Selkirk Backcountry Lodge
Deep powder. High alpine.
2026 // Contact us for dates
Experience the best backcountry ski touring lodge in the Selkirk Mountains! Legendary alpine and skiing runs, world class hospitality, deep snowpack and abundant cold smoke powder skiing!
Perched at 2200m (7200 ft.) in the Albert Icefield area east of Revelstoke, Selkirk Lodge commands a backcountry skiing paradise. The lodge overlooks a valley of breathtaking beauty, with spectacular views in every direction. Outstanding ski touring awaits you right outside the door.
Selkirk Lodge is cozy and comfortable, with indoor plumbing, shower, solar electricity, and internet access. The Lodge accommodates fourteen guests in one- two-, three- and four-person bedrooms, all with fluffy down duvets and comfortable beds.
In the morning, you will wake up to the wonderful smell of flavorful locally roasted coffee, and a substantial tasty breakfast. After a fun filled day in the stunning Selkirk mountains, folks relax over a scrumptious après ski snack, while the chefs concoct another delicious dinner.
Access to Selkirk Lodge is by helicopter from our Jumping Creek staging area, approximately 45 km east of Revelstoke.
List of Amenities:
- Electricity powered by our recently upgraded solar system
- Wifi
- Shower
- Beds and Bedding
- Spacious common areas and dining room
- Beautiful custom woodwork throughout the lodge
- Wood heat
- Drying Room
- Indoor Toilets (liquid only!)
- Propane incinerating outhouse toilets
We will meet at the staging area at 8:00 am on the first day of the trip (Saturday morning, see below for details), helicopter into the lodge and fly back out the following Saturday morning. During our stay we will have two ACMG certified Mountain Guides (IFMGA/UIAGM) leading the groups on day trips from the hut each day. Each evening we will return to the very comfortable lodge to relax, hang out with friends and enjoy delicious meals prepared by the cook.
Meeting location: NOTE NEW TIME AND MEETING PLACE
We are now staging at the Jumping Creek Water Bottling Plant on the Jumping Creek Forest Service Road, which is approximately 8 km further east from Albert Canyon, and about 45 km east of Revelstoke. Click here for Google Maps Directions to the turnoff.
Note: lunches will be provided!
Please arrive in time to be ready at the staging area by 8:00 AM pacific time to sign waivers and get weighed and organized. Everyone should be dressed to ski (ski/snowboard boots on, with a daypack packed for a day of skiing). The helicopter is scheduled to arrive at the staging area at 8:30 AM pacific time.
Driving Directions to our new staging area: The Jumping Creek Forest Service Road is located approximately 45 km east of Revelstoke on Highway 1. It is approximately 100 m east of a large pullout area that is on the north side of the highway (Corbin brake check). Turn onto the Jumping Creek Forest Service road, which is on the south side of Highway 1. This is a right turn if you are coming from Revelstoke. If you are coming from the east (Golden), this is a left turn. If traffic is heavy, it is advised to turn into the pullout area, then turn around here and go back to the east and turn right onto the Jumping Creek Forest Service Road. Drive down the Jumping Creek Forest service road for approximately 1.5 km and continue around a switchback that passes under the railroad tracks. Shortly after this, (approximately 300 m) there is a fork in the road – stay right. You will see our staging area, which has a bright red shipping container on it, as well as a wood sided outhouse/composting toilet building. You will also see a large blue metal building to the right of our staging area, which is the bottling plant.
If you are using Google Maps the “Jumping Creek Water Bottling Plant” does show up, but the app will not indicate that you need to drive down the Jumping Creek Forest Service Road, so it should be used for general reference only.
Guests, guides and staff are all responsible for their own transportation to the
staging area. All vehicles will be left at the staging area for the duration of your
trip. There are cameras in the area and though we cannot guarantee complete
security, the area is relatively secure and is not visible from the highway. We do not recommend leaving valuables in your vehicle and Selkirk Lodge is not responsible for theft or damage should it occur during your trip.
**Please note – we have a brand new outhouse/composting toilet for you to use at the staging area. Please use the outhouse for any and all toilet needs. The owners of the water bottling plant do not wish for their business associates and clients to see any yellow snow when they arrive at the facility.
