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Another magical BC Ski Lodge week in the books! I got 7 of our BackCountry staff plus another 5 friends to join me last week in the Northern Rockies of Canada at Mistaya Lodge. I had never been there, and I will certainly be trying to go back in the future. We went April 23-28, 2023. The owners Dave and Cindy are amazing and have owned this ski touring lodge since 2003. It was built in 1988 and expanded a bit during that time. Our Guides were Tom and Mitch McCambly. Mistaya Owner and ACMG Guide Dave skied with us on the better days. He also made us all sandwiches early in the morning, got water out of the creek for the sauna, cut firewood and did the dishes with the hired guides. On the last 6000′ day he cruised easily with us while also doing all those house chores. He hung out with us and laughed with our group, even though a few of us are much younger and kinda loud. I was glad to see Dave and the guides get their own separate house to escape from the guests when they want.
Dave and Cindy run an excellent operation. it was just as nice and clean and well run as SME and Sorcerer Lodge, where I have skied out of recently. The Mistaya Lodge backcountry ski terrain is in the remote Wildcat Basin, with a 40-mile Heli flight from Golden BC at 2040 meters near tree line. You get the entire Tenure to yourself of course, and the guides will know where to go. The food is too good to be true. The bedrooms were really clean and nice, with some privacy and even some full-size beds. There are two bathrooms on the same floor as the bedrooms, which have hot and cold water plus full-service toilets. We took showers in a really nice sauna room building, which Dave and his staff kept supplied with the wood burner and water on tap. You go in a private shower stall with a bucket of hot water and drop a pump in the bucket. Flick the switch and the shower head serves the water.
The Mistaya Terrain is huge, holding every slope aspect to choose from. There are mellow tree runs all around the lodge, and many summits above them with unreal views of only more mountains in every direction. There were at least 5 major active glaciers within an hour skin of the lodge, which were really wide and served up that perfect 30-degree slope angle for the most part. Of course, there were steeper roll overs on the glaciers, but we didn’t get too rowdy. The snowpack this year was shallow with a fat layer of Facets stuck at the bottom for the entire season. Luckily, we had over 8′ of snow depth on the glaciers and got to travel unroped the whole time. And as you can see from my pics, the end of the trip really got that clear blue sky. We enjoyed the stormy days too however, and the visibility while skiing wasn’t as bad as these pictures may seem. I spent 7 weeks in BC this season, including 4 different lodge weeks.
Here is copy paste from their website:
Guests at Mistaya Lodge have guided skiing included in their vacation package. Each day, our ski guides and guests discuss terrain, snow characteristics, weather forecasts, and the group members’ interests and abilities. These discussions provide the basis for planning a fun, safe ski touring day that suits the weather, the snow conditions, and the guests. It is common to climb 4 different summits during a week’s stay, and your daily vertical will depend on that day’s terrain. On average, daily verticals range between approximately 3,000 to 5,000 feet. With one or two certified ski guides and an experienced apprentice skiing, every day we can accommodate differences in skiing abilities and individual interests within a group, depending on group numbers. We can also offer clinics in ski touring, powder skiing techniques, snow science, glacier travel, geology or other topics of interest when requested. Avalanche transceiver instruction and practice is provided for all guests before we hit the slopes on the first day!
Mistaya Lodge, sitting at 6700’, provides convenient access to intermediate to advanced powder skiing, including open tree skiing and spectacular glaciated terrain. The extensive alp lands and glades on the west-facing slopes near the lodge are relatively gentle and free of avalanche hazard, ideal for intermediate skiers with limited back country experience. The north and east aspects feature varied terrain, providing many exciting options for intermediate to advanced skiers, whether on telemark or Randonnée (alpine touring) equipment. Several of the peaks over 9000 feet (2700m) which surround the basin are accessible via straightforward ski and scramble routes. On those snowy days when visibility is limited on the glaciers the basin is blessed with abundant and varied tree skiing. The Wildcat Creek Basin is a Mecca for backcountry skiers from mid-December until early May. During the winter, moisture laden storms tracking eastward across British Columbia release most of their moisture content as they are forced to rise up the west slope of the Continental Divide. These frequent up slope snowfalls in the Wildcat Creek Basin provide us with abundant dry powder, averaging between 6 and 11 meters of new snowfall each winter. Although we certainly cannot offer guarantees regarding the snow conditions during your stay with us, we have found they are very good to excellent the majority of the winter, and the powder is all yours! No helicopter skiing or snowmobiling takes place anywhere in the Wildcat Creek Basin during your stay.
copy paste from the Mistaya Website
Located in the WildCat Creek Basin at 6,700 feet elevation, Mistaya lodge is a 2000 square foot post and beam structure with seven spacious guest rooms, indoor washrooms, a large, modern kitchen, and million-dollar views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers from each of the comfortable common areas. Mistaya Lodge was built by founders Ron Blaue and Jane Girvan in the late 1980’s.
