schubwa
New member
We left Redmond, OR Sunday 2/13 at noon and arrived in Nakusp, BC nine house later. It was finally time to do another Selkirk backcountry AT trip, this time to the just-finished Hilda Hut in the Columbia Mountains, southern Selkirks, Valkyr Range. The guys we met the next morning at the usual dingy, foggy "heli port" were raving about the surface conditions, steep tree lines, spectacular alpine bowls and friendly lodge owners. They were the first guests to stay at Martin and Shelly Glasheen's brand new lodge.
After arriving at the hut we did our beacon training with tailgunner Kitt Redhead (no kidding), ACMG guide Ken Bibby soon arrived in the Bell 206, a lightweight version of the venerable airship that flew sorties somewhere in SE Asia. You get flown in and out on the heli and are on your own to earn your turns all week AT skiing. My last trip with this great group of folks was almost two years ago to the Selkirk Lodge out of Revelstoke. Scot Kellar, our trip guru, had heard about the Hilda from Ken, who has guided out of the Namulten Lodge which is also in the Valkyrs and owned by the Glasheen's.
The namesake Hilda overlooks some beautiful terrain. The first two days were bluebird with 8cm new over settled powder.
Our assistant guide Kitt is framed on a sparkling day.
Just another slope in the Selkirks.
Andie Sulak-Bombard and Mike Schubert pause on a long climb out of a valley to the east of the hut, with views at the top overlooking the Valhalla's.
That was fun!
Lower down on the same run, boy it got sweet. Skier: David (the "Bege") Bombard.
Winter returned to BC and we just happened to be there. Here Dan Kane enjoys the fruit of his labor on a run named "Nasty Norens".
My roommate for the week, fellow Bendite Steve Ward shows us how to do it. I guess I had been snoring a lot so he nicknamed me "Jon E. Sawmille".
After a few days of snow and steep tree lines we were back to the alpine. This is a view of the Hilda Hut from across the valley. Destination: another drainage and a possible heli pickup!
Ken Bibby and Kitt checking out the climb up to the notch on the skyline. Hopefully we drop the other side and have the chopper come and pick us up…
Well, we were turned back by clouds on the other side but we did get our ride! Here is a steep line we did the day before in a snowstorm, notice the sluffs we kicked off. View from shotgun in the heli.
Waiting near the top of Hilda. Schubwa, Geoff Burrows (Lake Tahoe) and Scot Kellar (Bend).
Geoff usually waited and then always found an alternate way down. Obviously the snow was good where he went too.
Here's Scot checking out some other steep-a$$ tree shot up there.
Yummy!
The last night is the best night. It 's time for the "Flair Party". I collected some local flora to complete my outfit with soul patch and sideburns. Next trip: Battle Abbey?
After arriving at the hut we did our beacon training with tailgunner Kitt Redhead (no kidding), ACMG guide Ken Bibby soon arrived in the Bell 206, a lightweight version of the venerable airship that flew sorties somewhere in SE Asia. You get flown in and out on the heli and are on your own to earn your turns all week AT skiing. My last trip with this great group of folks was almost two years ago to the Selkirk Lodge out of Revelstoke. Scot Kellar, our trip guru, had heard about the Hilda from Ken, who has guided out of the Namulten Lodge which is also in the Valkyrs and owned by the Glasheen's.
The namesake Hilda overlooks some beautiful terrain. The first two days were bluebird with 8cm new over settled powder.
Our assistant guide Kitt is framed on a sparkling day.
Just another slope in the Selkirks.
Andie Sulak-Bombard and Mike Schubert pause on a long climb out of a valley to the east of the hut, with views at the top overlooking the Valhalla's.
That was fun!
Lower down on the same run, boy it got sweet. Skier: David (the "Bege") Bombard.
Winter returned to BC and we just happened to be there. Here Dan Kane enjoys the fruit of his labor on a run named "Nasty Norens".
My roommate for the week, fellow Bendite Steve Ward shows us how to do it. I guess I had been snoring a lot so he nicknamed me "Jon E. Sawmille".
After a few days of snow and steep tree lines we were back to the alpine. This is a view of the Hilda Hut from across the valley. Destination: another drainage and a possible heli pickup!
Ken Bibby and Kitt checking out the climb up to the notch on the skyline. Hopefully we drop the other side and have the chopper come and pick us up…
Well, we were turned back by clouds on the other side but we did get our ride! Here is a steep line we did the day before in a snowstorm, notice the sluffs we kicked off. View from shotgun in the heli.
Waiting near the top of Hilda. Schubwa, Geoff Burrows (Lake Tahoe) and Scot Kellar (Bend).
Geoff usually waited and then always found an alternate way down. Obviously the snow was good where he went too.
Here's Scot checking out some other steep-a$$ tree shot up there.
Yummy!
The last night is the best night. It 's time for the "Flair Party". I collected some local flora to complete my outfit with soul patch and sideburns. Next trip: Battle Abbey?
