Retallack Ski Resort Brochure

Retallack

retallack brochure w/bleed.indd 1 5/4/12 10:22:01

Retallack


Retallack

b r a v e

v a s t

h e r i t a g e

e p i c

u n r e f i n e d


Retallack provides world-class cat skiing,snowboarding, and summer mountain experiences

in the remote wilderness high up in the Selkirk Mountains of BC, Canada. It’s one of those out-of-

the-way places that you’ll never forget.

Retallack is located in the heart of the Selkirk Mountains and is renowned as having some of the best ski/snowboard

terrain and snow in the world. We receive up to 13 metres (40 ft) of snow per year that blankets our open bowls, glades,

and treeskiing runs. Overall the terrain at Retallack is steep and possesses numerous features that are only suitable for

advanced to expert skiers. Retallack is particularly known for its consistent powder snow, steep tree skiing (which includes

800 year old cedars), and pillow lines. We are proud to be 100% owned by skiers, snowboarders, and mountain bikers

including legendary pro skiers Seth Morrison and Tanner Hall.


We trace our roots back over 135 years and derive our name from Major John Ley Retallack – the previous

owner of what was once one of world’s largest silver mines. Retallack is located on the old townsite, between

the towns of Kaslo and New Denver, which once housed a swashbuckling mining town of over 7,000 people.

Although little remains of this past mining boom, to this day we use old mining roads to mine our

modern day powder. Occasionally we take a break from our “powder mining” and pay our respects

to our forefathers by stoking the wood stoves and having a barbeque at one of the many turn of

turn-of-the-century cabins located within our tenure.


CAT SKICat skiing or boarding the Canadian Selkirk Mountains

is an incredible experience. Retallack is located in the very heart of the Selkirk Mountain Range. Each year we

receive between 7 and 13 metres (25 – 40 ft) of some the finest, driest, snow on the planet.

Your epic BC interior powder experience starts with a hearty breakfast. On your first day, our professional guides will take you through a backcountry

safety program followed by transceiver training. Then it’s time to board our new high-tech snowcats a nd begin your climb to the alpine. We

operate two snowcats for our 24 guests. Each group has their own snowcat, guide, tail guide, and driver. With 10,000 acres to choose from

you’ll find plenty of fresh powder!

Skiing and boarding starts at 8 am and the last run gets you back to Retallack Lodge (located at 3,000 ft) around 4 pm. Lunches, snacks, and hot and cold

drinks are provided on the cat – so you don’t miss out on staking your powder claims! You’ll normally ski or board 8 to 15 runs per day. Our longest run is 4200

vertical feet – longer than Whistler! We are proud to offer our guests a full range of Armada and K2 powder skis and snowboards to help you shred all day long.

After enjoying après cat-ski with hot soup and hors d’oeuvres paired with your favourite beverage, you can enjoy a hot tub, sauna, or massage be-

fore sitting down to an exquisite gourmet dinner.


WISHFULRIDGE2220m

WARMING HUT1800m

RECO PEAK2340m

FERMUR PEAK2325m

CURLEY’SCABIN

TEXAS PEAK 2500m

DARDANELLESRIDGE2275m

LODGE1020m

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TerrainRetallack prides itself on ‘being in the right place. Our operating area is approximately 40 square kms (10,000 acres) on three main mountain peaks called Reco, Wishful and Texas. These peaks and their long alpine ridge lines (Reco is 7 km long!) form perfect snowcat access drop off points at elevations between 7000′ and 8500′. Our lowest pick-up in the valley floor is at 3000′. Our runs are as long as 4200′, so we certainly rival helicopter skiing operations. The average run length is 1800′ (600m). The runs are consistent fall line skiing.

A simple description of this extremely varied, complicated, compact set of mountains is not possible. But, suffice to say that the two main north facing U-shaped cirques (Stenson and Robb creek drainages) provide runs on all aspects, with the majority of terrain on eastern and western exposures. This allows for the Retallack claim of powder snow until very late in the season.

Overall the terrain is steep

About 20% is moderate/gentle, another 45% is the very FUN steep (between 20 and 35 degrees) and the other 35% is VERY steep (beyond 35 degrees). Because of the phenomenal snow and consistent fall line, this is fantastic terrain to learn good technique and gain confidence in your powder skiing.

Open Slopes

Retallack has approximately 25% open slopes in the form of alpine ridge lines, open bowls, avalanche chutes and large, natural openings in the trees. These features tend to be moderately to extremely steep. The rest of the terrain is treed. We make the distinction in degree by calling it gladed or tree skiing.

Glades

The gladed terrain makes for skiing dreams: the snow is protected from the wind and the sun, there is enough elbow room to relax and turn and take spectacular photography. As you descend down the mountain, the trees change from spruce or fir on the upper slopes, to cedar and hemlock old growth forests in the valley bottoms.

