Backcountry Skiing at Battle Abbey - Supreme Selkirk Powder Skiing
What is a week at Battle Abbey like? The main item on the agenda at the Abbey is the skiing. The lodge is situated at treeline at 2200m (7200ft) at the head of Butters Creek in the Selkirk Mountains. The terrain is similar to Rogers Pass, high alpine bowls, glaciers and steep, deep valleys. Skiing at Battle Abbey is a lot like having a private Rogers Pass. Imagine all that terrain with only 18 people to ski it! Its an experience not to be missed.
Specific details about Battle Abbey ski week logistics are available at: Battle Abbey Backcountry Skiing Trip Information
Battle Abbey is on the north side of Schooner Ridge at the foot of the Omoo Glacier. The aspect offers great powder from the hut until late in the season. From the top of Schooner Ridge five bowls descent into Houston Creek and offer runs up to 900m vertical. The west sides of the bowls have an eastern aspect which holds the powder while the east sides get the sun and produce great corn snow in the spring. The head of Butters Creek is full of impressive alpine ski lines, like Steepness, Mount Typee, Pequod Glacier and Mount Butters. This is big vertical and big alpine skiing. Further down the valley and below the lodge there is a variety of tree skiing from open glades to steep chutes. A stormy week at the Abbey can be a lot of fun if you like to play in the trees. Farther afield, there are several alpine objectives that we ski when the conditions and fitness permits. We are still skiing new lines from time to time even after over 30 years of skiing at Battle Abbey.
Battle Abbey accommodates 14 guests. We have two ACMG guides, a cook and a helper on staff. Ther are 5 guest rooms, 2 indoor toilets, one hot shower and 2 outdoor toilets. The lodge has a large boot room where you can store your skis and get them ready for the ski day. There is ample drying room around the two woodstoves to dry off your gear after a day in the deep powder. There is a seperate living room and dining room so there is plenty of room in the lodge to relax. The dining room table is tight with a full group of 14. On sunny days, the deck off the dining room is a great place to unwind after the day and enjoy the spectacular scenery. The lodge has limited electricity from solar panels, running water and propane for cooking. There is a stereo system which can play mp3 players like iPods and CDs. We also have a guitar and a Tibetan horn for the musicians in the group.
A typical week at the Abbey begins with the flight in on Saturday afternoon. Everyone is usually at the Abbey by 5:00 pm. We usually do a thorough avalanche rescue practice before dinner, otherwise we do it on Sunday morning. Dinner is prepared by our amazing cooks who keep us all fed with their wonderful creations. In the morning, we have breakfast at 7:30. After breakfast, everyone makes a lunch to take with them and we try to be out skiing by 9:00. With two guides we can easily tailor the ski program to the abilities within the group. Its a simple schedule at the Abbey, eat, ski, eat, ski, eat, relax, eat, sleep and repeat as necessary. On Saturday morning, we pack up our bags before skiing so that our staff can clean up the lodge while we do our last day of skiing. We are back at the lodge by 2:00 pm and begin the flights out by 2:30.
A week at Battle Abbey is an unforgettable experience. The eclectic comfort and spectacular setting of the lodge create a unique atmosphere to meet new friends or spend time with your old ones. The skiing is excellent and our experienced guides will show you some great lines and keep you safe. Our cook keeps you well fed with delicious meals. Overall, we think people who enjoy backcountry skiing will enjoy the Abbey. If you haven't been, you should come up and enjoy.
The cost of a Battle Abbey ski week is $2100 plus 12% HST for a total of $2352 per person. This includes helicopter transport from Golden, accommodation, meals and guide service.
