Burnie Glacier Chalet

GETTING TO SMITHERS

Simplest and easiest way to get to Burnie is to fly in and out of Smithers, BC. I recommend getting there the day before to allow time for your baggage to catch up to you in case it gets bumped. It’s tempting to try to arrive on the 9:30 am Friday flight, stroll across the tarmac and get into the helicopter to Burnie at 10:30 am, but it’s very risky!

Important: if you are flying, be sure to bring the smallest possible ski bags. The larger ski bags, especially if they are filled with additional items, are often bumped onto a later flight and may not arrive in time for the flight to the Chalet. As well, make sure that your luggage is small, soft-sided duffels (not wheeled baggage) for the same reasons. The rule of thumb is, the smaller the baggage the better the chance of it making its way from Vancouver to Smithers. This is due to the smaller sized airplanes used to service this route.

For some reason flights to Smithers have just been getting more and more expensive over the years. Currently the only airline servicing Smithers is Air Canada (Jazz). Central Mountain Air has suspended its Smithers service since covid, but this could change so it’s worth looking into.

You can also consider flying in and out of Terrace, BC which is a 2.5 hour drive from Smithers. Tickets to Terrace are often hundreds of dollars cheaper than to Smithers. You would need to rent a car, either as a one-way drop off twice or for the whole week — the costs work out to be about the same either way. This might make sense if you’re travelling as a group, especially if you decide to mix a trip to Smithers with a visit to Shames and Hudson Bay ski resorts.

If you choose to drive to Smithers from your home be aware that it’s a long, lonely 2-lane highway and while it’s well maintained for a northern BC road it’s quite a long haul and in a winter storm your pace could slow to a crawl. So check the weather and give yourself enough time.

FREE BURNIE AIRPORT SHUTTLE SERVICE

We provide a free shuttle service between the airport and hotel before the trip (Thursday evening from the airport and Friday morning from the Stork Nest) as well as after the trip (Friday afternoon). Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this service well in advance.

On the Friday at the end of the trip we will aim to be back in Smithers just in time for you to check in for the afternoon flight back to Vancouver.

PRE-POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION

We recommend you stay the night at the Stork Nest Inn Thursday night. The Stork Nest includes an excellent breakfast the next morning and also provides free storage area for any luggage, ski bags, etc. you want to leave in town. You can also leave baggage at the heli base (Silver King) which is convenient if you are flying back Friday afternoon as it saves you going back into town.

HELICOPTER LOGISTICS

We are scheduled to meet at the Silver King hangar (next to the airport, tel: 250-877-1989) in Smithers, BC at 10:30 am on Friday to fly into the Burnie Glacier. If this changes I will let you know as soon as possible. If you plan to stay at the Stork Nest Inn in Smithers we will send a taxi to pick you up at about 10:00 am. If you have made arrangements to stay elsewhere please let me know so that we can arrange to have you picked up at the correct time. We plan to be back in Smithers by 14:00 on the following Friday at the very latest but usually as early as 13:00. If you choose to book a flight out of Smithers Friday check with us first, and be sure to get the appropriate insurance to cover you in case of weather delays out of Burnie.

Please do not transport your skis/poles in ski bags to the Chalet. Leave your ski bags at the Stork’s Nest or Silver King. The helicopters have limited space and ski bags take up too much room. Don’t worry, we’ll be gentle loading them!

Packing Notes:

A gear list for the week is below. Despite being a mid winter trip you should bring ski crampons. They can make a big difference even on a powder skiing week at times. If you have any difficulty obtaining these please let me know. I have some spares and can likely set you up with a pair. You will need a climbing harness with several locking carabiners. Please ensure that it fits comfortably over your ski clothes. A light weight ice axe may be useful for some of the lines in the area, especially late season (late March-April-May) but if you don’t have one or aren’t interested in that kind of skiing then don’t worry about bringing one. We have extras at the lodge in any case.

The lodge is equipped with 110 VAC power and does have limited Wi-Fi internet access. It has a great ski repair area and several sets of high quality skis if you would like to try something different during the week. It also has a wonderful sauna for the end of the day, and beer and wine are available to purchase at the lodge.

Pillows, sheets, and duvets are provided. You are encouraged to bring a couple of your own towels (one for using in the sauna, the other for drying off after your shower), although towels are available at the lodge in case you forget.

Snowpack and Climate

This is NW Interior skiing, a bit colder and drier than the coast but it still dumps! On the ice Burnie has a 4+ m snowpack mid-winter. The lodge, at 1030 m ASL, is at by far the lowest elevation of any of the Canadian backcountry ski lodges. However, its northern latitude ensures a cool climate and great skiing into June. Temperatures in January average -20C to -10C, and in March -12C to -3C at the lodge.

We offer both Relaxed and Normal pace trips at Burnie. In your application we ask you to be as clear as possible about your technical ski skills and fitness so that we can plan accordingly.

• Day trips, hut-based
• Hut elevation 1030 m
• Mixed groups (separated into Relaxed and Normal pace)
• Glaciated terrain
• Steep treed skiing
• Powder skiing and ski mountaineering

Our Trip Ratings Page outlines more specifically how we rate our trips.

Tom Wolfe (Mountain Guide ACMG/IFMGA) has been guiding since moving to Canmore in 1995, the place he calls home with wife, son and daughter. He guides year around, with winters being a mix of ski guiding at lodges, heli-ski operations, and remote backcountry destinations throughout western Canada. He has skied and guided many weeks at Burnie since 2004.

Christoph Dietzfelbinger (Mountain Guide, ACMG/IFMGA) is the owner of the Burnie Glacier Chalet. He is the one who has developed the area for both winter and summer use and it is first and foremost Christoph whom we can thank for being able to spend a week of skiing in such a wonderful facility.

Finally, life at Burnie includes superb meals. These are prepared by one of our two gracious in-house chefs, Molly and Monika, who consistently amaze guests with their beautiful, tasty, and abundant food. We are happy to accommodate special diets.

Our goal is to provide you with the best skiing possible in the comfort and ease of a fully catered backcountry chalet.

Here’s a cool Blog from Arcteryx’ trip there a couple of winters ago that includes video: https://blog.arcteryx.com/tag/burnie-glacier-chalet/

And some great photos from past trips I’ve done there (click links to view):

South Telkwa Glacier

Upper Ptarmigan and Lakehead East Ridge

Mitre Col Circuit

Here’s a great little video put together by some stoked guests (click link to view):

Burnie Glacier Video

Although this information package is comprehensive and specific to this trip, Christoph provides some general information on his Bear Mountaineering website that might prove useful to you as well

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