Mountain summits, old growth forests, kaleidoscope colours of volcanic rock, turquoise blue lakes, sprawling glaciers, and thigh high wildflower meadows.
Burnie Glacier Chalet is a beautiful but simple backcountry lodge nestled on the edge of the remote Howson Range southwest of Smithers, British Columbia. It is in the Kwees House territory of the Wet’suwet’en.
Accessible by floatplanes in the summer (and helicopters in winter), the lodge is perched just above 1000 m in a U‑shaped alpine bowl ringed by 2500‑ to 2700‑metre glaciated peaks. The surrounding valley system was protected in 2008 as Tazdli Wyiez Bin / Burnie‑Shea Provincial Park, ensuring the operating area remains protected for generations to come.
Experience wilderness lodge living, catered nourishing meals, daily hiking, adventure tours not far from the lodge, music and art based programs, forest bathing too! Here's a sampler of this summer's programs (see Tour Plan tab above for more details / swipe right or left for mobile):
Sing and Sourdough with Pharis Romero and Shannon O'Donovan! Dates under Booking link and see Tour Plan tab for more details.
Forest Bathing and Alpine Hiking (Shinrin-yoku! Nourishing Nature Rest and Recovery) with Ronna Schneberger (2027 dates to be decided);
Plein Air! Both Informal, and Formal with Instruction options. Dates under booking link and see Tour Plan tab for more details
Adventure Tours hiking, rock climbing, glacier lake dipping, glacier travel, rest, recover, repeat! various dates - see booking link for multiple date options and Tour Plan tab for more details
Alpine Hiking - Mountain tops, traverses, old growth forests to alpine summits. Views for miles and miles. Back to the cozy chalet in the evening to share great food, make new friends, and recount the day's adventures. See booking link for multiple date options and Tour Plan tab for more details and contact us to book!
Fitness, yoga, and meditation retreats - contact us to book!
Music and art residencies - contact us to book!
Group/Family Lodge rental - contact us to book!
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Meeting place and timeAlpine Lakes Air, Telkwa, BC
Place and time of the end of the tripAlpine Lakes Air, Telkwa, BC
4 days, 3 nights
5 days, 4 nights
7 days/nights
Full board
Nourishing meals
Float plane to and from the lodge - 4km hike to lodge from drop off location
Bedding, pillows, towels
Fully equipped kitchen
Shuttle to Telkwa Airport included on request for an extra fee
Travel to Smithers BC
Accommodation and food in Smithers
Travel to Telkwa / Alpine Lakes Air shuttle options on request
Transportation directly to lodge available for mobility concerns - surcharge to be negotiated
EquipmentMountain backcountry lodge, remote access by float plane or helicopter. Beautifully constructed, simple chalet. Group dining, double rooms with one quad. Comfy rooms and beds. Sleeps groups up to 12. Wood stove heating and cooking. Catered, nourishing meals. Relaxing sauna. Lovingly crafted trail system. Canoes and stunning turquoise mountain lakes. Custom, Hiking, Adventure tour, and mountaineering options available in 4,5 and 7 days lengths.
Mountain tops, traverses, old growth forests to alpine summits. Views for miles and miles. Back to the cozy chalet in the evening to share great food, make new friends, and recount the day's adventures.
Basically adult summer camp.... River crossing / Tyrolean Traverse Glacier Travel Via Ferrata Rock Climbing Glacial Lake plunge Local ACMG Guide Sean Fraser has great plans for this multi-mountain sport circuit and we're really excited to see it come together
Paint alongside fellow emerging and established artists. The amazingly talented and inspiring Sarah Belford (@sarahbelfordart) will provide materials and instruction/guidance as desired. Create beautiful and memorable images to take home with you of BC's majestic mountain landscape
Mountain retreat for music, art, writing, any and all creative pursuits, with options for yoga, canoeing, and adventure tours.
Two talented and creative forces joining for one incredible Burnie program! Shannon O'Donovan and Pharis Romero are offering an entirely unique and creative bundling of baking and singing in our favourite backcountry setting! Watch, learn, create, and enjoy a variety of sourdough delights in our wood-fired oven with Chef Shannon. Then tune up your harmonies or simply find your voice with down to earth and multi-Juno decorated, vocalist/musician Pharis Romero. Top it off with short to moderate hikes surrounded by snowy peaks and glaciers, old-growth forest, wildflowers, rushing creeks and turquoise mountain lakes and nested in the remote but comforting Burnie Glacier Chalet.
