Fernie (BC), Canada – A pair of ski resorts owned by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies are expanding their backcountry-style ski offerings this winter, and a third is offering a new route to the slopes.

“Uptracking”, or skinning up a mountain in skis or on a snowboard, is gaining in popularity and Fernie Alpine Resort is now offering guided uphill ski tours for this coming winter season. Uptracking is, in its own way, an art form and sometimes described as a Zen exercise for true lovers of winter sports.

Meanwhile, nearby Kimberley Alpine Resort has joined forces with Boulder Hut Adventures to bring a ski touring experience to its resort. Guests stay at Trickle Creek Lodge, located at the base of Kimberley, and will practically walk out of the door to a waiting helicopter. The Kimberley backcountry offers 15,000 acres of untracked Purcell powder for guests to explore.

And if it’s just getting to the mountain that you’re after, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has introduced a new transportation option with the addition of a new shuttle service connecting Calgary International Airport to the resort twice a week, via the Banff Brewster Airport Express. Service will run Wednesday andSaturday from December 21, 2016 to March 26, 2017.

Finally, if the current weak state of the Canadian dollar isn’t enough justification, all three resorts mentioned above are offering early booking savings of up to 45% on the slopes for bookings made before November 30.