December 12, 2023
Found in “Stories, Activities”
There used to be an old saying about “no friends on a powder day” – but when you bring together a crew of pro-level athletes and filmmakers for a day of backcountry skiing in the Tantalus, then throw in blackcrows skis and Altus Mountain Guides – it’s pretty clear that friends are where it’s at, powder days included. – MEC
The peaks of the Tantalus Range are easily visible when driving up to Whistler on the Sea-to-Sky Highway. The part of the range that runs through Squamish is located on the territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw people. They’re steep and glaciated and in winter they get hit with huge Pacific storms, so they’re pretty compelling for skiers, but they’re also guarded by the Squamish River. You can’t just drive to a parking lot and start skinning up. They’re close to home, but remote and still a little bit mystical.
Photo: The crew looking over a map of the Tantalus Range with guide, Sofia Forsman, from Altus Mountain Guides to learn more about the terrain (clockwise from bottom left: Yuki Tsubota, Nikki Blackall, Sofia Forsman, Celeste Pomerantz, Rosie Plensky)
“It was the first time I’d ever skied with an all-girls crew in the backcountry (guide, filmer, photographer, athletes) it was awesome.”
What I love most about winter backcountry adventures, what makes them the most fun, is sharing the experience with people who love the mountains. When I look back to my best days skiing, they weren’t on my own, they were always with friends.
Photo: MEC Ambassador and blackcrows athlete Yuki Tsubota (left) with fellow blackcrows teammate, Celeste Pomerantz (right).
Most of the time when you’re in the backcountry, you’re one of a handful of people in the middle of nowhere. I love the stillness the winter brings, it’s something that seems hard to find in the world these days.
Photo: Climbing up the skin track in the Tantalus Range (left to right: Sofia, Celeste, Rosie, Yuki and Nikki).
“For me, to ski in the backcountry is to fall in love with skiing again. After eight years of competitive skiing on the Canadian National team, I saw myself losing a love for the sport.”
Growing up as a competitive freestyle skier, I didn’t have many opportunities to get out into the backcountry. I’d be on the road for three weeks, home for a few days, then back on the road. I skied powder days at the resort as much as I could, but it wasn’t until I retired in 2020 that I started to get more into it.
Photo: blackcrows athlete, Celeste Pomerantz transitioning into ski mode, getting ready for a few turns in her Camox Freebird skis.
My first real backcountry experience was after the Olympics in 2018 – for me, a totally hectic season – I took some time to get away with family and friends at Ymir Lodge in the Kootenays. I have these vivid memories of sunny spring skiing, but I also remember blisters and how much my hip flexors hurt (frame bindings and alpine boots). With some gear upgrades since then, every other trip has been significantly less painful.
I’ve also continued to dial in my backcountry skills and completed my Avalanche Canada AST 2 (avalanche skills training). You can read more about my experience here.
Photo: Yuki, Celeste and Rosie (left to right) inspecting their transceivers.
I don’t necessarily do anything special to get ready for the ski season. I’m a pretty active person, so just keeping up with my fitness is all I try to do. The summer is easy with biking and hiking, but there’s about a month in the fall when it’s too wet and cold to bike, so going to the gym is my go-to.
Photo: Celeste, Nikki, Yuki and Rosie (left to right) geared up on the mountain.
If you’re going into the backcountry, I can’t express enough how important it is to get trained with an Avalanche Canada Training course. Knowing how to use your gear, making good decisions as a group, being comfortable with the people you’re skiing/riding with, and trusting them to act if something were to happen are all part of the safety equation. Getting updates about the conditions and checking the Avalanche Canada forecast is totally essential too.
Photo: MEC Ambassador Yuki Tsubota (back) with fellow blackcrows athlete, Celeste Pomerantz (left) and friends Rosie Plensky (second to left) and Nikki Blackall (front) on route to the Tantalus.
My gear picks
MEC Couloir Gore-Tex Pro Jacket and Bib Pants
The west coast is the wet coast and I wouldn’t dare leave home without a Gore-Tex kit. The Couloir Jacket and Pants are a great combo to keep you dry and are great pieces to add layers underneath to suit your adventure and the temps outside.
MEC really nailed it with this one! If I had to pick my three favorite features, I’d say the helmet carry on the back, the back access zipper, and the 10L of space you can expand or contract using the roll top.
blackcrows Atris Birdie 105 Skis
I opt for the Atris as my everyday touring ski. I prefer something with a bit more weight than a true lightweight touring ski. They’re playful and the wider tip keeps you afloat for those deeper days.
Photos by Robin O’Neill (@robinoneill)
Video by Zoya Lynch (@zoyalynch)
Crew: Yuki Tsubota (@yuki_tsubota), Celeste Pomerantz (@celeste.pomerantz), Nikki Blackall (@nikkaaaay), Rosie Plensky (@rosieplensky) and guide Sofia Forsman (@sofiaforsmans) from Altus Mountain Guides (@altusmtnguides)
