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Waypoint Journeys Presents

Battle Abbey Winter

Powder Skiing in the Selkirks

December to April

Heli-Access Lodge at 2,200 m · 12,000 Private Acres · Seven Metres of Snow · Certified Guides, Private Chef, Cedar Sauna

5 or 6 DaysFrom $4,650 USDUp to 10 skiers

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The Destination

A Lodge Only the Helicopter Reaches

Forty-five kilometres west of Golden, in the Battle Range of British Columbia's northern Selkirks, a stone and timber lodge sits at 2,200 metres, just above the last trees. Hans Gmoser, the Canadian mountaineer who pioneered heli-skiing, built it with friends in 1978, and there is still no road in. You arrive the way they did, by helicopter from Golden, where the lodge's shuttle bus brings you from Calgary airport.

Around it lie 12,000 acres skied only by the lodge's own guests: steep old-growth trees below the door, open alpine bowls, couloirs and long glacier runs above, and around seven metres of snow in an average season. There are no lifts, no snowmobiles and no other groups. With ten skiers at most, all guided by the lodge's own team, you ski in small groups and choose each morning between a big objective and an easy powder day.

Evenings are the other half of the week. A private chef cooks from Canadian farms, the espresso bar opens at seven, the cellar leans on the Okanagan, and there is a cedar sauna, a fire and Starlink for anyone who has to check in with home. We book it all from Calgary and back: the shuttle to Golden, the helicopter, every meal, the guides and the avalanche kit.

"Twelve thousand acres of Selkirk powder, ten skiers, and no tracks but your own."
A skier turning through deep powder below Battle Abbey
Deep snow below the lodge
Why Battle Abbey

Private Terrain, Deep Snow and a Lodge Worth Coming Back To

12,000 Private Acres

The lodge's tenure in the Battle Range is skied only by its own guests. Tree runs below the lodge hold up in a storm; above it, alpine bowls, couloirs and long glaciated lines open when the weather clears.

Seven Metres of Snow

The northern Selkirks catch storm after storm off the Pacific and average around seven metres of snow a season: the deep, dry Interior snowpack that made this range famous among ski tourers.

Ski From the Door

At 2,200 metres, just above the treeline, the lodge sits in the middle of its terrain. Most days start by clicking into your skis on the deck and end by skiing back to it. In 2026 the lodge's crew gladed about a dozen new lines below the door, through the wood lot and the benches above 1,900 metres, and they run on into the valley-bottom runs: more skiing on storm days, when the alpine is closed.

Certified Guides

Every group skis with the lodge's own guides, each certified by the ACMG or IFMGA or working toward it. They read the snowpack every morning and settle the day's terrain with you over breakfast.

Chef, Sauna, Okanagan Wine

A private chef, an espresso bar, a cedar sauna and a cellar of Okanagan wines. The 3,500-square-foot lodge was renovated in 2024, with warm rooms, a big lounge and hot showers.

Heli-Skiing and Spring Weeks

In April the lodge runs private heli-skiing weeks over 515,000 acres from a Bell 407, plus a snowshoe week and a spring week that pairs morning powder with afternoon fly fishing for wild rainbow trout.

Day by Day

The Ski Week

The classic five days. Six-day weeks add a full day at the lodge.

Route map of the Calgary to Battle Abbey: Battle Abbey.
The Route

Calgary to Battle Abbey

A scheduled flight into Calgary, the lodge's shuttle bus west over the Rockies to Golden, then the helicopter into the Selkirks. Every night is spent at the lodge, and you ski from its door.

  1. Days 1–5Battle Abbey
Explore the route
Calgary → Battle Abbey
Day 1
Calgary → Battle Abbey

The day starts at Calgary airport, where the lodge's shuttle bus collects you for the drive west over the Rockies to Golden; we can book you a hotel by the airport the night before. At Golden Airport there is transceiver training before the helicopter carries you into the Selkirks, and you land at the lodge dressed to ski. The guides take your bags in, and you head straight out for the first runs. Apres, a sauna and dinner at seven. Arriving by private jet, you can instead take a one-hour direct helicopter transfer from the FBO in Calgary to the lodge.