WEATHERYou’ll think you stepped into an epic ski or snowboard movie. Your friendly guides will give you tips and tricks for skiing efficiently and safely in the land of giants: Retallack trees! The discussion of climate is relevant to the snow quality and amount. Due to its sudden sheerness, elevation and geographical location, the Selkirk Mountain Range receives moisture laden clouds from the Pacific on a very regular basis that dump dry snow in large amounts. Retallack can receive as much as 100 cm (3.5 ft.) of snow in one storm cycle.

Annually, Retallack receives between 7 and 13 metres (25 – 40 ft), which leaves us with an average base of 3 to 4 metres (10 – 12 ft). The temperatures are more moderate than the Rockies to the east with night time lows seldom below -25 deg C, and colder than the Coast with daytime highs staying below freezing, even on northern aspects late into the spring. This allows us to almost guarantee continual powder skiing. Toward the end of March, we can find good powder skiing in the morning and nice spring skiing in the afternoon. It’s called the BC Interior… wor ld-renowned snow quality. In combination with the protected slopes that it falls on at Retallack, you can expect VERY GOOD (or better) skiing 100% of the time, and EXCELLENT (to outstanding) skiing 70% of the season.

Average snowpack and temperatures

EnvironmentAt Retallack, we do everything we can to preserve our planet’s precious alpine wilderness for future generations to enjoy. We believe it’s essential for the outdoor adventure industry to adopt measures that minimize its impact on the natural environment. And we think it’s important that holiday-makers have the option of choosing eco-friendly destinations.

That’s why Retallack is one of the greenest operations in the backcountry skiing and boarding industry – not to mention among the most environmentally-aware accommodation you’ll find anywhere in Canada. In fact, Retallack was the first cat- or heli-skiing operation to be awarded four green keys from the Hotel Association of Canada’s Green Key Eco-Rating programme. The four-key rating is awarded to hotels that show “national industry leadership and commitment to pro-tecting the environment through wide-ranging policies and practices”. Retallack is also an associate member of Helicat Canada and adheres to its strict environmental operating procedures.

MonthNew

Snow

settled

snowhigh low

jan

feb

mar

250 – 300 cmDec

150 – 200 cm

250 – 400 cm

200 – 400 cm

150 cm

200 cm

300 cm

350 cm

-5 C°

-8 C°

-2 C°

0 C°

-20 C°

-20 C°

-15 C°

-10 C°


The heart of Retallack Lodge is our spacious living room with its comfortable leather sofas and impressive two-storey granite fireplace. We also offer a pleasant 42-per-son dining room, cosy bar, games room, entertainment room, sauna, outdoor hot tub and wireless Internet access. Other amenities include a wax and tuning room with everything you need for tuning and repairing your equipment, and a drying room where you can leave your boots and outerwear to dry overnight.

Our accommodation sleeps up to 24 guests in 11 warm, comfortable guest suites. Bedrooms are furnished with single or double beds bedecked with goose down duvets, bedside tables with reading lamps, and a hanging space for clothing. Each suite includes a private bathroom with a shower.

Relaxing

Our cosy living room, with its comfortable leather sofas and imposing two-storey granite fireplace, is without a doubt the focal point of our lodge. It’s an ideal place to curl up in front of the fire with a book, glass of red wine or special friend on those cold winter evenings. There’s also ample floor-space for stretching out after a hard day in the powder. And if you fancy yourself as a bit of a musician feel free to bring your guitar along – we’re always up for a jam session!

Alternatively, you may prefer to hang out in our cosy bar with a locally brewed beer as you swap stories about dropping pillows, careering down chutes and manoeuvring through the cedars. We also have a sauna and outdoor hot-tub to help ease sore muscles, improve mobility and prevent injuries. You can also let our massage therapists get your body back into top form so you can get the most out of your time on the mountain.

Downstairs, our entertainment room has a big television, DVD and video players, and a selection of popular movies. Next door is our games room, which has a pool table, ping-pong table, dart board, foosball and hockey table. If you think you’ve got game, then throw down and challenge the house champ!

Fine dining

Imagine enjoying a delicious three-course dinner with your choice of wine, right in the middle of one of the world’s most beautiful and unspoiled alpine wildernesses! Here at Retal-lack, we’re proud to offer our guests mouth-watering cuisine and a thoughtfully-assembled wine selection, all in the cosy surroundings of our remote timber-frame lodge. (Summer Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Reservation Line: 1-250-469-9598, Open Thursday through Sunday 8am-8pm, Reserva-tions Recommended)

We understand that you want more than gourmet food and wine during your powder holiday – you’ll also need high-energy meals and snacks throughout the day if you’re going to tear it up on the slopes. Like all passionate powderhounds, we know how important it is to stoke your engine at break-fast, refuel at lunch, and top up those energy levels après ski and board.That’s why Retallack’s culinary philosophy is, “energy-packed meals by day…fine dining by night.” It’s all part and parcel of the ultimate powder experience!


Retallack Ski Resort Brochure

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