Tour + Explore Backcountry CampFernie, Canada - 2 Weeks

Our Tour + Explore Backcountry Camp offers an unforgettable two-week adventure in one of the world’s most iconic backcountry destinations — British Columbia. Known for its legendary powder, expansive terrain, and rugged mountains, BC is the ultimate playground for anyone passionate about backcountry skiing. Based in the Powder Highway town of Fernie, this camp combines resort riding with a trio of authentic backcountry experiences, giving you the perfect opportunity to progress your skills and connect with the essence of ‘earning your turns’, while exploring some of the most breathtaking terrain on the planet.

Start your journey by dialling in your skills with two days of coaching at Fernie Alpine Resort, where you'll get comfortable in natural powder bowls and gain the confidence to venture into the backcountry. From there, the adventure kicks into high gear, with an optional day of cat-skiing in a nearby backcountry arena and a ski touring clinic to build your toolbox of skills, supported by an avalanche safety workshop. After a brief respite to relax, ski and soak in the town's vibe, you'll fly into the remote Boulder Hut by heli for 3 days of guided touring in the Purcell Mountains — one of BC's most sought-after backcountry regions.

You’ll stay at the Nonstop-owned Red Tree Lodge, your hub for group meals, downtime, and hanging out. Whether you're new to ski touring or a seasoned backcountry rider, this camp is designed for adventurous skiers looking to learn, challenge themselves, and conquer BC's breathtaking terrain.

Fernie is a ski mecca with cult status for its deep powder, adventurous terrain and authentically Canadian town, just a few of the reasons Nonstop was founded here. Set in southeast British Columbia, it receives mega amounts of annual snowfall and has the biggest vertical in Canadian Rockies.

The ski area is made up of five alpine bowls: Cedar, Lizard, Currie, Timber and Siberia. Each bowl has unique character, with steeps, narrow chutes, gladed trees, open slopes and powder fields to ride between. There are 142 marked runs, with 75 rated as black or double black. Whether you love carving groomers, weaving through the trees, bounding through pow, or navigating steep chutes, Fernie has it all.

With one of the best snow records in Canada, Fernie is an epic place to ride powder. On average, more than 10m falls each winter. And it’s not just the quantity of snow that’s so good, it’s also the quality of it. A combination of the horse-shoe shape of the mountains, local weather systems and Pacific fronts are to thank for Fernie’s frequent dumps and feather-light flakes.

Fernie’s town is located a short distance from the ski hill, connected via a 10-minute shuttle, and promises a real taste of Canadian mountain life. We love it here. The culture is infectious and downtown has a funky, welcoming and laid-back vibe, with plenty of indie shops, bars, restaurants and coffee stores to stay social on down days. Whether its wild nights, live music or a fresh coffee, every vibe and venue is covered.

Led by Nonstop instructors and professional guides, this camp blends all-terrain coaching with a series of backcountry-focussed experiences. Together, they are designed to equip you with the skills needed to tackle the legendary terrain of British Columbia. You’ll dial in off-piste skiing techniques, learn about avalanche safety, and be taught how to tour, before plying your skills on a multi-day mission at the Boulder Hut.

Sessions                     

Led by a Nonstop coach, enjoy two days of resort-based coaching to find your freeride legs and dial in your skills. You’ll explore Fernie’s natural powder bowls, whose terrain shares similar characteristics to that of the backcountry, as you hone your all-terrain skillset – powder, trees, chutes and more.

Avalanche Skills          

This camp features a one-day avalanche safety workshop combining fieldwork and theory. You’ll learn how to identify avalanche terrain, interpret avalanche forecasts, and perform snow stability tests. You’ll also practice peer rescue techniques through simulated scenarios, using your transceiver, shovel and probe. Whether you're new to avalanche safety or a seasoned backcountry-goer, regularly refreshing your safety skills is essential.

Touring                       

Getting up the mountain is a fundamental part of skiing and snowboarding. The more subtle, human-powered way to do this is ski touring, offering endless scope to explore and the satisfaction of ‘earning your turns’. Away from resort boundaries, our one-day touring clinic will teach you how to properly ‘skin up’ and navigate backcountry terrain, with tips and tricks on ascent techniques, kick turns and transitions. Exploring a zone like the ‘Lost Boys Pass’, meditative and methodical uphill climbs are swiftly followed by rewarding and (usually) powdery descents.

Cat-Skiing                   

For those seeking maximum backcountry exposure, an optional day of cat-skiing with Fernie Wilderness Adventures offers the chance to test your skills in remote powder zones. Aboard a snowcat, via an interconnected network of snow-roads, you’ll ride pristine, untouched slopes with a small group of other riders. Expect up to 10 drops and plenty of vertical. Recharge on the way up, and ride hard on the way down.

The grand finale: a heli-drop at the Boulder Hut. A series of rustic and cosy log cabins tucked away in the Purcell Mountains, the Boulder Hut embodies a unique freedom rarely found in ski areas, let alone in life. Here, you’ll immerse in a multi-day touring escape as you explore untamed backcountry terrain. Pro guides will lead daily tours of the 15,000-acre tenure, offering incredible descents in social groups. Expect sweeping views, deep powder, and a truly off-the-grid experience.

We own and operate a 43-bedroom ski lodge in Fernie, a meeting spot for our courses and people who love the mountains. A welcoming and social place to stay when coming to ride with us, everything has been designed to create the best space for you to eat, sleep and relax during your trip. A short distance from downtown with beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains, rooms are comfortable and spacious, with twin-share or private options depending on your budget and preference. We have a bar and common room for hanging out, plus facilities like our movie theatre, pool, hot tub and ski tuning station.

Your included breakfasts and three-course evening meals are served in the lodge restaurant, with a delicious and varied menu (featuring vegan and veggie options) designed with hungry rider’s in mind.