Into the Battle Range
Day 2
Into the Battle Range

The espresso bar opens at seven and breakfast is at eight, when the guides lay out the snowpack and the plan. A first full day usually starts in the old-growth trees below the lodge, while the guides get to know how everyone skis. Lunch is carried and eaten on the mountain, and the last run of the afternoon ends at the lodge door.

Alpine Bowls & Glaciers
Day 3
Alpine Bowls & Glaciers

When the snowpack and the sky allow, the guides take you higher: skinning along ridges to open bowls, couloirs and long glacier runs with the whole Battle Range laid out around you. On a storm day the same guides find the sheltered trees instead, and the powder is often better for it. Apres at the lodge, where the sauna is hot and the kitchen has been busy since noon.

Your Choice of Objective
Day 4
Your Choice of Objective

By the third full day the group knows its legs. The strong can scramble a summit or chase a rarely skied line, others can lap the best powder of the week, and anyone who wants a slower day can stay in with a book by the fire and a view of the peaks. Dinner is a long one, with the pick of the Okanagan wine list.

Morning Laps · Fly Out
Day 5
Morning Laps · Fly Out

Coffee, breakfast, and back up the skin track for a last morning of skiing. You are back at the lodge late in the morning to pack, then the helicopter flies you out to Golden, weather allowing, and the shuttle bus takes you back to Calgary airport. Weather can delay the flight out, so we suggest not booking a flight home that evening.

Battle Abbey's lights on a forested ridge above a valley of cloud

Heli-Access Backcountry Lodge

Ten Skiers.
Twelve Thousand Acres.

In Pictures

Battle Abbey in Winter

Every photograph here is the lodge's own: the terrain, the house and its kitchen. Open any one to see it full screen.

On the Mountain

Ski tourers in single file on a summit ridge, with the Selkirks all around A lone skier far below a snow-plastered summit A deep powder turn beside the skin track A lone skin track leading up to a rocky summit Two ski tourers skinning up in the sun Looking down on a line of ski tourers climbing a steep ridge Fresh powder on an open slope A group crossing a broad snow shoulder toward the peaks A ski tourer on the skin track, looking up at the next summit Ski tourers crossing a sunlit slope beneath jagged peaks A lone skier below granite walls, the rest of the group waiting above Knee-deep powder in soft light Ski tourers climbing above a forested valley Skiing the trees in fresh snow Setting out on skins below a wide, sunlit cirque Fresh snow in the firs below a sunlit peak The whole group on a summit, with the range rolling away behind

At the Lodge

The lodge among the firs at first light Fireworks over the lodge on a winter night The lodge's stone entrance, deep in snow The group gearing up outside the lodge Coffee on the deck as the sun catches the peak across the valley Out on the deck as the peaks light up The lounge, with its A-frame windows and wood stove Warming up by the stove after a day on the snow The dining room and its wall of windows A guest room under the eaves, with the peaks in the window The sauna's round window onto the snowfields An espresso at the lodge's coffee bar

From the Kitchen

Ravioli made fresh in the lodge kitchen Chocolate domes dusted by hand for dessert Dinner plated for the whole table at once The chef plating dinner
Expedition Details

What's Included

Duration5 or 6 days with every night at Battle Abbey, from and to Calgary
Group SizeUp to 10 skiers share the lodge on a ski touring week, skiing in small groups with the lodge's own guides; whole-lodge private takeovers from $46,450 USD for five days
AccommodationBattle Abbey lodge, 3,500 square feet over three levels: warm rooms, a lounge, dining room, boot room, hot showers and a cedar sauna. Solo guests share with another solo guest of the same gender at no extra cost, or take a private room at a supplement
Terrain12,000 acres in the Battle Range for intermediate to expert ski tourers and splitboarders: old-growth trees, alpine bowls, couloirs and glaciers, and since 2026 about a dozen gladed lines from the lodge door down to the valley-bottom runs
TransportThe lodge's shuttle bus from Calgary airport to Golden and back, and the helicopter between Golden and the lodge, both included; arriving by private jet, you can take a one-hour direct helicopter transfer from the FBO in Calgary instead
Guides & SafetyGuides certified by the ACMG or IFMGA, or working toward it; every guest is given an avalanche airbag pack, transceiver, probe, shovel and radio
MealsEvery meal from the lodge's private chef, lunch on the mountain, apres every afternoon and the espresso bar
Departures & Prices