Tucked deep in the wild beauty of British Columbia, the journey to Burnie Glacier Chalet invites you into a slower, more intentional way of being. This is more than a hiking retreat—it’s a return to yourself. Guided by the gentle practice of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, you’ll move beyond simply walking through nature and instead learn to truly arrive within it. With each step along alpine trails and through old-growth forests, you’ll be invited to soften your pace, awaken your senses, and reconnect with the living world around you. The whisper of wind through trees, the scent of earth and pine, the rhythm of your breath—these become your anchors. Rooted in research, forest bathing offers profound support for your wellbeing. Time spent immersed in nature has been shown to lower cortisol, regulate blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, and calm the nervous system. It gently quiets the mind, easing patterns of stress, anxiety, and overthinking—like pressing a reset button for the brain. At the Burnie Glacier Chalet, surrounded by towering peaks and vast, untamed landscapes, you’ll find space to rest, reflect, and restore. This retreat is an invitation to step out of the noise of everyday life and into a deeper relationship with nature—and yourself.
Get outside and up high. Mountain tops, traverses, old growth forests to alpine summits. Views for miles and miles. Back to the cozy chalet in the evening to share great food, make new friends, and recount the day's adventures in a supportive, all female environment.
River crossing / Tyrolean Traverse Glacier Travel Via Ferrata Rock Climbing Glacial Lake plunge All female, supportive and fun environment
Hiking and Yoga Nidra / Feminine Power retreat with Dr Monika Herwig ND Monika has been hosting nourishing and powerful retreats for women for many years. Join her 4 day rest and reset to your truest and whole self.
Click on the booking link and you will see date options available
The float plane flight takes about 20 minutes and lands on one of the large Burnie lakes. It's about 4 km from the lodge. Expect a gentle (mostly flat) hour's hike from the drop off to the lodge. This is not a road - this is a forest trail with ups and downs and potential wet spots. We will carry some of our gear but will have porters and/or a heli-drop off for heavier supplies.
Martins and mountain goats are the most common sightings of mammals. You may see grizzly bears too. We carry bear spray and travel in larger groups so we are unlikely to see a bear, but it's possible.
Yes, we have hydro and solar power and adequate outlets for your phone and other devices.
We have options for heli-access to the lodge in the summer if you have mobility concerns. The helicopter arrives directly at the lodge. There may be a surcharge for the helicopter - contact us to discuss if needed.
Check out the Tour Plan tab at the top of the page.
Summer Burnie Glacier Chalet
from CA$1795
Owner / Nurse, Hiking Guide ACMG
Deb has been a Registered Nurse since 2002 and an ACMG certified Hiking Guide since 1999. This year she is helping with many facets of Sawback's operations, including helping manage Burnie Glacier Chalet, organising the food for our Bow Yoho and Wapta trips as well as taking a month-long position as ship's nurse on our Antarctica voyage.
ACMG Hiking Guide and Assistant Operations Coordinator
Maya is Sawback's Assistant Operations Coordinator, responsible for our Burnie program bookings. She is an ACMG Hiking Guide as well as a recent graduate of Thompson Rivers University's Bachelor of Tourism Management program. Born and raised in Canmore, Alberta, Maya is also pursuing her ACMG Ski Guide certification and has joined Sawback trips as a tail guide and assistant.
Owner / Lead Guide Mountain Guide IFMGA/ACMG
Tom began Sawback in 1995. He spends his ski season guiding across Western Canada, Japan, Norway, Svalbard and Antarctica. Tom is also the owner of the Burnie Glacier Chalet, one of Canada's premier backcountry ski lodges located in the pristine and remote wilderness of Northern British Columbia. Tom splits his summers between guiding climbing trips in the mountains of British Columbia and guiding paddling trips on rivers in Canada’s western shield country including northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nunavut. Tom has lived with his wife Deb in Canmore, Alberta, since 1995 where they raised their two now-adult children Rohan and Ruth.
