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        <title><![CDATA[General Talk]]></title>
        <description>RSS of General Talk</description>
        <pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:30:51 -0800</pubDate>
        <link>https://bcs-stage.websites.px-bcs.pixxell.co</link>
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            <title><![CDATA[Get Out and Feel Alive: Helly Hansen Open Mountain Month Hits the Canadian Rockies This Summer!]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[While June is drawing to a close, the mountain adventure season is only just catching its stride. If you&amp;#39;re looking for the perfect excuse to trade your ski touring skins for a solid pair of hiking boots, look no further. Helly Hansen&amp;rsquo;s annual Open Mountain Month is back for its fourth year, offering an incredible lineup of events, guided experiences, and community challenges stretching across the Canadian Rockies and Western Canada throughout the summer.

Designed for both seasoned backcountry explorers and outdoor newcomers, Open Mountain Month is all about experiencing the power of shared adventure. Partnering with mountain professionals, local guides, and search-and-rescue teams, Helly Hansen is hosting experiences aimed at building confidence, fostering community, and ensuring everyone can safely enjoy the peaks we love.

Whether you&amp;#39;re looking to push your limits or try something entirely new, Open Mountain Month brings the community together.

Unmissable Summer Events Across Canada

No matter your skill level, there&amp;rsquo;s an activity on the calendar designed to get you moving. Here are some of the premier events taking place across B.C. and Alberta:


	
	Hike Revelstoke Women&amp;#39;s Group Hikes (Select Dates, June 27 &amp;ndash; September 12): Led by Helly Hansen ambassador and professional skier/adventurer Nat Segal, these full-day guided hikes focus on community, confidence, and connection for women exploring the breathtaking terrain around Revelstoke.
	
	
	Rise + Climb &amp;amp; Blaze the Trails at Sea to Sky Gondola (Saturdays, June 27 &amp;ndash; September 5): Take on Squamish&amp;#39;s winding trails to boost your mind and mood. Finishers at the summit receive complimentary hot drinks, exclusive gifts from Helly Hansen, and a chance to win massive outdoor gear prize packs.
	
	
	Helly Hansen Guided Hikes (Various Weekends in July): Looking to dive deeper safely? Lace up your boots and join professional mountain guides for curated journeys through the wild landscapes of Banff, Golden, Revelstoke, Whistler, and North Vancouver. These small-group guided treks are perfect for learning local terrain, mountain safety, and backcountry navigation tricks.
	
	
	Helly Hansen Hiking Challenge at Whistler Blackcomb (June 27 &amp;ndash; September 7): Turn your passion for the trail into serious bragging rights. Log your hikes over the summer to accumulate points and enter to win grand prizes and premium technical apparel.
	
	
	The Ultimate Summit Sleepover at Whistler Blackcomb (August 15&amp;ndash;16): Returning for its fourth year, this highly coveted, money-can&amp;#39;t-buy experience gives lucky winners the rare chance to camp high above the clouds on Whistler Mountain. The curated overnight includes sunset alpine entertainment, fine dining, sunrise yoga, and a premium Helly Hansen gear package valued at over $600.
	


Trade the ski boots for hiking footwear and explore the alpine terrain of Western Canada with certified mountain pros.

Ready to Experience the Open Mountain?

At its core, Helly Hansen&amp;rsquo;s mission is to enable life-enhancing experiences between people and the raw power of nature. When you trust your kit and share the trail with experienced pros, exploring the high alpine becomes more accessible and rewarding than ever.

To find a full calendar of event dates, sign up for local guided hikes in the Rockies, or enter to win a spot at the Whistler Summit Sleepover, head over to the official hub.

Visit www.hellyhansen.com/open-mountain to find out more or register for an event near you.&amp;nbsp;
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2026-06-26 03:53:16</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/helly-hansen-open-mountain-month-canada-2026</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/helly-hansen-open-mountain-month-canada-2026</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[2026 Backcountry Skiing Canada User Survey Results &amp; Trends]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[The results are in! After weeks of gathering data from across North America, the 2026 Backcountry Skiing Canada User Survey is officially closed. We want to extend a massive thank you to the hundreds of ski tourers and backcountry skiers who shared their perspectives. From the rugged peaks of the Rockies to the deep snowpacks of the Coast Mountains, your feedback has provided us with a baseline understanding of our community&amp;#39;s current needs and habits.



