The tree skiing in the interior ranges of British Columbia is very unique. The trees protect the snow from wind and sun damage; so not only is it where you would expect the deepest snow to be, it is also where the powder remains perfect for longer which makes tree skiing a very enjoyable experience!
Photo at Galena by Justin Nan
In unpleasant weather when heading up to the high Alpine and glacial runs proves tricky, skiers can still get out of the lodge and ski through the forests; massively reducing the risk of the dreaded ‘down-day’. And, it’s not only the skiers that benefit from the improved visibility here but the helicopter pilots also use the trees to help navigate when visibility is low. So all things considered, it makes sense that the trees are one of the main reasons why the interior ranges of BC have the most reliable heli skiing in the world.
We have a lot of first timer guests who worry about the tree skiing before they head out… but they return as tree skiing converts! They are not as daunting as you might think – tree skiing in Canada is a totally different experience in compared to Europe.
Photo at the Monashees by The Public Works
And, where is the best place to get your tree skiing fix in Canada? Well, you can expect tree skiing in each of the CMH lodges but some of CMH’s lodges are renowned for their epic tree skiing runs. The Monashees has been dubbed as the ‘best tree skiing in the world’ and you can expect to do some real thigh-burning steep tree runs here. What’s great is that the pick ups in the Monashees are quite low so the runs are usually very long.
Photo at Galena by Justin Nan
Galena gives the Monashees a run for its money – the skiing in Galena is in the Selkirks which has a reputation for ultra-deep snow, steep tree skiing and epic pillow lines. This makes it a favourite for serious skiers and riders who want to go big every day!
Photo in Kootenay by Zach Doleac
And, don’t overlook Kootenay, one of CMH’s town based lodges, as it has a fantastic mix of terrain with some very fun, steep and tight trees. Whilst we’d only recommend that advanced powder skiers head to the Monashees and Galena as they have the most challenging terrains of the CMH tenures; Kootenay is the place to go if you’re a strong intermediate powder skier.
Featured Top Photo is at Galena Lodge by Brodie Smith
