Burnie Glacier Chalet - British Columbia 

We first skied at Burnie Glacier Chalet in 2006, just a few years after it was completed. Reminiscent of European huts it was the vision and effort of Christoph Dietzfelbinger, a Bavarian IFMGA guide who moved to Canada about 40 years ago and made it happen. Christoph is quick to point out that he did not do it alone and credits both the volunteers who did much of the work and the Wet’suwet’en people, who gave permission for it to be built on their ancestral land. It was further updated and reconfigured in 2022.

We have stayed in lodges all over the world and this is as good as it gets. It sleeps up to 12 guests with 2 guides and a chef. We reach it by a short helicopter flight. The dining room and kitchen are laid out as one big bright open space, always warm and cheerful with a giant wood cookstove near the rear. The rooms are all doubles, with duvets and there is a lovely sauna with an adjacent shower area. Meals are gourmet and enjoyed with a cold beer (or other drink) following the requisite sauna.

The lodge is situated in a complex and heavily-glaciated portion of the Coast Mountains in the Howson Range, in the ideal spot for ski touring. In good weather we tend to go high and explore the glaciers and summit various ski mountaineering style peaks such as Loft Peak, Solitaire Ski Peak, Middle Solitaire Peak, and Tom George Mountain. If visibility is lacking or the snow is deep, we gravitate toward the steep tree skiing immediately behind the hut or tour the glades on the northwest side of Tom George Mountain.

We have been looking for options closer than Europe to provide a trip with this combination of great touring, comfortable accommodations, and good food. We had not been back until last winter, but we are happy we reconnected with the whole team that runs the lodge. Smithers is easily reached by direct flights from Vancouver, BC. If you have extra time it is worth spending more nights in Smithers to visit the Bulkley Valley Nordic Center, Hudson Bay Mountain (downhill area) or Hankin-Evelyn, a very unique community operated, backcountry ski area.

This is the first trip developed as a result of new areas explored on our recent sabbatical and we know it will rank with the classics. We are very fortunate to have access to the hut for a private week as it sells out every season. The terrain generally allows for one guide to return to the hut mid-day with anyone that does not want the “all you can ski” option on a given day.

Christoph summarizes the basic plan as, "Sleep well. Eat well. and PLAY LIKE MAD."

Burnie Glacier Ski Week Itinerary 

Jan 15, 2026 (Day 1): Arrive in Smithers w/ transfer to hotel.

Jan 16, 2026 (Day 2): 10 am meet at Silver King Heli and fly to Burnie Glacier Chalet.

Jan 17-22, 2026 (Days 3-8): Daily tours from lodge.

Jan 23, 2026 (Day 9): 10 am return flight from lodge and connection to flights home.

Burnie Glacier Chalet Qualifications 

This is a great fit for experienced skiers looking for a challenge. The tree sking in places is steep, while the glaciers are a mix of lower angled with steeper pitches just above the valley. When skiing on the glaciers we may utilize a rope for traversing crevassed areas on the uphill, and also employ ski and boot crampons when necessary. Previous glacier skiing experience is not required, but having done one of our Europe tours before is beneficial. This is not an extreme tour, but you should be comfortable skiing fall line in various conditions. Most days will involved climbing at least 1000 meters (3300 feet), with longer days possible if we are target summits farther from the hut. Skiers can choose to take a day off to relax, read a book, use the sauna, and rest if needed. If you have any concerns, your best option is to give us a call and discuss the trip.

Advanced Ski Skills 

• Able to ski fall line in most snow conditions (powder to wind affected snow).
• Able to make parallel or stem-christie turns on 35° groomed or firm snow.
• Able to side-slip on firm slopes up to 40°.
• Able to ski moguls in soft snow.
• Able to do kick turns facing in or facing out on 30° slopes.
• Able to skate on level terrain.
• Able to ski fall-line in tight radius turns in good conditions.
• Able to ski black diamond runs at ski areas efficiently and in most snow conditions.

Getting to/from Smithers, BC 

While it is possible to drive to Smithers, BC, most people prefer to fly. There is a direct flight from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) that takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes, which is our preferred method of transportation. You can fly directly from Vancouver, BC. We recommend arriving the day before our flight and spending the night in Smithers. After we fly out you can either spend an additional night in Smithers, or catch the evening flight back to Vancouver, BC. In Smithers we can assist with all shuttles needed to move between the hotel and the airport.

Split-boards 

This is a spot that can certainly work for split boarders. With no really big, flat valley runouts to traverse this works well for competent boarders with previous touring experience.