Presenters
Here are snippets from an interview with Smither's Tourism about delightful local artist Sarah: It's difficult to really grasp a place unless you've been standing in front of it. I'm always packing a camera and taking moments to simply look around, visualize how it could be painted and appreciate the small details that bring the landscape to life. I love spending time outside, and being able to capture the places I live in such an intimate way, and then spend the time with them on a canvas. For me paintings are more than just a beautiful landscape, its time spent hiking[..] in the mountains, it's the kilometres it took to get to that spot, the heather I slept on to get that perfect sunrise. [I spend] the time to get to these places in my paintings, and capture them in the way I feel is the most true representation of the area. My hope is that people can feel the same connection to a place as I do when they see my paintings.
Presenter
Shannon O'Donovan is a baker, chef, gardener extraordinaire, and singer-songwriter too! She cooks and bakes for backcountry lodges like Talus in the Canadian Rockies, brings sourdough baked goods to the William's Lake farmer's market weekly, and juggles kid's Rodeo and Ski circuits. She hosts house concerts and has a gift for bringing people together!
Presenter
Pharis Romero writes, records and performs folk music with musical partner and husband Jason Romero. They also build handcrafted banjos and win Junos all the time! Pharis also offers vocal training and insightful playful workshops. Lucky us!
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Sawback is owned and operated by Tom Wolfe, a professional mountain guide living in Canmore, Alberta. Sawback employs a number of other guides, all chosen for their expertise and experience in the mountains. See our Guides and Staff page.
We are based in Canmore, Alberta. However, we run trips across Western Canada, and to many far flung and beautiful locations around the world. Some of our guides are based in Golden, British Columbia, along with other locations.
Absolutely. Please contact us to inquire about doing something that isn’t listed on our website. We are always keen to help organize custom trips. Apart from skiing, we can also organize and guide trips involving ice climbing, mountaineering, rock climbing, and hiking!
It depends on the trip! We can accommodate total beginners on some, and there’s always the option of creating a custom trip. Many of our trips have more than 1 guide, which allows the group to be split to accommodate different levels. The difficulty of each trip is rated - see our Trip Rating page. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your experience or fitness.
All of our guides are certified by the ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides) and/or the IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations). These certifications represent the highest level of training in mountain / ski guiding and risk management in the world. Becoming fully certified as a mountain guide requires many years of experience skiing and climbing, before embarking in a rigorous training and exam process that takes between 4 to 8 years to complete.
Yes, all guests, or their parent or legal guardian for guests under 18, are required to review and agree to Sawback’s Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement (the “Waiver”) as a condition of participating in any trip or activity with us and will apply to your participation in the trip. If the Waiver is not completed, the individual will not be permitted to participate. The Waiver will apply to all your activities with us for a period of 24 months from the date you sign it. By signing the Waiver, you will waive or give up certain legal rights, including the right to sue for negligence, breach of contract, or breach of the Occupiers Liability Act or claim compensation following an accident. The form of Waiver can be viewed and downloaded here. PLEASE READ THE WAIVER CAREFULLY PRIOR TO BOOKING ANY TRIP!
Our Booking Terms & Conditions can be viewed here. When you book a trip, you are deemed to have accepted our Booking Terms & Conditions on behalf of yourself and all individuals who wish to participate in your booking. Our Booking Terms & Conditions contain important terms about the booking, including our payment and cancellation policies and waiver requirement. Please review these carefully before booking.
Every trip in the mountains involves certain hazards and not all hazards can be mitigated or avoided. Our waiver outlines many of these. The safety of our guests is our absolute number one priority. Every day, the guide(s) on your trip will go through a formalized process to discuss and identify hazards, along with planning risk mitigation strategies. This process sets the stage for ongoing risk assessment through the day as new information is gathered. We strive to communicate this to our guests as much as feasible – a morning briefing about current conditions at a minimum. If you have any questions about safety at any point before or during your trip, please don’t hesitate to speak up!
Is there something you're uncertain about? Reach out to our welcoming team for assistance.
Testimonials from customers who have already used our services.
Safety is a Forefront!
Tom guided our week at Burnie and provided the group with expert knowledge of the terrain and a superb week. Safety was always at the forefront of the decisions made and the group felt safe in his hands, along with his fellow guide for the week. Communication was excellent and professional. Would highly recommend and am looking forward to many future trips with Tom and Co.