We are no longer using a Bell 205 helicopter; we will be using an A-star. Please pack in small bags. Your luggage (excluding daypack and skis) should easily fit into a 40L duffle. Please avoid bringing excessive baggage by taking a look at the gear list. Please do not pack in hard sided or rolling suitcases. Please leave your ski bags (if you have them) in your car. Please pack alcohol in small cardboard boxes to make loading the helicopter easy.
Selkirk Lodge now has a fleet of nice, warm winter boots sized 7-12 men’s. You do not need to fly your own winter boots in to the lodge, only ski/board boots and indoor footwear/sandals/slippers/crocs. This is in an effort to cut down on bulk in the helicopter.
Please be on time: However, if for some unforeseen reason you cannot make it, please give us a call ASAP to help arrange alternate transport to the lodge. Call Tom Wolfe at 403-707-9996; Conrad Janzen at 403-760-0887; and/or email selkirklodge@xplornet.com
How to get to Revelstoke
Revelstoke Mountain Resort has put together a web page on How to get to Revelstoke by Air that is very useful.
We recommend you fly into Kelowna airport, which is 2.5 hrs in good weather by road from Revelstoke. From there, you have a few options:
- Scheduled airport transfers. Visit Revelstoke Airport Transfers for a comprehensive guide to your options.
- Rent a car at the airport which of course is very convenient. Renting for the week is recommended over one-way drop-offs, and carpooling with other people in the group helps share the cost of the week-long rental.
- Another option, if your group can coordinate together, is to arrange a private airport transfer. Visit Revelstoke Airport Transfers for options and contact details. From Kelowna, this costs about $550 USD each way for a max of 20 persons, so that comes to about $1100 USD or $80 USD per person for the round trip.
There are also direct flights from Vancouver to Revelstoke. I can’t recommend this though because the airport in Revelstoke is not reliable in bad weather and it really is not worth the risk of being delayed and missing your heli flight into the lodge.
We look forward to spending the week together with you and exploring the amazing ski terrain that Selkirk Lodge has to offer!
Packing Notes
A gear list for the week is attached 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 has an indoor hot shower (but now sauna). The lodge is BYOB, so feel free to bring your own alcholic beverages!
Clothing
- Wool or synthetic ski socks and liner socks
- Long underwear top – synthetic or wool
- Light fleece or wool sweater
- Wind shell – nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type jacket
- Waterproof breathable jacket (i.e. Gore-Tex)
- Warm insulated jacket – down or synthetic
- Long underwear bottoms – synthetic or wool
- Multipurpose stretch nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type pants
- Waterproof breathable pants (i.e. Gore-Tex)
- Warm hat – wool or synthetic
- Brimmed cap for sun protection
- Face warmer – scarf, neck tube or balaclava (optional)
- Light gloves – wool, synthetic or leather
- Insulated gloves or mitts with waterproof outer shell
- Spare gloves or mitts
- Handkerchief for blocking the sun (optional)
Snow Safety Equipment
- Digital avalanche beacon with good batteries (and spares)
- Shovel
- Probe (2.4m or longer preferred)
Travel Equipment
- Skis or split board
- Ski strap
- Ski or snowboard boots
- Poles
- Climbing skins
- Ski crampons (mandatory)
- Skin wax (or a candle)
- Any binding repair items to fix your specific travel setup
- Ski helmet (optional)
Glacier gear
Glacier gear is provided at the lodge but feel to bring your own if you like.
- Harness – fitted for over your ski clothing. Blue Ice, BD, Petzl and Camp make some good lightweight ski touring harnesses
- Locking carabiners (x2)
- Non locking carabiners (x2)
- 6mm by 5m prussik cord (optional)
- 120cm sewn climbing sling (optional)
Personal Equipment
- Ski pack (30-40 litres)
- Reusable lunch containers (for sandwiches, etc.)