As our first comprehensive survey focused specifically on backcountry skiing, these insights are invaluable. The data highlights a strong preference for high-performance safety tools and a growing interest in lightweight gear that doesn&amp;#39;t sacrifice downhill performance. Beyond equipment, your responses have clarified exactly what you value most&amp;mdash;ranging from localized route beta to more in-depth technical reviews. This feedback will serve as our primary roadmap for the coming seasons, ensuring our content remains the most relevant resource for your winter adventures.

We are also excited to announce that the prize winners have been selected! One lucky participant has won the MEC Tour 32 Ski Pack, and dozens of others have secured annual memberships to our exclusive route database. Head over to the full post to see a breakdown of the key data points from the 2026 season and find out if you were one of this year&amp;#39;s lucky winners. Click here to read the full review of the survey results and see what your fellow backcountry enthusiasts had to say.

Read a summary of the results: &amp;lt;&amp;lt;CLICK HERE&amp;gt;&amp;gt;
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2026-05-06 12:21:23</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/2026-Backcountry-Skier-Survey-Results</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/2026-Backcountry-Skier-Survey-Results</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Sunshine Village to Reopen for Canada Day]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Sunshine Village Confirms Summer Skiing Window for 2026

It is a recurring theme in the Canadian Rockies: Banff Sunshine Village almost always runs out of skiers before it runs out of snow. While the resort typically wraps up its winter operations in late May, the 2025/26 season&amp;mdash;which saw a staggering cumulative total of nearly 1,000 cm of snowfall&amp;mdash;has provided enough of a buffer for a rare summer encore.

The resort has confirmed it will reopen for 16 days of summer skiing from June 20th through July 5th, 2026.

Historical Precedent

While the &amp;quot;Slush Cup&amp;quot; usually marks the end of the lift-access season, summer openings have occurred a handful of times in the resort&amp;rsquo;s history. Most recently, in 2022, a similar late-season snowpack allowed the resort to spin lifts from June 28th to July 3rd. These windows are entirely dependent on the depth of the spring snowpack and its ability to withstand the rising June temperatures.



Operational Details

For the 2026 summer session, the current plan focuses on the Strawberry Express quad. Depending on how the upper mountain holds up, there is a possibility of another lift opening, though operations will likely be limited to the core morning and early afternoon hours to preserve the snow surface.


&amp;quot;Our decision to host summer skiing is thanks to record snowfall,&amp;quot; the resort noted in a recent update. &amp;quot;For those planning to join us for some summer turns, our hotel Sunshine Mountain Lodge will be open for guests.&amp;quot;


Implications for the Backcountry

For the backcountry skiing community, this announcement serves as a useful benchmark for high-alpine conditions along the Continental Divide (which&amp;nbsp;Sunshine straddles). A snowpack deep enough to support resort operations into July confirms that the higher-elevation lines on the Continental Divide and throughout the Bow Valley will likely remain filled and skiable well into the summer months.

Plan Ahead

Summer skiing is a novelty that requires a different approach than mid-winter laps. Expect &amp;quot;hero snow&amp;quot; early in the day followed by heavy, saturated conditions by the afternoon. Those making the trip should be prepared for typical summer mountain weather and high UV exposure.
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2026-05-05 06:27:03</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/banff-sunshine-summer-skiing-july-2026</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/banff-sunshine-summer-skiing-july-2026</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Team USA Secures Olympic Quota at Salt Lake City Skimo World Cup; Canada Finishes 7th]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah &amp;ndash; The road to the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games took a decisive turn this weekend at the Salt Lake City Skimo World Cup. In a high-stakes showdown on North American snow, athletes from 24 nations gathered to close the Olympic qualifying period, resulting in a historic performance for Team USA and the official securing of the North American Olympic quota spot.

The Battle for the Olympic Quota

The atmosphere was electric as the United States and Canada faced off for the continent&amp;rsquo;s singular Olympic quota. The pressure peaked during Saturday&amp;rsquo;s Mixed Relay, where fresh snowfall set the stage for a defining moment in North American ski mountaineering.