Tom Smith
You won’t regret it.....
Tom Wolfe and Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic on the Noorderlicht. I’ve done a few great trips with Tom over the years so when he emailed a year ago and asked if I wanted to go to the Arctic and ski from a steel hulled yacht I said yes without thinking... Good call. Svalbard was mind-boggling. I had expectations but it beat them. Getting into the zodiac everyday and skiing was amazing. Sea ice, glaciers, seals, walruses, beluga whales and polar bears. Huge huge glaciers, peaks as far as the eye can see. Just amazing scenery.
Alan Johnson
Recommend without hesitation
I met Tom in April 2011 when we camped outside Fairy Meadow hut at the end of the N Selkirks traverse, he was guiding another group. Since meeting him I’ve done 3-4+ trips with him (Burnie, Sorceror, etc.) and found him to be one of the top guides I’ve had the pleasure to travel with over the last 20 years. I’m at that spot in life (almost 61) where I am getting slower and his daily trip planning does a good job accomodatiing the full range of abilities (even if some of still have lots of enthusiasm, but less stamina than in our 40"s) and still incorporates us as part of the group, not just some straggler OTB(off the back, an old cycling term). Safety conscious, good judgment and all around top notch & smart guy. Recommend without qualification.
Jim Cossitt
View details about Inussuit Lodge tripInussuit Lodge
8 day(s)Greenland
Inussuit Lodge
Inussuit Lodge offers a superb base for a week of exploratory ski touring in the mountains and fjords of West Greenland. Set in a remote wilderness near Maniitsoq, the lodge gives us access to an enormous variety of largely untracked terrain, with alpine summits rising directly above the sea, broad glaciers, long valleys, and descents running almost to the water.
Each day we use local boats to travel through the fjords and reach the best skiing for the conditions, effectively turning the coastline into our trailhead. This mobility opens up a huge area and allows us to choose objectives according to weather, snow quality, and the ambitions of the group. Expect long, scenic ski tours, summit-to-sea descents, and the exploratory character that makes Greenland such an exceptional ski destination.
Inussuit Lodge itself is comfortable, secluded, and ideally positioned for a small group. Breakfast, packed lunches, and dinner are provided, leaving us free to focus each day on skiing and exploring one of the least developed mountain regions in the Arctic.
fromCA$7495
Learn more about Inussuit Lodge trip
View details about Seiland House tripSeiland House
8 day(s)Norway
Seiland
Northern Norway is world-famous for its “Fjell til Fjord” skiing—peaks rising directly from the sea. Seiland House offers some of the best terrain in the region, set on a remote island north of 70° latitude in the Norwegian Sea. Despite its arctic location, access is simple: daily flights from Oslo to Alta followed by a short ferry ride bring you straight into this hidden gem.
If you’re looking for an exotic European destination with a reliable snowpack, Seiland delivers:
Much of Seiland’s terrain is accessible only by boat. The highlight is Seilandstuva, the island’s highest peak, with sweeping views over Norway’s northernmost glaciers and unforgettable descents straight to the sea. Across the Stjernsund Strait, a 20-minute crossing brings us to Stjernøya (Sami: Stierdná), home to dramatic fjords and tours such as Rottenhallen, the island’s tallest peak.
A typical day begins from Seiland House’s dock by motorboat. Tours gain 800–1300 m of vertical (3–5 hours of ascent) and often descend via different routes, finishing in another fjord where the boat collects us for the return—true “sea-to-summit” skiing.
Unlike Svalbard, which has no indigenous history, Northern Norway has been home to both Norse settlers and the indigenous Sámi for thousands of years. Seiland itself sits at the crossroads of two Sámi traditions: reindeer herding and coastal fishing. The island still serves as summer pasture for reindeer, isolated from mainland predators such as wolverine and lynx.
The name Seiland is ancient, derived from Proto-Norse Sai-aujo (“sea-island”). In Norse times it transformed first to Sæ-ey, later shortened to Sei, with land (“island”) added afterwards. The Northern Sámi name Sievju likely reflects an old loan of this form.
