The Dezaiko Range is located on the snowy western slope of the Rocky Mountains. It is big snow country. It is not uncommon to receive a metre or more of new powder over the course of your stay.
Most years an average snowpack at the lodge is about 300 cm. Most of that falls cold and light, since we are a latitude of 54°.
Most of our terrain is north facing which means the snow remains light and dry throughout the season.
Experienced skiers know that good tree skiing is important when the weather is stormy. We have the best tree skiing to be found anywhere, without question.
Our guests consistently rave about the variety of our terrain and its easy accessibility from the lodge.
Our latitude, combined with a cool moist climate, has resulted in very open forests. Natural glades are abundant from treeline to valley bottom. Treeline at this latitude is low, about 5000 feet. The peaks in the area rise to about 7000 feet.
Alpine runs like the classics, Porcupine and White Wizard offer up to 2000 feet of above treeline skiing. Tree runs like Stellar and The Glades extend down to 3500 feet.
You’ll never have to ski the same line twice — the opportunities are limitless.
The Dezaiko Range is still a wild place. We share our terrain with mountain goats, grizzly bear, black bear, wolverine, pine martin, moose, and a variety of bird species.
We are privileged to occasionally see, or see sign of, the endangered mountain caribou. Caribou depend greatly on old-growth forests and the arboreal lichen that grow in these forests as a winter food source. We prioritize their need for solitude and give them a wide berth if spotted.
Skiing action photos by Margriet Berkhout. Caribou photo by Craig Evanoff.