While the U.S. team of Cam Smith and Anna Gibson took the victory and the quota spot with a time of 32:17.6, the Canadian squad fought a valiant battle in the A Final.


	
	Canadian Results: The Canadian duo of Emma Cook-Clarke and Aaron Robson battled hard against the world&amp;#39;s best, finishing 7th overall (+1:31.7 back). Despite missing the quota spot in this head-to-head matchup, their presence in the A Final against elite European teams underscores the rising level of Canadian ski mountaineering.
	
	
	Team USA Victory: Smith and Gibson (in her first-ever World Cup appearance) executed a flawless race to claim the first Mixed Relay World Cup victory in U.S. history.
	
	
	US Depth: The U.S. team also swept the B Final, with Griffin Briley &amp;amp; Hali Hafeman taking 1st, and John Gaston &amp;amp; Jessie Young taking 2nd.
	



&amp;ldquo;This weekend was a defining moment for U.S. ski mountaineering. Winning the Mixed Relay on home snow... reflects years of progress and the remarkable commitment of our athletes and staff.&amp;rdquo; &amp;mdash; Sarah Cookler, Head of Sport for USA Skimo


Sprint Day: Speed and Strategy

Sunday brought clear skies and a fast, technical track for the Sprint races. With Olympic qualification on the line, the racing was aggressive and thrilling.

Women&amp;rsquo;s Sprint Results:


	
	Margot Ravinel (FRA) &amp;ndash; 3:14.8
	
	
	Giulia Murada (ITA) &amp;ndash; +13.1
	
	
	Katia Mascherona (ITA) &amp;ndash; +13.2
	


Men&amp;rsquo;s Sprint Results:


	
	Jon Kistler (SUI) &amp;ndash; 2:40.7
	
	
	Arno Lietha (SUI) &amp;ndash; +2.7
	
	
	Maximilien Drion du Chapois (BEL) &amp;ndash; +11.0
	


A Historic Step for North American Skimo

This event marked the first time the ISMF World Cup tour has stopped in the U.S. since the Federation was founded in 2007. With global broadcast coverage and a packed crowd, the event showcased that North American Skimo is ready for the world stage&amp;mdash;looking ahead not just to Italy in 2026, but to the 2034 Winter Games returning to Salt Lake City.

For full results and more details on the qualification process, check out the ISMF official website.
]]></description>
            <pubDate>2025-12-13 07:17:18</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Team-USA-Secures-Olympic-Quota-Salt-Lake-City-Skimo-World-Cup</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Team-USA-Secures-Olympic-Quota-Salt-Lake-City-Skimo-World-Cup</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Freshtival 20025]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Get an early start to your Fall Ski Film fix with Calgary&amp;#39;s Freshtival 2025.

Since 2023, Fresh Skis has been bringing Calgary skiers together every fall to celebrate, connect and watch the year&amp;#39;s best ski movies. Come see the best ski action captured on film last winter by Teton Gravity Research, Matchstick Productions and others.

Friday October 17th
&amp;quot;After the Snowfall&amp;quot; Matchstick Production

Saturday October 18th
&amp;quot;Preassure Drop&amp;quot; Teton Gravity Research.

Get all the details: CLICK HERE&amp;nbsp;]]></description>
            <pubDate>2025-09-30 14:19:06</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Freshtival-2025</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Freshtival-2025</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Little Things That Matter When Backcountry Skiing]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Over the years, backcountry skiing has grown rapidly in popularity. Gear has improved immensely, as has our knowledge of snow and weather conditions. This has opened up numerous new areas for skiers and snowboarders to explore.&amp;nbsp;

A tour in the backcountry is an incredibly rewarding experience. It makes it easy to avoid crowded resorts, lift lines and traffic. The sound of skins swishing through fresh blower powder as you make your way to the top of your line is beautiful music.&amp;nbsp;

A trip to the backcountry is fairly easy to make happen. It doesn&amp;#39;t take a ton of effort to call some buddies, set a meeting time and place, grab your gear and head out. With that said, there are a ton of small things that can add to your experience. Putting a little thought into the comfort and safety of the entire group goes along ways in ensuring a fun, safe and successful day out in the backcountry. Here are some small backcountry skiing tips and tricks you can use to make sure your next day on the mountain&amp;nbsp;is unforgettable.&amp;nbsp;