Nearby Stjernøya also carries an ancient name. Its Sami form Stierdná means “star,” inspired by the deep fjords and long, thin peninsulas on the island’s north end that suggested star-like rays to Viking sailors.
fromCA$6895
Learn more about Seiland House trip
View details about Burnie Glacier Chalet tripBurnie Glacier Chalet
8, 1 day(s)Canada
Burnie, Smithers, British Columbia
Helicopter-Accessed Ski Touring Lodge | 12 Guests Per Week
Burnie Glacier Chalet is a small, helicopter-accessed ski touring lodge in the Howson Range of northern British Columbia, set in a glaciated basin with direct access to surrounding alpine terrain. Each week is limited to 12 guests.
Above the lodge, terrain rises directly into glaciated alpine, where single objectives of 1200-1500 m are common. The surrounding tenure sits within Tazdli Wyiez Bin / Burnie-Shea Provincial Park, ensuring long-term protection of the operating area.
Burnie sits in one of the most concentrated ski touring zones in the Coast Mountains. The terrain ranges from glaciated alpine bowls and long fall-line descents to 800 m tree runs directly behind the lodge, ideal for storm skiing.
The maritime snowpack is deep and reliable, supporting consistent mid-winter powder skiing and stable spring conditions. Burnie stands out among ski touring lodges for its terrain and vertical potential, with objectives selected daily based on weather, stability, and the group’s pace.
Burnie is widely regarded as one of the strongest ski touring lodges in Canada, combining terrain quality, snow reliability, and logistical simplicity.
Despite its location in northern British Columbia, Burnie is straightforward to access. Guests fly to Smithers, where the helicopter base is located directly at the airport for a simple transfer to the lodge.
As John Baldwin notes in Exploring the Coast Mountains on Skis:
“A deluxe backcountry ski chalet offering unparalleled ski mountaineering in the spectacular Howson Range.”
The chalet was established in 2001 by Christoph Dietzfelbinger and operated continuously for over two decades. It is now owned and operated by Tom Wolfe and Deborah Lantz of Sawback Alpine Adventures, with a continued focus on small groups, high-quality guiding, and consistent execution.
Here’s a recent post that talks about the transition, including an interview with Tom. Enjoy!
fromCA$3995
Learn more about Burnie Glacier Chalet trip
View details about Sunrise Lodge tripSunrise Lodge
8 day(s)Canada
Golden, British Columbia
Close to Golden, British Columbia, nestled in the Esplanade Range just east of Rogers Pass is a string of perfectly situated ski chalets: Golden Alpine Holidays. Sunrise Lodge is one of the “original three” built by Alison Dakin and Brad Harrison back in the 1990s. Sunrise Lodge is located at the headwaters of Wisted Creek and offers stunning views of Rockies to the west and Purcells to the south. Sunrise is the southern gateway to the amazing Esplanade range, including Meadow, Vista and Sentry Lodges. Consensus among those who’ve spent time at all four Esplanade Range Huts though is that Sunrise is the best for midwinter skiing: best terrain, best for storm skiing, and best snowpack of the bunch!
fromCA$3895
Learn more about Sunrise Lodge trip
View details about Valhalla Mountain Lodge tripValhalla Mountain Lodge
8 day(s)Canada
West Kootenays
Tucked high on a granite shoulder of Mount Woden at roughly 6 900 ft / 2 100 m, Valhalla Mountain Lodge (VML) looks straight into the powder‑catching bowls of the central Selkirks, just north of Valhalla Provincial Park and about 70 km from Nelson, British Columbia. Guests rendezvous in the hamlet of Burton on the Arrow Lakes and load an A‑Star for a 12‑minute hop up to the lodge each Saturday, a schedule chosen to match the area’s notoriously tight weather windows. VML was one of the province’s first purpose‑built backcountry ski lodges. Construction began in the mid‑1980s after two tree‑planter‑turned‑ski‑bums—Brian “Bomber” Cross and Leo Jansma—secured a remote‑touring tenure and packed lumber in by helicopter and on foot. Both men remain equal partners and still rotate weeks as custodians, guides and unofficial storytellers.
View details about Japan Hokkaido tripJapan Hokkaido
11 day(s)Japan
Niseko/Furano
Japan has formed a legendary reputation for deep powder skiing in early winter. The saying “Don’t Leave Powder to Find Powder” is common in western Canada – why leave Canada when we have the best skiing in the world? Well, Japan is a strong contender, and when you add the incredible cultural experience to the mix it rises to the top of any serious skier’s bucket list.