Mistaya Lodge came into existence because Ron needed a job, was not a company man, and simply wanted to be in the backcountry. In the mid-eighties, Lady Luck chose to smile in his direction, allowing his dream to bear fruit: A new backcountry recreation policy allowed the licencing of lodge-based adventure tourism businesses on crown land. A growing segment of the public was keen to experience holidays in the wilderness. Ron had time, optimism, building skills and willing friends, which made it possible to launch the project.
After successfully navigating a maze of government paperwork and inspections, Ron built a small sawmill in the valley with which he processed his stockpile of logs into rough cut beams, joists, rafters, and panelling boards. All building materials were either carried by a small army of friends, or flown by helicopter to the site. Building Mistaya Lodge was done by hand, and Dave Birnie, who currently owns the lodge with his wife Cindy, was on site to help raise the walls and explore the basin. Dave and his family were the first guests at Mistaya Lodge for Christmas 1988.
TODAY: Dave Birnie was also looking for a new job when he heard that Mistaya was up for sale. Working full time heli-ski guiding between New Zealand and Canada, Dave and Cindy decided it was time to take on something new in their lives. In 2003 Dave and Cindy purchased the lodge from Ron and Jane. In the last 18 years Mistaya Lodge has seen a number of small renovations take place. The boot room, wash rooms, bedrooms and dining areas have all seen increased floor space added on. Features such as our combination micro-hydro and solar system keep our impact minimal while providing the comforts we enjoy. Over in the sauna building showers have also been added for those guests who enjoy a shower and a hot sauna at the end of the day.
The Location
In 1986, Ron’s quest for the ideal site prompted his friend Phil Hein to suggest that he take a closer look in the upper basin of WildCat Creek. A day or two later Ron and Phil scrambled up the backside of Mohawk Ridge for their first view of the basin. The two camped that night beside WildCat Creek on a sand bar dimpled by mountain goat tracks. It was perfect.
Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, just outside Banff and Yoho National Parks in British Columbia, Mistaya Lodge offers idyllic helicopter access backcountry accommodation where you can enjoy backcountry powder skiing, snowshoeing, and winter mountaineering. Our proximity to glades and open tree skiing as well as 7 glaciers on the west slopes of the Canadian Rockies means you can enjoy backcountry powder skiing at Mistaya Lodge whether you are a novice or expert skier. At the end of a memorable day of guided ski touring surrounded by towering peaks and glittering snow, the warm coziness of Mistaya Lodge invites you to socialize in the living area before indulging in a sauna bath and a hot shower. A nourishing home cooked meal, quiet conversation, and then bed, where fluffy duvets transport you to the early morning smell of coffee and the promise of more fresh tracks.
Mistaya Lodge is a solid, spacious, two-story, post and beam structure located in the Wildcat Creek Basin at 6,700 feet elevation. The 2000 sq. ft. lodge is a bright, comfortable building which embodies the strength and charm of its backcountry location. Our luxurious amenities bring comfort to your ski touring adventure:
- Indoor washrooms supplied with hot and cold running water
- Excellent food – all meals and baking, prepared fresh daily.
- Private or shared accommodation
- A clean, wood-fired sauna house, with a change room and hot shower for bathing
- Two outhouses that are clean, bright, and have an excellent view
- Heated drying room and boot dryer
On the main floor the dining and living areas are lined with abundant picture windows that invite armchair reconnaissance of the surrounding peaks and glaciers. In our large modern kitchen, equipped with propane stove, convection oven, refrigerator and freezer, our cooks prepare hearty backcountry meals of unsurpassed excellence. We are served family-style around the large dining table. No one ever complains of being hungry!
Upstairs, seven spacious guest bedrooms accommodate up to fourteen people, with a selection of single, double and bunk beds complete with towels, linen, pillows and fluffy duvets. Our small group size means that 14 people is a full house.
Mistaya Lodge Packages Include:
- Helicopter access to and from the lodge
- Accommodation with towels, linens, and duvets
- All gourmet home-cooked meals prepared fresh daily by our in-house cook, including afternoon tea and goodies!
- Daily guiding by 1 to 3 of our certified ski guides.
6 am: Coffee is on! The mountains await!
8 am: Join us for a delicious 2-course breakfast prepared by our in-house cooks. Discuss the day’s plan with the guides.
9 am: After breakfast, a lunch spread is put out and guests pack a lunch to take with them.
9:30-10 am: Depart on your daily adventure. Have a fantastic time!
4 pm: Enjoy a snack as you arrive home from your chosen adventure of the day. The sauna will be hot and all guests will have a chance to clean up before dinner.
6-7 pm: Gather for a hearty, delectable 3-course dinner; enjoy social time at the family-style table.
Evening: Rest and relax while dishes are being tidied up.
Bed time: Have a peaceful sleep in your cosy bed. Get ready for your next adventure, which may be sooner than you think—many guests take advantage of our crystal-clear skies to star gaze in the wee hours!
Looking for awesome ski and splitboard tours in the Sierras? We’ve got write ups on many common and uncommon tours curated by the owner of the BackCountry, Mike Schwartz.