- Sunglasses (having both orange and dark/brown-tineted lenses helps for travel in all conditions)
- Goggles (orange lenses)
- Sunscreen and lip cream (SPF 30+)
- Head lamp with good batteries
- Insulated water bottle or thermos (1-2 L) (if you bring a hydration system bring a regular water bottle as a spare)
- Lunch bag or container
- Personal blister kit (i.e: Leukotape-P and Bandaid or Second Skin blister pads)
- Pocket knife (optional)
- Camera (optional)
Hut Gear
- 30-40 L small duffle bag for flying into the lodge
- Shoes for inside the hut
- Hut clothing
- Towel for the shower
- Personal medications and toiletries
- Ear plugs
- Reading material
- Chargers for electronic devices (USB plugins and AC power is available for charging devices).
Note: Winter boots for travel around outside of the hut are provided at Selkirk Lodge!
Misc
- Personal beer, wine, or liquor – please bring cans instead of bottles if possible and pack this separately from your duffle in a small box or bag
Note: All bedding, pillows and duvets are supplied by the lodge
Group Gear (supplied by the guides)
- Altimeter
- Map and compass
- GPS
- Snow study kit
- Snow and/or bush saw
- First aid kit
- Emergency tarp
- Emergency toboggan
- Group repair kit
- Radio & satellite phone or inReach device
- Ropes for glacier travel
booking
Our Booking Form takes a few seconds to complete. We will then contact you to discuss your trip and answer any questions you might have. This is your opportunity to figure out for sure if this trip is for you, without obligation. To secure your booking you must complete our Online Waiver and Application Forms and pay your deposit.
Final payment is due 3 months in advance of your trip start date unless otherwise indicated. Please note that deposits are absolutely non-refundable, and final payments are non-refundable after the final payment date.
Paying
All of our trips are priced in Canadian Dollars. The approximate exchange rate is given for your convenience on each trip information page.
Foreign clients (and Canadian clients paying with a credit card): You will receive your invoice via Flywire, our online payment and foreign exchange service, after we review your booking application. You will be given various options of payment by credit card or bank transfer. For foreign clients, the exact rates you will be charged will be listed in the currency of the country you indicate to Flywire. These rates are competitive and offer good value compared with other options like bank transfers. There is no additional fee for credit card payments as this is wrapped into the rate offered (hence the higher cost of credit card payments).
Canadian clients paying by E-transfer: You will be invoiced via our accounting system Quickbooks. Please send an E-transfer to billing@sawback.com. If you prefer to pay by credit card in CAD indicate this on your Application Form. We charge a 3% processing fee for CAD card payments.
Booking Conditions Fine Print
READ CAREFULLY – BOOKING, RESERVATION, DEPOSIT: A deposit of 50% of the total price or private guiding fee is due with your booking unless otherwise indicated. You are required to complete our waiver and application forms during the booking process. You will be sent an invoice via our invoicing system, Flywire which provides all payment options available except Interac e-transfers. Flywire also provides foreign currency rates for the various payment options so you can pay in your local currency. If you wish to pay in CAD by E-transfer send funds to billing@sawback.com. Final payments are due 90 days before your trip starts. CONFIRMATION / TRIP INFORMATION: Upon receipt of this registration form we confirm your booking and you agree to pay your deposit within 7 days. Each trip we offer has a detailed trip information page (available on our website) with the trip details, equipment list, proposed itinerary and logistics, etc. Read through this carefully before completing your registration. TRIP (CANCELLATION / MEDICAL / EVACUATION / THEFT) INSURANCE: Once you complete your registration, we enter into financial obligations on our side and we cannot refund payments or release you from your contractual obligations. Therefore, we highly recommend buying cancellation insurance to cover your losses for the case that you can’t participate or have to interrupt your trip “for any reason”. Also, all participants need to have internationally accepted health insurance for all activities pertaining to the trip, including coverage for emergency rescue and evacuation. If you already have insurance, please make sure that you will be covered for “roped travel” booking a technical trip including “Via Ferrata” trips. We will gladly refer you to a travel insurance provider who offers “adventure travel insurance packages” and with whom our clients have had positive claims experiences in the past. Generally, you will receive the best benefits if