Guiding Services in Squamish
Posted on: January 22, 2024
Guiding Services in Squamish
Squamish didn't earn the title "Outdoor Recreation Captial of Canada" for no reason. Surrounded by hundreds of magnificent peaks, the exploration possibilities are endless.
Ready for a taste of the Squamish backcountry? Check out this list of guiding services, courses and clinics to help get you out there.
Meet the Mountaineers
A mountain guide service based out of Squamish and Whistler specialising in custom mountain adventures. Trips and courses are catered for the beginner to the expert adventurer.
Owned and operated by Squamish-based ACMG Mountain Guide Brian Jones, Canada West Mountain School has been teaching people to be self-sufficient in the backcountry since 1982.
Which course do you offer in and around Squamish that every backcountry enthusiast should take?
"Anyone that wants to go out and play in the backcountry in the Sea to Sky needs to have backcountry awareness, our AST1 is a minimum. It opens up doors and gives you the confidence to go out explore the backcountry." - Brian Jones
Mountain Skills Academy and Adventures
Specialists in the mountain disciplines of backcountry skiing, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, hiking and mountain safety, Mountain Skills Academy and Adventures has been faithful to its namesake teaching mountain skills since 1991.
Which course do you offer in and around Squamish that every backcountry enthusiast should take?
"The best course for outdoor enthusiasts of all types and seasons is our navigation course. If your cell phone runs out of power on the trail, it's key to have a map and compass on hand and to know how to use them!" - Joelle Tiessen
Courses
Mountaineering Essentials / Intro to Mountaineering
This course is an excellent introduction to the skills required for moderate alpine objectives and is designed to challenge you and give you the skills to travel safely in hazardous terrain. Spend several days in the field covering all aspects of basic mountaineering techniques.
Where: Squamish and Whistler
Contact: Altus Mountian Guides, Canada West Mountain School or Mountain Skills Academy
Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 (AST)
A course for skiers and snowboarders (and snowshoers!) who plan to venture into the backcountry. This essential course will teach you how to identify hazards and how to manage them. Know before you go!
Where: Squamish and Whistler
Contact: Altus Mountian Guides, Canada West Mountain School or Mountain Skills Academy
Mountain Navigation
Build your toolkit of mountain skills with a comprehensive two-day mountain navigation course. In this class, you will learn to recognise changing hazards and navigate with a map and compass.
Where: Squamish
Contact: Canada West Mountain School and Mountain Skills Academy
Crevasse Rescue
This technical course is ideal for those who want to strengthen their glacier travel and crevasse rescue skills. You will spend one day in Squamish learning advanced rescue skills and rope techniques applicable to all rope rescue systems, followed by a second day in an alpine region to apply your rope rescue skills in a glacier environment.
Where: Squamish and Whistler
Contact: Altus Mountian Guides, Canada West Mountain School
Tours / Traverses
Altus Mountian Guides, Canada West Mountain School and Mountain Skills Academy all offer an array of backcountry tours for skiing, snowboarding, hiking, trail running, climbing and mountaineering. We reccommend visiting their websites to learn more about what each company offers.
Here are a few select tours to give you an idea of some of the offerings available:
Tantalus Range Ski Mountaineering Trip
Four days, five peaks and steep ski runs up to 1500 metres in length. This Alaskan style terrain includes a mix of low angle glacial skiing and steep open faces and couloirs. The four-day guided ski trip includes an ACMG guide, meals, all technical gear (ropes, anchors, axe, crampons), heli flight in and out of hut and hut fees.
Where: Tantalus Range
Contact: Altus Mountian Guides, Canada West Mountain School and Mountain Skills Academy
Garibaldi Neve Traverse
Skiing across remote glaciers around Mount Garibaldi and over to Garibaldi Lake is the best way to appreciate the rugged beauty of the Southern Coast Mountains. Start at the trailhead to the Elfin Lakes/Paul Ridge area and traverse in a northerly direction to the glaciers of the Neve, underneath the North face of Mt Garibaldi, the Glacier Pikes, Sentinel Glacier, and Garibaldi Lake before descending the trail to Rubble Creek just south of Whistler.
Where: Squamish
Contact: Canada West Mountain School
Sky Pilot Day Tour
Sky Pilot offers an excellent challenge for mountaineers. The complex terrain is difficult, but the views are worth the effort! Start the day with a lift up the Sea to Sky Gondola and gain up to 1100 meters of elevation. Highly trained guides lead you on an exhilarating trip right on Squamish's doorstep!
Where: Sea to Sky Gondola
Contact: Canada West Mountain School and Mountain Skills Academy
Elfin Lakes Tour
A mellow tour with 880 meters of elevation gain. Explore Paul Ridge's rolling meadows and continue towards the Elfin Lakes Shelter. Available for a single day or weekend trip.
Where: Garibaldi Provincial Park
Contact: Canada West Mountain School and Mountain Skills Academy
Backcountry Snowshoeing to Elfin Lakes
A full day adventure (22 km round trip) starting on a wide trail ascending a gentle grade up to the Red Heather day hut where you stop for lunch or use as a turnaround point for a shorter tour (10 km). There is a great panoramic view of Tantalus up a little higher and then follow the winter route up another 6 km to get right to the lakes.
Where: Garibaldi Provincial Park
Contact: Mountain Skills Academy
