Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
Subscription Form

Get notified of the best News

Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn
22K Followers
25K Likes
5K Followers
1K Followers
Mountain Life
Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Stay & Play
  • Travel
  • Trips & Expeditions

The Hidden Gems of the B.C. Backcountry

  • February 15, 2022
  • Mountain Life Media
Total
38
Shares
37
0
1
0
0
0
Total
38
Shares
Share 37
Tweet 0
Pin it 1
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0

Tucked away from the mainstream, the Backcountry Lodges of B.C. beckon wanderers off the beaten path.

Words :: Erin Moroz.

Article sponsored by Backcountry Lodges of British Columbia. 

If you like to be away, truly away, in the splendour and stillness of the wild where the conveniences of modern life cannot reach you—the Backcountry Lodges of British Columbia (BLBCA) are calling. Nestled into some of the most remote wilderness in the province, the more than 30 lodges of the BLBCA share the stage with carpets of wildflowers, glaciated cirques, meandering trails, steep alpine faces, exposed shoulders and dramatic ice heaves.

There’s a reason over 10,000 backcountry users a year love it out there: there’s nothing quite as rejuvenating and bucket-filling as the combination of nature and physical activity.

photo: paul wright

Wild places allow us to breathe, organize our thoughts and strengthen bonds with friends and family without the constant bombardment of digital information, to which we have become habituated but not immune. “All there is to concern yourself with at a lodge is the sunset or where the wind is coming from,” says Ernst Bergmann, who has visited the BLBCA lodges more than 40 times in the past 20 years, “You’re dealing only with the necessities of life and your brain turns off all the other noise.”

A Grizzly Bear in Alaska taking a rest on a fallen tree.

Waking up at 2,000 metres to the smell of French press coffee and the lilt of early morning chatter in a BLBCA lodge is one of life’s great pleasures, says Paul “Harv” Wright, a guest of the lodges since the mid-1970s. When diagnosed with lymphoma in 2016 and after three years of treatment, the 70-year-old Wright couldn’t wait to get back to the wilderness and the lodges, “Spiritually it’s a wonderful place to be in life. When I’m there I feel rejuvenated and alive.”

GAH-Friends-BHarrison-35
photo: brad harrison

While it is possible to hike into some of the lodges in the summer, most are helicopter-access only, adding to the off-the-beaten-path appeal. Once guests arrive at the lodge, all activities are human-powered—there are no mechanized modes of travel to shatter the peace, abiding by the association’s credo of “leaving as small a footprint as possible.” And there is also no shortage of self-propelled summer activities to partake in while staying at B.C.’s backcountry lodges: hiking, mountaineering, yoga retreats, photography, painting, mountain biking, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding, birding, trail running, rock climbing; or shift into glide and disappear into a good book and the hum of nature.

If the idea of being unaccompanied in the wilderness makes you pucker, fear not, many of the lodges require guests to hire guides to access the surrounding terrain. And, the guides only add to the allure of the lodges says Jim “Guido” Giuffre, a 30-plus-year guest. “The wonderful thing about a guide is they take you to places you wouldn’t go on your own.  I’ve always felt safe and confident with a guide and we never have to spend a lot of time analyzing where to adventure.” 

Alpine-flowers-Brigid-S
Photo: Brigid S.

The BLBCA is a member-directed association of privately-owned lodges in the major mountain ranges of British Columbia. Amongst its lodges, there is a mix of fully-catered and self-catered options. While the self-catered lodges appeal to many experienced backcountry users that prefer to run their own trip, the fully-catered option has a wide appeal and may even be considered “glamping,” says Nicki Valentine of Whistler who visits a different lodge every summer with her girlfriends to hike and share a laugh, “Being in the wilderness but without the pressure of running a trip ourselves takes off a lot of pressure…the dynamics and logistics are simplified.” 