you buy your insurance within 10 days of our booking confirmation. We strongly urge you to read our Insurance Information page carefully before booking your trip. CANCELLATIONS AND OVERDUE PAYMENTS: If you need to make a late payment or cancel a booking, please do so in writing (best by e-mail). Please note carefully the payment schedule for your trip. If you are overdue on a payment we reserve the right to cancel your booking without notice. At our sole discretion we may offer to credit you your deposit, less an administrative fee, towards a future trip. Cash refunds are not possible under any circumstance. CANCELLED PROGRAMS: Once we confirm your booking, we guarantee your trip departure. However, we do reserve the right to change guides, particular lodging or the itinerary or venue, should unforeseen circumstances (guide sickness, hut or route closing etc.) force us to do so or should the physical condition of the participants (see below), weather or mountain conditions, make a continuation as planned too risky. We will not be deemed to be in default for any delay or failure to perform our obligations under this Agreement resulting from acts of God, the elements, war, acts of government, civil or military authorities, natural calamities, catastrophe, fire, flood, accidents, epidemics, shortage of transportation, or any other like events beyond our reasonable control. PERSONAL FITNESS and GROUP TRAVEL: Our programs rely heavily on the integrity of each individual to assess his or her skill level and physical condition accurately. It is the responsibility of each participant to be aware of the necessary skill and fitness level for a particular trip. When in doubt, please call and discuss this with us! For the protection of yourself and other group members, we reserve the right to deny participation to any unprepared participant at any time of the trip, in which case we cannot offer a refund! In order to accommodate diverse levels of ability and ambition as well as diverse personalities, the decision making of the guide has to be geared towards safety and finding a consensus within the whole group, which may not please each individual participant at all times. Clients who are not willing to fit in with a diverse group and/or have less flexible goals are urged to make a private booking.
Snowpack and Climate
Selkirk Lodge is on the west side of the Columbia Mountains and as such gets a LOT of snow. Snowpack depths on the glaciers in January measure 3+ m. In early January the snow is especially likely to be cold, low density, excellent powder. Temperatures will be cooler, but again this is on the west side of the range where temperatures are on average warmer than further east.
Other Info
Workshop: There are tools available at the lodge for any necessary equipment repairs.
Power: We have power at the lodge so you can bring the chargers for your, radios, cameras and headlamps, etc. We have a generator which we will run as necessary and solar panels to provide power when possible. In the name of conservation we try to organize as much charging as possible at one time. Bring a quick charger for batteries if possible.
Wi-fi: There is limited Internet access in the morning (about half an hour) and evening (about one hour), but we encourage guests to leave their computers at home. All “smart” devices should be set to Airplane mode (it saves batteries) and Wifi should be OFF while not in use. All push notifications and auto-cloud-anythings need to be disabled. Selkirk Lodge has slow satellite and a limited download allowance. Lodge and guide business takes priority.
Location: National Topographic System (NTS) Mapsheet is: Illecillewaet 82N4 (1:50,000 scale). Selkirk Lodge is located at 51° 02’ 40.56” N, 117° 43’ 36.23”W
We offer both Relaxed and Classic pace options at Selkirk Lodge.
- Day trips, hut-based
- Hut elevation 2200 m
- Classic Pace
- Glaciated terrain
- Powder skiing and ski mountaineering
Our Trip Ratings Page outlines more specifically how we rate our trips.
Staff
Photos of the guides can be found on our Guides and Partners page.
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.
Conrad Janzen (Mountain Guide ACMG/IFMGA) has been guiding mountain adventures throughout the mountains of Western Canada since 1998 and lives in Harvie Heights with his wife. He currently splits his time between mountain guiding and working for Parks Canada on the Visitor Safety team based out of Lake Louise.
Finally, your week at Selkirk Lodge includes an in-house chef who will prepare superb meals. Guests are consistently amazed by the beautiful, tasty, and abundant food. We are happy to accommodate any special diets as needed (an additional fee of $75 Cnd applies and please provide us with as many specifics as possible about your needs).
Our goal is to provide you with the best skiing possible from the comfort and ease of a fully catered backcountry chalet.