Custom Ski week at remote Burnie Glacier Chalet in NW British Columbia with IFMGA Guides John & Olivia Race.
We first skied at Burnie Glacier Chalet in 2006, just a few years after it was completed. Reminiscent of European huts it was the vision and effort of Christoph Dietzfelbinger, a Bavarian IFMGA guide who moved to Canada about 40 years ago and made it happen.
From the trip description by Northwest Mountain School
On-snow support
- Independent: Below this trip's level of support
Ski or ride independently, without trip staff accompanying you on the mountain.
- Hosted: With your guide
Trip hosts ski or ride with the group, help everyone get oriented, and share local knowledge.
- Guided: Included
Professional guides lead the group and select suitable terrain and routes based on conditions and ability. Instruction is not included.
- Coached: Not confirmed
Professional coaches lead the group, select suitable terrain, and provide instruction and personalized feedback to help you improve.
- 7 days on snow with staff
- Backcountry guiding7 days skiing with 2 guides
Terrain, ability and who it is for
- This is a great fit for experienced skiers looking for a challenge.
- The tree sking in places is steep, while the glaciers are a mix of lower angled with steeper pitches just above the valley.
- When skiing on the glaciers we may utilize a rope for traversing crevassed areas on the uphill, and also employ ski and boot crampons when necessary.
- Previous glacier skiing experience is not required, but having done one of our Europe tours before is beneficial.
- This is a spot that can certainly work for split boarders. With no really big, flat valley runouts to traverse this works well for competent boarders with previous touring experience.
- Sport
- Ski + Snowboard
- Max group size
- 12 guests
From the trip description by Northwest Mountain School
What the price includes
Included
- Lodging
- Meals
- Transfers · partly
- Heli flight in/out of Burnie Glacier Chalet
- Sauna at the chalet
- 7 days skiing with 2 guides
- Heli flight in/out of Burnie Glacier Chalet
- All meals in Hut
Not included
- Transportation to/from Smithers, BC
- Lodging and meals in Smithers, BC
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide/chef gratuities
Not confirmed by the operator: Lift pass, Lesson.
Where you stay
We have stayed in lodges all over the world and this is as good as it gets. It sleeps up to 12 guests with 2 guides and a chef. We reach it by a short helicopter flight. The dining room and kitchen are laid out as one big bright open space, always warm and cheerful with a giant wood cookstove near the rear. The rooms are all doubles, with duvets and there is a lovely sauna with an adjacent shower area. Meals are gourmet and enjoyed with a cold beer (or other drink) following the requisite sauna.
Getting There
While it is possible to drive to Smithers, BC, most people prefer to fly. There is a direct flight from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) that takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes, which is our preferred method of transportation. You can fly directly from Vancouver, BC. We recommend arriving the day before our flight and spending the night in Smithers. After we fly out you can either spend an additional night in Smithers, or catch the evening flight back to Vancouver, BC. In Smithers we can assist with all shuttles needed to move between the hotel and the airport.
From the trip description by Northwest Mountain School
Pins show the approximate main trip area—not a route, meeting point, or full itinerary. Confirm exact locations in the company's trip details.
Dates and prices
- Jan 15 – Jan 22, 20272026/27 · 8 days3,550 USD$3550 (USD)AvailableChoose these datesBook on company website
Published as "2027 Dates: January 15-22, 2027". Guests arrive in Smithers the day before (itinerary Day 1).
Prices, taxes and fees, required extras, inclusions, availability, and booking terms can change. Confirm the current price and trip details on the company website; source last reviewed September 24, 2026.
Good To Know
- Client to Guide Ratio: Either 5:1 or 6:1
- The terrain generally allows for one guide to return to the hut mid-day with anyone that does not want the “all you can ski” option on a given day.
From the trip description by Northwest Mountain School
Reviews
Reviews reflect the named reviewer's experience and link to their original source. Powderscape does not verify individual claims.