2-7
There are so many great objectives accessible from the hut that we can't really speculate on exactly how each day will look. Each evening the group and guides will gather in the hut to discuss and decide on objectives and groups for the next day. As long as the weather plays ball, you can all-but guarantee climbing classic mountaineering objectives at around 3000m of elevation and then being rewarded with long powder runs back down to the hut. Nearby gladded runs ensure there's plenty to do when the snow is flying.
Day 8
Pack up, take some final pictures of the breathtaking views and travel back to Golden by helicopter
Fairy Meadows Hut backcountry skiing

Food, Accommodation and Rentals

Food

Evenings will be spent enjoying great food, socializing in cozy hut surroundings and resetting for the next day’s skiing. Food supplies will be flown in by helicopter (no dehydrated stuff here) and cooked up by our dedicated chef. All meals are designed to be healthy, sumptuous and plentiful and special dietary needs can be accommodated. Because we want you to be able to focus on the powder not the cooking!

Accommodation

The Fairy Meadow Hut is truly one of the jewels in the crown of the ACC's hut network. Perched on a bench deep in the Selkirks and surrounded by granite spires, glaciers and powder slopes, it is the quintessential base for a week of ski touring. The hut is very comfortable with a wood stove, propane lighting, ever-popular sauna and comfortable outhouses located just outside the hut - the perfect setting for apres-ski relaxation!

Rentals

If you don't have everything on the gear list and aren't ready to invest in your own, there are many awesome local businesses that rent out all of the equipment you will need. Be sure to reserve your rentals ahead of time to make sure everything you need is available for you when you need it.

Coming from the Bow Valley? Check out Gear Up in Canmore. ACC members get 10% off all gear rentals!
  • Coming from Calgary? We recommend renting your gear from MEC, the University of Calgary Outdoors Center, or the Norseman.
  • Coming from the Revelstoke? Give Revelstoke Powder Rentals a try.

Included

  • Professional guiding at max 6:1 ratios by 3 certified ACMG ski guides
  • Exclusive accommodation at Bill Putnam (Fairy Meadow) Hut for the week
  • Helicopter transportation to and from the hut
  • All meals, beginning with dinner on Day 1 and ending with lunch on Day 8
  • Services of a dedicated camp cook
  • All group gear (ropes, emergency equipment etc.)

Not Included

  • Transportation to/from Sorcerer Lodge Heliport close to Golden (carpooling lists will be provided ahead of time)
  • Breakfast and lunch on day 1, dinner on day 8
  • Personal gear (see gear list)

Location

Adventure Hazards

Terrain

What are the Risks?

Cornices and crevasses. Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps. Cliffs, creeks,  rocks and boulders. Holes and depressions below the snow surface. Variable and difficult snow conditions. Snowcat roads and road ranks. Fences and other man-made structures. Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects. Encounters with domestic or wild animals. Loss of balance or control. Becoming lost or separated from the group. Slips, trips, and falls. 

Hazard Mitigation

Mitigated by Trained and experienced Guide.

The use of Radios. 

General Hazards

What are the Risks?

Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor. Equipment failure. Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact. Negligence of other persons, including other guests. Negligent first aid. Negligence of the guide Including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, on participating in ACC activities

Hazard Mitigation

Developed safety plans and procedures with decades of experience managing risk. 

Avalanche

What are the Risks?

Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering. Caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (skiing/snowboarding). Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.

Hazard Mitigation

Certified Guides with experience and training to manage this risk.

Daily risk assessment processes.

Guest training   

Communication and Rescue

What are the Risks?

Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be available. Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field. If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow.

Hazard Mitigation

First Aid / Rescue Training.

Satellite Communications

Boots and Binding Systems

What are the Risks?

Even when set up correctly, a ski binding might not release during every fall or may release unexpectedly. The ski boot/binding system is no guarantee that the skier will not be injuredNon-DIN-certified bindings, such as pin/tech bindings, present a higher risk of pre-release and/or injury as they are not designed to the same safety standards as a DIN-certified alpine binding.

Unlike alpine ski boot/binding systems, snowboard and some telemark boot/binding systems are not designed or intended to release and will not release under normal circumstancesUsing such a system increases the risk of injury and/or death when caught in an avalanche.  

Hazard Mitigation

None

We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips

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