Ski Straps
Ski straps are a vital piece of any backcountry skier&amp;#39;s kit. By carrying at least four of them at all times, you can solve a number of issues that can come up while skiing in the backcountry. Can&amp;#39;t get your skins to stick? Use a ski strap front and back to hold them in place. In a pinch, they can also be wrapped around your boot to provide extra traction.&amp;nbsp;

In addition to securing loose gear or skis, a ski strap can be employed in a variety of situations if you get creative.

Layer Up
Dressing properly is a key part of a comfortable day of backcountry skiing. While the skin up may start off cold, you&amp;#39;ll quickly start to heat up as you make your way up the track. Wearing a few layers that you can easily shed while ascending but then put back on prior to dropping in will make your life significantly easier. It&amp;#39;s especially important to wear a thermal base layer before layering anything. This will be the most source of your warmth!

A second set of gloves can come in handy too. Mountain bike gloves make for a great option to use on the way up as they are lightweight and breathable, but still protect your hands from the elements.&amp;nbsp;

Don&amp;#39;t forget to wear a warm winter hat! Opting for something lighter weight can help avoid sweating on the way up, but can also be used as extra insulation under your helmet.&amp;nbsp;

Bring Duct Tape
Duct tape (I personally prefer Gorilla Tape, but to each their own!) is an essential addition to your backcountry skiing kit. When something breaks, duct tape can generally fix it enough to get you back to your truck. Wrap it around your ski poles or Nalgene so you&amp;#39;ve always got some with you. Bailing wiring and zip ties are other items worth adding to your repair kit.&amp;nbsp;

Seat Pad
A scrap of old yoga mat or even just a thin piece of foam can be an incredibly useful addition to your set up. It can be used as a seat that keeps your butt warm and dry while you wait for the rest of your crew or stop for a lunch break. When you are back at the car, it doubles as a changing mat while you switch from ski boots to your everyday shoes.&amp;nbsp;

Wax
Everyone waxes their skis at the beginning of the season, right? While you&amp;#39;re waxing yours, put a light coat on the top of the skis too. This will help them shed snow more easily, saving you some energy on your way up.&amp;nbsp;

Food
Don&amp;#39;t skimp on food. Trying to complete an epic day without proper nourishment is sure to cause major headaches. H-anger is a very real thing and can be avoided with a little planning. Pack something tasty with lots of calories. You&amp;#39;ll thank me later.&amp;nbsp;

Water
Your trusty Nalgene bottle is a reliable and easy way to transport water, but it is not always the most convenient. These bulky items can easily fall out of a water bottle sleeve and are not very forgiving in the event of a fall. A soft sided water bottle is easily stashed in a jacket pocket and takes up almost no space once its empty.&amp;nbsp;
Another option is to use a hydration sleeve. Though a hydration sleeve is convenient, they are not without their own issues. Water tends to freeze in the hose if it is not properly dealt with. Blowing some air into the hose and pushing the water back into the sleeve is one way to keep it from freezing. You can also add some sugar, powdered drink mix or even a little whiskey to keep your water from icing over.&amp;nbsp;
Planning for a day in the backcountry involves a lot of things. In addition to the obvious things like your beacon, probe, shovel and other necessary gear, these small items can help make your day out a little bit easier. It can take years of skiing to get your kit just right, so trying new things never hurts. Lots of little things can quickly add up and help make your day out that much better.&amp;nbsp;]]></description>
            <pubDate>2019-03-25 10:34:57</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Backcountry%20Skiing%20for%20Beginners</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Backcountry%20Skiing%20for%20Beginners</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Skills to Pay the Bills - Intro to Backcountry clinic- Nelson BC]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[Are you new to the backcountry and want to build a solid foundation before you head out of bounds? Do you already have some experience, but maybe want a fresh reminder before you head out for the new season? Gals. This may be the clinic for you!

Come join us and ACMG guide Laura Adams for a day in the backcountry that focuses on avalanche search and rescue techniques, travel skills, and terrain and gear management. We&amp;#39;ll end the day with an after-shred mixer and photo review at the tasting room at Nelson Brewing Company!