Imagine enjoying the “outrageously beautiful” views at the oldest of the lodges, iconic Assiniboine Lodge, or a hut-to-hut hike through the Cariboo Mountains with Wells Gray Adventures or perhaps a canoe trip at isolated Nuk Tessli in the West Chilcotin all without the hassle of organizing the details: packing gear, freeze-drying meals, route planning. The holistic experience at the Backcountry Lodges of B.C. leaves users free to truly immerse themselves in the present with friends and family—details are magnified, time slows as life is distilled to its essential elements.

Add to that, comfortable beds, a steam in a cedarwood sauna, hors d’oeuvres and beverages waiting upon return from the day’s adventure and when sleep comes after fresh air and physical exertion, “it’s a different sleep than in your bed at home,” says Bergmann, rest is deep and comes quickly with a quiet mind and tired body.

GAH-Friends-BHarrison-24
photo: Brad Harrison

When asked what advice he’d give to someone contemplating a trip to one of the Backcountry Lodges of B.C., Bergmann replies, “Prepare yourself to turn off,” to which Guiffre adds, “First and foremost, go, don’t delay, it’s such a phenomenal experience. It’s my most favourite type of trip…some of the best experiences in my lifetime were had at B.C.’s backcountry lodges.”

To learn more about the BLBCA and its lodges hit them up on social media @backcountrylodgesofbc. To book your summer 2022 stay with Backcountry Lodges of B.C. check out backcountrylodgesofbc.com and don’t delay, for obvious reasons they book up quickly. In the meantime, inject a little of the B.C. backcountry into your daily life with the association’s Mountain Escapes podcast.

The Soulful Beauty of the Backcountry Lodge Experience
Total
38
Shares
Share 37
Tweet 0
Pin it 1
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • backcountry BC
  • backcountry lodge
  • Backcountry Lodges of BC
  • British Columbia lodges
Mountain Life Media

Previous Article
Blue-Mountain-Pow-day-Greg-Sturch-Colin-Field-photo-crop
  • Ontario
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding

Pow’er Up: Five Tips to Maximize the Fresh

  • February 14, 2022
  • Mountain Life Media
View Post
Next Article
Healing-Colours-Emilie-SG-Clair-de-Lune-
  • Mountain Lifer

Healing Colours / Les couleurs de la guérison

  • February 17, 2022
  • Mountain Life Media
View Post
You May Also Like
Jordan-Manley-Chad-Sayers-airport
View Post
  • Travel
  • Trips & Expeditions

Leave Jet Lag Behind

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 24, 2022
River-crossing-Cambria-Icefield-ABBY-COOPER
View Post
  • Features
  • Skiing

Kwhlixhoosa’anskw: A River Runs Through

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 19, 2022
Jamie-Mocrazy-portrait
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing
  • The ML Interview

Jamie MoCrazy: Thriving after Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 17, 2022
Dynafit-Sea-to-Summit-Delphi-harbor-revised
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Skiing with the Gods of Delphi

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 13, 2022
Nick-Gottlieb-Pereval-Dzhuku-pass
View Post
  • Mountain Biking
  • Travel
  • Trips & Expeditions

Touching the Mountains of Heaven

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 12, 2022
Full-Circle-Everest-The-North-Face-Nepal-prayer-flags
View Post
  • CLIMBING
  • Trips & Expeditions

Full Circle: First All-Black Team Attempts to Summit Everest

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 9, 2022
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • The Great Outdoors

Blower Pow and Disappearing Pants

  • Sarah Bulford
  • April 26, 2022
Blue-Mountain-Film-Festival-group-Ontario-Kristin-Schnelten-Blue-Village
View Post
  • Ontario
  • Stay & Play
  • Videos

