In late February, I got an invite to join a group of friends from the Bay Area who make an annual pilgrimage to interior British Columbia for three days of cat skiing, new friendships, and big ideas at Baldface Lodge. Never one to miss an opportunity for Snowedge product testing and marketing research, I was more than ready to answer the call and make the trip up north.

The adventure started with a short flight from Reno to Spokane, WA, followed by a scenic two hour drive north across the border to Nelson, BC. After a half-day excursion to Whitewater (one of the best local ski areas around), we made our way to the Nelson airport for the short trip to Baldface Lodge.

With over 32,000 acres of terrain set in the Selkirk Mountains, Baldface Lodge is a 10-minute helicopter ride from downtown Nelson. With 500 inches (1,270 centimeters) of annual snow, the lodge sits at at 6,750ft (2,057m) with average daily temperatures in the 20ºs F. The winter season runs from December to mid-April.

The lodge sits nestled in a clearing on the side of a mountain with stunning views of the Selkirk Mountain Range, and we arrive to the kind of picturesque sunset that leaves you feeling humbled and inspired. The main lodge is warm and inviting with lots to do including games, nooks to chat, a full-service bar (don’t miss the Caesars), amazing views and, best of all, a wood-fired sauna.

Each day starts early with a hearty breakfast and a run-down of the latest weather and snow conditions with your ski guides. Buzzing with excitement, the four snow cats depart from the lodge full of fired up skiers and snowboarders, pumped-up music, hot coffee, and sacks full of snacks and sandwiches to keep you fueled up and ready to shred throughout the day.

The skiing and snowboarding options are vast and unparalleled, with a combination of tantalizing open bowls and tight tree runs. The common thread: cold, light, Kootenay powder with every turn. You can expect to get 8 – 12 runs or 12,000 – 20,000 vertical feet per day. The tenure is huge and you will never ride the same run twice (even though you’ll probably want to).

You can’t help but finish each day with a huge smile on your face and a deep contentment that reaches down into your core. This is the kind of place that brings out the best and and most sincere part of ourselves. A place that sparks new friendships and a lasting bonds with people who share a passion for the same things you do, and a single minded determination to figure out how you’re going do it all again next year.

Music Jon Worthy and the Bends Please Tell Me Only A Dream Freemusicarchive.org

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