This clinic will cost $180 plus tax. 10% discount if you bring a friend, or if you sign up for another Pow Gals Clinic. 10% of fees going to the Nelson and District Youth Centre!

Message us for more info! We&amp;#39;d be happy to answer any questions you may have!]]></description>
            <pubDate>2018-12-05 16:33:36</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Introduction%20to%20backcountry%20clinic</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Introduction%20to%20backcountry%20clinic</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Mountain Biking in the Thaw Season - Choose Your Trails Wisely]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[
It&amp;rsquo;s been a cold wet spring in much of British Columbia, and Canada for that matter, and it seems like mountain bike season may never arrive. If you live on the coast your trail options are much greater than in the interior so any trails that may be free of snow are tempting to ride. At this time of year though no matter where you live it&amp;rsquo;s good idea to take a moment to think about the effects of riding on wet trails and what we can do as riders to minimize our impacts so trails remain sustainable in the long term.

	Choose the trails you are going to ride wisely: pick ones that are built to withstand use in the wet. Most mountain bike associations are building new trails with sustainability in mind so most built in the last few years should be wet weather friendly. If in doubt check Trailforks to see if a trail has been designated as wet friendly. Chances are your favorite old school, steep, fall line loamer is not wet weather friendly.
	Don&amp;rsquo;t be tempted to drop into or ride up flowing creeks of water. There&amp;rsquo;s nothing worse than spending an hour grinding up a climb to get to your favorite descent and see it&amp;rsquo;s a raging river. It&amp;rsquo;s tempting to just roll in and ride but either move on to another trail if possible or turn around and save it for another day. Same goes for climbing up trails, if you see running water at the bottom, try another climb or ride somewhere else if possible.
	If you come across deep mud or puddles on trails don&amp;rsquo;t try and ride around it. This will widen the trail and cause damage to surrounding vegetation. Also, if you come across wet, slick sections of trail you aren&amp;rsquo;t comfortable riding don&amp;rsquo;t create a new line to go around it. There&amp;rsquo;s nothing wrong with walking down wet greasy sections if you have to.
	This should go without saying wet or dry but ride don&amp;#39;t slide. Ease off on the rear brakes!
	Join your local mountain bike association and volunteer on trail days. We have all ridden in the wet before and there&amp;rsquo;s no better way to give back to the trails than to help work on them.

]]></description>
            <pubDate>2018-04-23 19:17:03</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Mountain%20Biking</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/Mountain%20Biking</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[Brandon Semenuk Is At It Again]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[At this point, when Brandon Semenuk is featured in another one of Rupert Walker&amp;#39;s Raw 100 edits, I know it&amp;#39;s going to be good. I don&amp;#39;t think I&amp;#39;m alone in saying that while the short films are only 100 seconds long, I&amp;#39;ve sunk more time than I&amp;#39;d care to admit&amp;nbsp;into watching them over and over again.&amp;nbsp;

Without further ado, here is the third installment in this sublime video series:
&amp;nbsp;





]]></description>
            <pubDate>2017-08-06 12:06:39</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/brandon-semenuk-raw-100-v3</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/brandon-semenuk-raw-100-v3</guid>
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            <title><![CDATA[TGR lands in our back yard-- VIDEO]]></title>
            <description><![CDATA[I don&amp;#39;t remember seeing them but apparently there was a TGR crew up at Whitewater shooting. Because&amp;nbsp;Tight Loose&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;came out last season, this must have been shot the season before. &amp;nbsp;&amp;#39;way to recycle that content! Does anyone recognize these zones?&amp;nbsp;It&amp;#39;s sled accessed, near Nelson and looks like a heck of a lot of fun. Happy August everyone. I hope it&amp;#39;s not as smokey where you are as it is now here in Nelson...







&amp;nbsp;]]></description>
            <pubDate>2017-08-03 09:40:08</pubDate>
            <link>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/TGR%20lands%20in%20our%20back%20yard--%20VIDEO</link>
            <guid>/forum/bcs/category/other_talk2/topic/TGR%20lands%20in%20our%20back%20yard--%20VIDEO</guid>
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