In 2026 we are once again offering two Japan ski trips: JP26-1 starts and finishes at New Chitose airport and explores the iconic Niseko and Furano areas. JP26-2 starts in Yuzawa, a short train ride north of Tokyo, and finishes in Hakuba town. Take your pick — or, better yet, if you can’t decide between the two, join us for both for a 3-week JaPOW trip of a lifetime.
One of the side-effects of the strong popularity of skiing in Japan has been the erosion of the cultural experience. Hearing complaints of “I was skiing tracks with a bunch of Australians” I decided to seek the advice of Japan-born Whistler-based Jun Yanagisawa. I met Jun heli-skiing in northern BC and immediately admired his gracious Japanese manners, sense of humour, and powerful, elegant ski technique. Born and raised in Tokyo, Jun was an avid skier from childhood. In search of wilderness, Jun eventually immigrated to Whistler, British Columbia where he has worked for close to 30 years in the ski and tourism industry, moving between his native Japan and western Canada’s heli- and ski-touring.
I said to Jun, “Let’s do a Japan trip together, but let’s see some weird funky Japanese culture!” Jun said, “Leave it to me Tom-san!”
The result has been a series of trips that has pleased and delighted our guests. Please join us next season to experience it for yourself!
fromCA$6950
Learn more about Japan Hokkaido trip
View details about Japan Honshu tripJapan Honshu
11 day(s)Japan
Niigata, Myoko, Hakuba
This is a grand tour of the best of the Japan Alps, a rugged alpine range north of Tokyo, legendary for its deep powder snow and made famous by snow monkeys and the 18th Olympic Winter Games in 1988.
Japan has formed a legendary reputation for deep powder skiing in early winter. The saying “Don’t Leave Powder to Find Powder” is common in western Canada – why leave Canada when we have the best skiing in the world? Well, Japan is a strong contender, and when you add the incredible cultural experience to the mix it rises to the top of any serious skier’s bucket list.
In 2027 we are once again offering two Japan ski trips:
JP27-1 → Hokkaido Ski Tour
Starts and finishes at New Chitose Airport and explores the iconic Niseko and Furano areas.
JP27-2 → Japan Alps Ski Tour
Starts in Yuzawa, a short train ride north of Tokyo, and finishes in Hakuba town.
Take your pick - or better yet, if you cannot decide between the two, join us for both for a three-week JaPOW trip of a lifetime.
One of the side-effects of the strong popularity of skiing in Japan has been the erosion of the cultural experience. Hearing complaints of “I was skiing tracks with a bunch of Australians,” I decided to seek the advice of Japan-born Whistler-based Jun Yanagisawa. I met Jun heli-skiing in northern BC and immediately admired his gracious Japanese manners, sense of humour, and powerful, elegant ski technique.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Jun was an avid skier from childhood. In search of wilderness, Jun eventually immigrated to Whistler, British Columbia where he has worked for close to 30 years in the ski and tourism industry, moving between his native Japan and western Canada’s heli- and ski-touring.
I said to Jun, “Let’s do a Japan trip together, but let’s see some weird funky Japanese culture!”
Jun said, “Leave it to me Tom-san!”
Since that whacky and inspiring first trip with Jun our Japan program has developed and refined year after year into a sampling of some of the best skiing Japan has to offer at authentic ryokans, offering a glimpse at a side of Japanese culture that is slowly fading.
Our friend and JaPOW Trip Coordinator Satoshi Kawano sums it up perfectly in about 20 seconds: deep powder skiing, hot onsens, incredible food, and the strangely wonderful world of Japanese convenience stores. Enjoy!
This blog post on Snow-Forecast highlights what I mean by that last paragraph. It shows why Japan trips are so special but also hints at the changes already underway. It also showcases one of the lodges we’ve enjoyed using over the years. Hopefully it doesn’t change - but I know it will.
fromCA$7250
Learn more about Japan Honshu tripView details about Summer Burnie Glacier Chalet tripSummer Burnie Glacier Chalet
6, 5 day(s)Canada
Burnie, Smithers, British Columbia
Mountain summits, old growth forests, kaleidoscope colours of volcanic rock, turquoise blue lakes, sprawling glaciers, and thigh high wildflower meadows.
