Keeping the Alpine Islands community informed with the latest updates, upcoming events, and new offerings.
Updated Jan 21, 2025 Current Status: Much More Solid With a Creamy Top The Bottom Line: Significant, steady warming from the past 5-6 days mean a bit of instability has firmed up and south faces are a go with creamy, corny, semi-crusty and runnelled riding surface. My Recommendation: You can definitely step out into bigger […]
Current Whistler Backcountry Conditions: Jan 20, 2025 Read More »
Updated Jan 15, 2025 Current Status: “Hot Dog Days” & Assessment Mode The Bottom Line: Significant warming and a “rain-to-peak” event have created a complex and dangerous snowpack structure. We are currently seeing a classic “Upside Down” snowpack—heavy, cohesive slabs sitting on top of weaker, soft snow. My Recommendation: This is not the week to
Whistler Backcountry Conditions Update for Jan 15, 2026 Read More »
Updated Dec 12 2025 A lot has happened in the mountains around Whistler this December. Freezing levels have oscillated like a yoyo to bring conditions that change by the minute, it seems. The alpine has been getting plenty of great snow and even saw an opening on the mountain last week when Harmony finally cracked.
Whistler Backcountry Conditions for Dec 12, 2025 Read More »
The Spearhead Traverse is a horseshoe-shaped loop in the alpine environment connecting Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. While you can take the Peak2Peak gondola for a short ride in the sky between the two mountains, “The Spearhead” is an epic, multi-day (for most) journey that is not for the faint of heart. The route itself spans
Big Changes Are Coming To The Spearhead Traverse Read More »
Let’s Shape Our Backcountry Education Programming Together Alpine Islands has always been about collaboration. We are a club, and by that definition we are only as strong as our membership. So while we are still working out the logistics of programming and what a membership entails (without going too nuts right out the gate), we
Take The Survey To Shape The future Of Backcountry Education Read More »
Spring is arguably the best season of the year for backcountry skiing and splitboarding. Warmer temps, longer days, and a solid snowpack are usually in the cards. Winter is great for snowfall, but as we know, too much snow can be a bad thing in the backcountry. So in the mountains, spring is where we
Level Up With Our Spring Backcountry Ascension Clinics Read More »
A good adventure is something that is few and far between these days. With backcountry skiing blowing up in popularity and everything being documented, to do something new takes a bit of creativity and ability to get far off the beaten path. Having some sponsors helps too. Enter Odyssey of Loppa: a short film by
It has been the driest January in 40 years. But January isn’t over, yet. Over the next few days the pattern will finally shift to precipitation, followed by a sudden temperature shift for a cold week ahead. And, depending on when and where you look at a forecast, things seem to be shifting for the
After Three Weeks of Sunshine, Snow is Returning to the Pacific Northwest Read More »
Every adventure has its first step. There is always a key moment when you finally set forth, looking forward, prepared as you can be but with the understanding that you’re not in control. This is that moment for Alpine Islands. No longer an idea, but a concrete effort to move ahead and materialize what has
Alpine Islands: The Origin Story Read More »
One of the best parts of being part of a guiding operation (besides the limitless powder runs) is the camaraderie. It’s a group of experienced, like-minded individuals who have made a career out of mountain safety and client service. Each morning in a guiding operation, the guides get together and discuss the conditions to collectively
Guides Meetings: Getting the lowdown and making wise decisions Read More »