Just north of Pemberton, BC, Whitecap Alpine is ideally situated to bear the brunt of snow-loaded storms as they move inland from the Pacific Ocean to the Coastal Range. A little cooler and drier than coastal areas, blower pow is a regular part of our routine at Whitecap.
Whitecap is located 75km northeast of Whistler and 50 km NE of Pemberton in beautiful British Columbia. The area offers 85 square km of terrain with a combination of east-west valleys and navigable ridge lines with space for big open turns leading into gladded trees and natural half pipes. This is the perfect destination for backcountry skiing and splitboarding.
We’ll split into groups and find the best terrain on days ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 meters. The professional guides know this area well and will take you to the best landscape available based on snowfall, safety, and group goals.
McGillivray Lodge 2024 Cancellation Policy
Our cancellation policy will depend on whether you have taken the Flexi rate or Advanced Purchase rate. In both circumstances, there are no refunds given for weather delays or acts of force majeure.
The lodge operates in the winter from mid December to mid April.
All guests initially meet in Pemberton at the Pemberton Airport Terminal building for a trip briefing, helicopter orientation, and waiver signing.
Meeting Times:
Saturday 8:15 AM
Tuesday 10:45 AM
The terminal building is just east of the Blackcomb Helicopters office and Hanger. Please park directly opposite the terminal entrance. Once the pilot is happy with the weather window and everyone is clear on the logistics for the day, we will drive in convoy to our staging area at the Red Barn in D’Arcy. It is about 40 minutes east of the airport. Please ensure you have transport to D’Arcy organized; we encourage carpooling where possible. Vehicles can be left at Pemberton Airport if necessary.
Please arrive ready to ski. We will ask you to change into your ski boots in D’Arcy for the helicopter transfer. From here, it is a short 10-minute flight into the Lodge.
Please let us know if you would like us to organize alternative transportation to D’Arcy with Approach Angle Shuttles. This will be an additional expense.
Luggage allowance of 27kg (60 lbs) per person, including personal alcohol. This does not include skiing equipment.
Pack personal gear into a small duffel or your daypack. Avoid large duffel bags or rigid-frame travel bags.
Wear bulky ski clothing, boots, and helmets in the helicopter.
On a Saturday exchange day, skiing generally commences after the emergency training session, roughly between 11:00 AM and noon.
On a regular day, breakfast is at 7:30 AM, skiing starts between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM. Back home for après and a sauna at dusk, and dinner is between 6:30 and 7:00 PM.
We are very flexible. It’s about you and what you want.
Groups are managed based on individual desires, interests and abilities. We generally run two main groups and, at times, up to three based on the number of guests interested in skiing and their ability levels.
There is usually one stronger group, one moderate-paced group, and at times, a third group focused on a specific speed, which could be ultra-fast or completely mellow. We are happy to cater to novice backcountry users up to the hammerheads. We generally have two guides and one assistant. At times, we have three guides and one assistant.
Whitecap guides are all UIGM /ACMG certified and are at the top of their class in skiing, snowboarding and navigating the backcountry. The guides practice the most up-to-date methods of snow evaluation and rescue techniques. You can meet our team here: Whitecap Team.
Yes. By default, we will place two-four guests per room. If you have a roommate request, please let us know when completing you Registration Form.
You can request a private room on your Registration Form and will do our best to accommodate you.
In short, yes. Whitecap will help place you in a group with similar abilities, and all groups touring out of the lodge will be fully guided to make the best use of the terrain and for your safety.
If that sounds tame, rest assured it is not – experts will find plenty to test their ability, while newcomers to touring won’t feel hopelessly out of their element. Trust your guides to find the best snow on any given day – that can be anything from a glorious open summit in full sun to excellent lower-elevation tree skiing if it’s storming.
We recommend this trip to guests with some backcountry touring or side-country experience and at least a moderate physical fitness level. Every day at Whitecap is different. An ‘easy day’ will include 1-2 runs close to home (450-700m/1500-2000 ft) followed by lunch at the lodge or a cross-country ski in the valley. A ‘large day’ includes various high alpine circuits up to 1500-3000m/6000-10,000 ft of skiing and snowboarding, with lunch on the go.
We no longer rent skis or boards at the lodge. If you require rentals we will connect you with our Rental Partner EVO.
Avalanche safety equipment, including a shovel, beacon and probe, is required for backcountry riding, and rentals are available at the lodge upon request.