Whistler-based mountain guide Keith Reid likens the spike in interest in backcountry skiing as being similar to the rising popularity of Gran Fondo bike events. "Both cyclists and backcountry skiers prefer to earn their adventures," he says.
Reid works for Extremely Canadian, a company specializing in steep skiing camps within the confines of Whistler Blackcomb that has recently expanded its offerings into avalanche safety. "What founder Peter Smart and I discovered is that there's an enormous number of skiers who – especially on bluebird days – want to venture out of bounds and discover places like the Spearhead Range on their own."
He continues: "The good news is that most skiers are aware that you are on your own when you venture out of bounds, and that there are both tools (a transceiver, shovel, probes at the very minimum) and skills (slope stability, route-finding) that you need to develop to safely go there. Backcountry skiing is a serious commitment and we've developed a solid, systematic approach to informed decision making."
Avalanche skills training courses are offered at two levels: the first is a rudimentary introduction to what backcountry skiing is all about and the second is for participants keen to hone their skills.
As an alternative, some resorts offer out of bounds adventure tours, where guides select safe routes and take skiers on a planned itinerary that usually includes plenty of deep powder skiing.
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