The end of another great season, yet again!

This is it folks, the end of another ski season...and what a season it was!  First of all, thank you for visiting us this winter and for your continued support over the years.  You are the reason we are working so hard to run this small business (of course, we think this place is pretty special too).  Your stoke, smiles, feedback & encouragements for Callaghan Country are what help us keep going through hard times.  Great things were accomplished this year, thanks to your support & the hard work of our Callaghan Country crew!  For your reading pleasure, we've prepared a Winter 201819 -  Season's recap...

We hit the ground running with a bit of a later start than usual, but that gave us a chance to get up to speed with some new team members at both the Alexander Falls Touring Centre & Journeyman Lodge.  The delayed snowfall forced us to roll up our sleeves and shovel existing snow to cover stumps and fill dirt patches on Parkway Trail allowing for safe passage of machinery to bring supplies to Journeyman Lodge.  While our Nordic season kick-off was humbled due to less than average snow levels in the lower Callaghan Valley,   that did not stop some eager alpine touring guests or Chef Joe from their high elevation adventures out of Journeyman Lodge.  By mid-December the snow-base in the Solitude Valley had already reached over 1.5 metres.   Winter was in full session, with no signs of letting up!

Down at the Alexander Falls Touring Centre we enjoyed hosting our first Fireside Speakers Series event with the opening topic, 'A Backcountry Dream is Born!'. Early season skills clinics got participants pumped for the season ahead: Backcountry Navigation Skills hosted by our good friend, ACMG guide & instructor Dave Sarkany as well as Designed for Freedom Skate Skiing Clinics hosted by the one & only Munny Munro.  We also brought back our family oriented Photos with Santa Fundraiser event, celebrating Christmas fun and raising funds for the Howe Sound Secondary Outdoor Leadership Program that gets youth out and into the wilderness.

With the Coast Mountains & Callaghan Valley getting dumped on, we enjoyed the visit of professional skiers Riley Leboe & Sam Kuch with the Wild Coast Creative crew shooting promotional materials for Head Ski.  They weren't disappointed with what they found; waist-deep powder, pillow lines & drops.  These guys made it look easy but trust us, it isn't.

By Christmas, our new lodge hosts, Aaron & Alisha, as well as returning Chef, Joe, were fully settled in and confident in their daily lodge operational routines.  This marked the early phase of an exhaustive 18-day stretch over Christmas and New Year period.   Well done guys!  At the Alexander Falls Touring Centre, we saw record numbers of day skiers and snowshoers over the holidays.  This was the perfect ambience to get us stoked for the rest of the season!

In January, we saw our Callaghan Lake Shuttle service pick up speed, transporting many backcountry skiers to the pristine touring zones around Callaghan Lake and beyond.  By then, Journeyman Lodge operations were back into their Friday -Tuesday rhythm and we hosted our first instalment of the Benchmark Series; a social XC Ski event aiming to challenge nordic skiers to ski to the lodge to enjoy a warm lunch and improve their time from one event to the other.  

February hit us with a cold spell which provided great nordic skiing & alpine touring conditions.  Snow surfaces were light and quick.  The cold temperatures also sent  Alexander Falls into a deep freeze, making it look like a giant icicle.  Ice climbers couldn't resist, and came out to take advantage of the frigid transformation required for this specialty sport.

We were pleased by the crowd that came out for our second event of the Fireside Speakers Series hosted by local retired  RCMP Staff Sgt., Steve LeClair, presenting the 'Ongoing search for the 'T-33 Silver Star'. 

Family day was another great February success along with our New 'Mommy Mondays', a deal on rental equipment and invitation for parents to come and enjoy some self-care time on the trails during the quietest day of the week. 

And along came Spring with longer daylight hours, more sunshine, Doggy Day, and the much anticipated 'Soft Opening Weekend' for Double Decker Coffee Roasting!

We are looking forward to seeing Double Decker Coffee Roasting in full swing next season.  Whether you are visiting Callaghan Country for a day of XC Skiing, wilderness snowshoeing, backcountry touring, or an overnight adventure into Journeyman Lodge, Double Decker Coffee Roasting is sure to become an iconic respite for anyone visiting this location.  

Here we are in April, the last official weekend of operations for the Ski Callaghan Nordic Trail network and one more bonus weekend April 13th & 14th...Winter 201819 in a blink.   Once again, THANK YOU ~ We look forward to welcoming you all back next season!