2026–27 Season

  • Jan 17–21, 2027$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Jan 30 – Feb 3, 2027$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Feb 15–19, 2027$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Mar 29 – Apr 2, 2027$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Apr 15–19, 2027$4,6505 days · Ski touring
  • Apr 28 – May 2, 2027$4,3505 days · Snowshoeing
  • Apr 28 – May 2, 2027$7,0005 days · Ski and fish

2027–28 Season

  • Dec 27, 2027 – Jan 1, 2028$5,6956 days · Ski touring
  • Jan 1–5, 2028$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Jan 5–9, 2028$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Jan 9–13, 2028$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Jan 17–21, 2028$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Jan 25–30, 2028$5,6956 days · Ski touring
  • Jan 30 – Feb 3, 2028$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Feb 15–19, 2028$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Feb 19–24, 2028$5,6956 days · Ski touring
  • Apr 12–16, 2028$17,6505 days · Heli-skiing
  • Apr 20–24, 2028$4,7505 days · Ski touring
  • Apr 28 – May 2, 2028$4,7505 days · Snowshoeing
  • Apr 28 – May 2, 2028$7,0005 days · Ski and fish

Prices per person in US dollars. Several dates are down to their last places, so we confirm availability when you inquire.

Not IncludedFlights to Calgary, the hotel night before, alcohol bought at the lodge, gratuities, travel insurance and your own touring skis or splitboard (the lodge rents Fischer touring skis, reserved ahead, if you'd rather not travel with yours)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common Questions About This Expedition

A confident intermediate or better in off-piste snow, and fit enough for a full day of climbing on skins. The guides split the group by pace and ambition, so strong tourers can chase peaks while others ski gentler lines, and splitboarders are welcome. If uphill travel is not for you, the April heli-skiing and snowshoe weeks are the way in.
Weather rarely stops the helicopter on a changeover day. When it does, you spend the night in Golden and fly in as soon as it clears, then carry on with the normal week. Costs from a weather delay fall on the guest, so we recommend trip interruption and cancellation cover; our insurance page covers the options.
Your own touring skis or splitboard with skins, boots and warm layers. If you would rather travel light, the lodge rents Fischer touring skis, reserved ahead of your trip. The lodge gives every guest an avalanche airbag pack, transceiver, probe, shovel and radio, and we send a full kit list when you book.
Yes. Whole-lodge takeovers run on most ski dates from $46,450 USD for five days, with the same guides, chef and helicopter transfers. It is the best way to ski Battle Abbey with family or a group of friends.

Expedition Investment

$4,650USD

per person, five-day ski week, shared lodge

Includes the shuttle bus between Calgary airport and Golden, the helicopter to and from the lodge, every night at Battle Abbey, all meals from a private chef, certified guides and a full avalanche safety kit. Five-day weeks $4,650 to $4,750, six-day weeks $5,695; snowshoe week from $4,350, ski and fish week $7,000, heli-ski week $17,650

Excludes flights to Calgary, alcohol, gratuities and travel insurance. Prices per person in US dollars; a private room is available at a supplement

Reserve Your Spot
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A Note on Safety & Logistics

Backcountry skiing carries avalanche risk, and everything at Battle Abbey is built around managing it: certified guides read the snowpack every morning, every guest carries an airbag, transceiver, probe and shovel, and the week opens with transceiver training at Golden Airport before the flight in. The lodge is reached only by air, and on the rare occasion weather holds the helicopter on a changeover day, you spend the night in Golden. Plan a night in Calgary before you start and leave the last evening free. Field rescue and medical evacuation cover is available through our Global Rescue partner page.