Burnie Glacier Chalet is a beautiful but simple backcountry lodge nestled on the edge of the remote Howson Range southwest of Smithers, British Columbia. It is in the Kwees House territory of the Wet’suwet’en.
Accessible by floatplanes in the summer (and helicopters in winter), the lodge is perched just above 1000 m in a U‑shaped alpine bowl ringed by 2500‑ to 2700‑metre glaciated peaks. The surrounding valley system was protected in 2008 as Tazdli Wyiez Bin / Burnie‑Shea Provincial Park, ensuring the operating area remains protected for generations to come.
Experience wilderness lodge living, catered nourishing meals, daily hiking, adventure tours not far from the lodge, music and art based programs, forest bathing too! Here's a sampler of this summer's programs (see Tour Plan tab above for more details / swipe right or left for mobile):
Sing and Sourdough with Pharis Romero and Shannon O'Donovan! Dates under Booking link and see Tour Plan tab for more details.
Forest Bathing and Alpine Hiking (Shinrin-yoku! Nourishing Nature Rest and Recovery) with Ronna Schneberger (2027 dates to be decided);
Plein Air! Both Informal, and Formal with Instruction options. Dates under booking link and see Tour Plan tab for more details
Adventure Tours hiking, rock climbing, glacier lake dipping, glacier travel, rest, recover, repeat! various dates - see booking link for multiple date options and Tour Plan tab for more details
Alpine Hiking - Mountain tops, traverses, old growth forests to alpine summits. Views for miles and miles. Back to the cozy chalet in the evening to share great food, make new friends, and recount the day's adventures. See booking link for multiple date options and Tour Plan tab for more details and contact us to book!
Fitness, yoga, and meditation retreats - contact us to book!
Music and art residencies - contact us to book!
Group/Family Lodge rental - contact us to book!
View details about Sing and Sourdough tripSing and Sourdough
6 day(s)Canada
Burnie Glacier Chalet, Smithers, British Columbia
Join us Sept 1-5 at the beautiful Burnie Glacier Chalet for a unique and very fun experience!
Two talented and creative forces joining up for one incredible Burnie program! Shannon O'Donovan and Pharis Romero are offering an entirely unique and creative bundling of baking and singing in our favourite backcountry setting!
Watch, learn, and enjoy a variety of sourdough delights with the wild backdrop of a backcountry setting with Chef Shannon. Then tune up your harmonies or simply find your voice with down to earth and multi-Juno decorated, local vocalist/musician Pharis Romero. And to top it off, travel the local trails by the cascading Burnie Glacier, surrounding peaks, wildflowers and turquoise lakes with an ACMG certified hiking guide.
A unique, intimate, and VERY FUN experience in a wilderness lodge setting - The beautiful Burnie Glacier Chalet. Take a break from the outside world and join us for inspiring and playful instruction for both your singing and your sourdough skills - at any stage in your development - based out of our cozy backcountry lodge. Comfy beds, beautiful views, catered nourishing meals, daily hiking, glacial lake dips, and a relaxing sauna, await you.
Sept 1 Take the extremely scenic float plane to Burnie Lake
See Tour Plan tab above (mobiles swipe right/left on the Tab Bar above) for full sample itinerary
We'll make music, we'll make bread! (other delights too), and we'll hike around and explore. Space is limited for this intimate retreat—grab your spot today!
Daily singing time will include instruction in some of the basics (breathing and resonance, as needed, when needed!) alongside ear training specifically for singers. We will do some deep dives into being a successful harmony singing chameleon, communicating the message of your song, and expanding your repertoire of easily remembered and shared songs. Master classes and individual instruction will also be available as time and group needs permit. And most important of all, we’ll just sing together!
Chef Shannon O'Donovan really elevates mountain baking. Her sourdough breads are crafted with love, skill, and carefully harnessed sourdough magic. She'll show us how she feeds, forms, and finishes her creations with ongoing and ample opportunities to enjoy the results!
Explore the beautiful trails and terrain surrounding Burnie Glacier Chalet. Gems near and farther afield will delight you. Mountain lakes, old growth forests, sprawling glaciers, lookouts and even a summit option or two.
fromCA$1795
Learn more about Sing and Sourdough trip
