Expedition Himalayas Trip 2

The Himalayas is an amazing place to visit for the explorer who is willing to take a bit of challenge with their adventure. The altitude can be challenging, the food is not Michelin star, and it is not always super clean (if you need those things, joining us for part of the Trans Alps is perhaps a better choice for you!). This being said, the Himalayas are amazing. The mix of Budhist, Hindu and Muslim Cultures in itself is unique, and you truly are on the top of the world. To me, if you love mountains, you need to do at least one trip to the Himalayas in your lifetime! We are excited to offer the following trips with Jamie and a Himalayan Sherpa guide you will love!

Expedition Himalayas Trip 1

Spring 2024 is our planned year for the next Expedition Himalayas – Ski camps. We are planning for two weeks in the Kulu valley and another two weeks in the Kashmere region (don’t worry, you can sign up for one or two weeks based on your interest).  We’ll access many of the interesting valleys in the area, and build our tolerance for altitude before attempting our highest peak objectives. Sign up for our newsletter to keep posted on this, or check back again to learn more trip details.

 

 

Lake O’hara day hikes

A hike in the Lake O’hara region can be one of the most memorable experiences of your visit to the Canadian Rockies.  Set in a fairy tale like setting of numerous lakes and glacier clad peaks,  Almost any trail takes you to a spectacular destination, and the classic “Alpine Circuit” links the most popular spots.

It is possible to make a base camp near Lake O’hara at one of the huts or lodges, or the campground. The number of visitors into the area is restricted, and there are limited spots on the bus that brings you up the 13km access road into the area. These must be booked in advance.

Although it is possible to do just a single day visit to the area, I recommend spending at least two nights at the campground (or hut/lodge) and do several day trips in the area. I’ll guide you to my favorite spots, and introduce you to the flora, fauna, geology and history of the area!

Rockwall trail

 

The Rockwall trail runs for 54 km on the West side of Kootenay Natioinal Park. It is a stunning trail including several waterfalls, alpine lakes, and glaciated peaks of the famous Rockwall.

This backpacking trip includes several high passes, and beautiful campsites. The finish near Flow lake is spectacular. This trip can be booked as a privately guided trip, or group trip.

Rogers Pass – Glacier National Park

 

Rogers Pass is Canada’s premier backcountry ski touring destination.  Famous for its amazing ski mountaineering conditions and legendary powder. Whiteside Guiding can take you to the best spots in the area based on local conditions. Please contact Jamie to book a  guided tour!

Golden Heli-hiking day trips

From Golden we have incredible heli hiking a short distance from town in both the Rockies and Purcell mountains.  Our morning flight leaves from Golden around 9 am, and we will hike for 3-6 hours depending on your interest. We focus on meadow hikes, wildflowers, alpine lakes, and beautiful ridge walks.

Sorceror lodge

Sorceror Lodge – April 2-9, 2020

One of my favorite places for spring ski touring, sorceror lodge is a magnificent destination for ski mountaineering. Nordic Peak, The Perfect Glacier, White Russian. These are classic north facing glaciers close to the lodge that hold great snow late into spring.

Day hike at Lake O’hara

A hike in the Lake O’hara region can be one of the most memorable experiences of your visit to the Canadian Rockies.  Set in a fairy tale like setting of numerous lakes and glacier clad peaks,  Almost any trail takes you to a spectacular destination, and the classic “Alpine Circuit” links the most popular spots.

It is possible to make a base camp near Lake O’hara at one of the huts or lodges, or the campground. The number of visitors into the area is restricted, and there are limited spots on the bus that brings you up the 13km access road into the area. These must be booked in advance.

Although it is possible to do just a single day visit to the area, I recommend spending at least two nights at the campground (or hut/lodge) and do several day trips in the area. I’ll guide you to my favorite spots, and introduce you to the flora, fauna, geology and history of the area!

The Iceline Circuit

The Iceline Circuit is one of my favorite short hikes in Yoho national park.

The trip starts at the end of the access road up the Yoho valley, near the foot of Takakkaw Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Canada, . With a pleasant gentle start to the hike we’ll head up past three other waterfalls (Angel’s Staircase, Point Lace Falls and Laughing Falls), and work our way up into the little Yoho valley where we’ll stay either at the Stanley Mitchel Hut, or the campground close by (depending on your preference). This will be our base for two nights.

From our base in the little Yoho valley we’ll do a day hike to explore underneath the twin peaks of the President and Vice President, Mount MacArthur, and up towards Kiwetinok Pass and Mt. Kerr. This is a lovely day to settle into the spirit of the mountains!

Our final day takes us along a rolling track high in the mountains tucked between the forest and the glaciated peaks on the “Iceline trail”with stunning views of Takakkaw Falls in the valley below. An extra night at the pass above Emerald lake (with an optional side trip with a Parks Interpreter to the famous Burgess Shale) is possible from here.

Finally we finish the trip back wherre we started our loop at the base of Takakkaw falls. An extraordinary experience!

 

Heli assisted ski-touring

In 2006 I spent two weeks Heli assisted skiing in the Himalayas while working as a guide for Himachal Heliski in the Kullu valley of Northern India. Alison Gannet had brought over two consecutive groups of backcountry enthusiasts to check out the area. Over the course of each weeks tour we’d fly into different regions to explore, ski, and gradually get acclimatized so we could ski zones with higher elevations on following days. We spent nights at the riverside resort in Manali where we could rest easy, eat great food, and enjoyed the culture of this “valley of the Gods” with over 30 temples in the area. We’d fly each day into new areas, sometimes starting with a short heli-ski run, and then tour to a new ridge or summit. Some times we’d catch another lift if the helicopter was nearby! Some days we’d fly back to the resort, and others we’d ski as far down as possible, and walk through the rhododendron forests and Pines to a road accessible villages where our jeep support could pick us up. it was such an amazing way to experience the Himalayas and if you want an incredible ski touring experience in the Himalayas, this is the way to do it !

P.S. * Combining a trip like this with a tour of Rajistan is a great way to see the area.

If you are a do it yourselfer, you can pick up a guide book for the kullu valley at  (https://www.amazon.ca/Ski-Touring-Indias-Kullu-Valley/dp/0958108609) and get a sense of the area. Any time from February to May will have some opportunities for ski touring, and there are lots of places to stay in the valley to be comfortable and have your own adventure. If you are interested in a guided trip we will be back there in 2024 for a month of trips, so please contact us if you would like to express interest!

info@whitesideguiding.com