Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures Ltd. is a privately held company based in Whistler, BC, Canada.
In addition to operating the full-service wilderness lodge, the company also maintains a network of groomed cross country ski trails in the valley.
Core Purpose
To share our passion for the mountain adventure experience and inspire in our guests and staff a desire to live their lives more fully each day.
Company Vision
The company’s vision is that one day Callaghan Country will be regarded as a world-class mountain adventure wilderness destination for cross country skiing, backcountry skiing, telemark skiing, and self-propelled four season recreation of every kind.
The Environment
An important part of the vision is to work hard to ensure a pristine wilderness environment in the Callaghan Valley for generations to come. As the expansion unfolds, Callaghan Country is committed to fostering and promoting an interdependent balance between outdoor recreation and environmental awareness and sustainability.
The locally owned company has, over the past two decades, sculpted its small scale wilderness facilities to fit into ecologically sensitive sites.
“Our focus is to provide outdoor recreational opportunities for our guests that will reconnect them with the natural world in a way that is respectful to the environment.”
President, Brad Sills
Development Plans
Under its current management plan, Callaghan Country will continue to refine Callaghan Lodge and enhance the recreational opportunities that it provides.
2002 saw the addition of three new bedrooms and a sewage treatment plant at the lodge as well as the construction of a brand new dedicated 12.5 km Nordic access trail linking Alexander Falls to the lodge in the Upper Callaghan Valley.
In 2003, a commercial kitchen and elegant dining facility were added to the lodge and several improvements were made to the access trail.
At build out, the Lodge will accommodate up to 24 guests in twelve private rooms, and will include the addition of retail and rental facilities, a meeting room, and a hot tub and / or sauna facility.
Future plans also include the construction of additional facilities at various trailhead locations throughout the vast tenure area. This will enable guests to participate in an even wider range of activities, including overnight and multi day ski touring expeditions, led by certified mountain guides. Planned upgrades to the existing trail network will also allow for better hiking and mountain biking in the summer months.
Callaghan Country History – A Backcountry Dream is Born…
In 1981, Nic Slater, one of the company’s founders, was standing on the summit of Mount Callaghan, gazing out over a small, secluded valley.
The gently rolling terrain, old growth forests, and enticing alpine slopes surrounding it suggested an ideal location for a backcountry retreat.
With this vision etched in his mind, Nic solicited the assistance of his longtime friend, Brad Sills, and the two of them filed an application with the BC government for a license to develop a wilderness adventure lodge.
Over a decade later, they were finally granted tenure to the property. The Callaghan Country dream was becoming a reality.
Callaghan Country Lodge
The company was originally incorporated in 1982 as Mad River Nordic Ski Enterprises Inc. with the purpose of developing and operating a comprehensive Nordic centre focusing on commercial backcountry recreation.
A successful builder himself, Brad assembled a crew of some of Whistler’s finest trades people, and the construction of a deluxe wilderness lodge began in 1996.
In such a remote location, with no road access, materials had to either be flown in by helicopter, or transported in the winter by snowcat. Despite the challenges, the first phase of Callaghan Backcountry Lodge (originally called Powder Mountain Lakeside Lodge) officially opened in the fall of 1998.
Since the company’s inception, the principals have remained committed to their original vision – to build the most renowned, respected, and sought-after mountain adventure wilderness resort in the world.
Humble Beginnings to Olympic Experience
In 2001, the company changed its name to Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures and renamed the lodge Callaghan Lodge. The change was made to more clearly reflect the company’s core purpose.
2002 saw the addition of three new bedrooms and a sewage treatment plant at the lodge as well as the construction of a brand new dedicated 13 km Nordic access trail linking Alexander Falls to the lodge in the Upper Callaghan Valley.
In 2003, a commercial kitchen and an elegant dining room were added to the lodge and several improvements were made to the access trail.
Now in 2007, we are next door neighbours to the brand-new world-class Whistler Olympic Park, the official venue for the nordic events at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To take full advantage of the new trails and cross-country opportunities they provide, we introduced a Day-Use program, new for the 2007-2008 season.