Blue Mountain Film Festival Debuts in June

  • Mountain Life Media
  • April 14, 2022
Featured Posts
  • Jason-Hardrath-Journey-to-100-standing-peak 1
    Friday Flick: Journey to 100
    • May 20, 2022
  • 2
    Friday Flick: Waterproofing 101
    • May 13, 2022
  • Jamie-Mocrazy-portrait 3
    Jamie MoCrazy: Thriving after Traumatic Brain Injury
    • May 17, 2022
  • River-crossing-Cambria-Icefield-ABBY-COOPER 4
    Kwhlixhoosa’anskw: A River Runs Through
    • May 19, 2022
  • Jordan-Manley-Chad-Sayers-airport 5
    Leave Jet Lag Behind
    • May 24, 2022
RECENT POSTS
  • Red-Paddle-Co-Mens_Performance_Long_Sleeve_Lifestyle_08
    Gear Shed: Picks for Active Dads
    • May 26, 2022
  • Helly Hansen Presents: Adventure Planning 101 with Squamish SAR
    • May 16, 2022
  • Relic-The-Beachcombers-Ben-Tour-illustration
    Requiem for a Relic
    • May 16, 2022
Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn
INSTAGRAM
mountainlifemedia
22K Followers
✨GIVEAWAY TIME✨We've teamed up with @rab.equipment to give you a chance to win an epic prize to kick-off your summer adventures and See More Sunrises!
Jet lag can be a beast. It throws off our body clock leaving us drained of energy and constipated; the prime recipe for irritability. Not exactly the ideal vacation vibe, right? In our quest to ensure you don’t get stuck trudging through your day like a zombie, missing first chair, and sleeping through those short, precious daylight hours, we consulted the pros: snowboarder and Canadian Olympian, @spencerobrien spends roughly 200 days a year on the road and just as many in the snow.
Last day of the season @whistlerblackcomb! How was your season on the mountain? #whistlerblackcomb #mountainlifer
We hope this long weekend took you somewhere this beautiful 😍 #mountainlifer
Weekend motivation with @skifelix + @yankaczynski #mountainlifer
FRIDAY FLICK! @jasonhardrath has spent his entire life in motion: whether that was on sports teams as a young boy, as a triathlete through his early adulthood, or in the mountains, through today.
#ThrowbackThursday 👉Rhythmic raindrops pounded on the truck’s canopy. Wet snow avalanches growled down the slopes, and the river echoed its roar—evidence the Nass Valley’s spirit was very alive. According to the Nisga’a people, K’alii-Aksim-Lisims (the Nass River, one of BC’s richest river systems) is as much a part of them as their own flesh and blood, flowing through their land and lives.
Join us to hear from the Squamish Search & Rescue on trip planning, outdoor safety, outing ideas, and tips for backcountry travel while enjoying local beer and good company at @hellyhansenwhistler tomorrow eve! #Linkinbio to register!
@jamiemocrazy’s traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurred on her second competition run in slopestyle skiing at the finals of the World Ski & Snowboard Festival in Whistler in April, 2015.
Reel Rock 16 is coming to #Squamish! There are two showings 👉 May 20th and June 1st at the Eagle Eye Theatre, Howe Sound Secondary School, in beautiful Squamish supported by @climbonsquamish! #Linkinbio to get your tickets! #climbing #film #filmfest #climbers #adventure #climbon #adventure #squamishbc #tickets
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

✨GIVEAWAY TIME✨We've teamed up with @rab.equipment to give you a chance to win an epic prize to kick-off your summer adventures and See More Sunrises!
Jet lag can be a beast. It throws off our body clock leaving us drained of energy and constipated; the prime recipe for irritability. Not exactly the ideal vacation vibe, right? In our quest to ensure you don’t get stuck trudging through your day like a zombie, missing first chair, and sleeping through those short, precious daylight hours, we consulted the pros: snowboarder and Canadian Olympian, @spencerobrien spends roughly 200 days a year on the road and just as many in the snow.
Last day of the season @whistlerblackcomb! How was your season on the mountain? #whistlerblackcomb #mountainlifer
We hope this long weekend took you somewhere this beautiful 😍 #mountainlifer
Weekend motivation with @skifelix + @yankaczynski #mountainlifer
FRIDAY FLICK! @jasonhardrath has spent his entire life in motion: whether that was on sports teams as a young boy, as a triathlete through his early adulthood, or in the mountains, through today.
Mountain Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising

Input your search keywords and press Enter.