01 / Qualifications
Professional teams
Each group has a guide, tail guide, and driver. Guides are certified by ACMG and/or CSGA. Tail guides have advanced first aid and at least Canadian Avalanche Association Level One Operations certification.
Safety · The first consideration. Always.
The best decision
is a safe one.
Safety is the job. Every line, every day, every decision starts there. The best run is never worth a bad choice.
A conservative mountain culture
Some runs can wait.
Your guides can close terrain, change the route, or call it a day. Snow stability and your group’s safety come before another run.
The people & the process
Before the cats leave.
Island Lake is an accredited HeliCat Canada member and follows its operating standards.
02 / Conditions
A daily assessment
Morning meetings combine field observations, weather, snow stability, and InfoEx information. A two-guide snow-safety team assesses terrain with the road builder.
03 / Decisions
Active risk management
Qualified teams use explosives to test slopes and trigger avalanches as part of the program. Radio communication and monitoring continue throughout the day.
Before your first run
Learn it.
Practise it.
Your first morning includes mandatory equipment instruction and avalanche and tree-well rescue training. Every guest carries a radio, transceiver, shovel, and probe.
Listen, ask questions, follow the guides, and ski with a partner. Tell your team if you feel unwell, tired, or uneasy; rest or a return to the lodge can be arranged.
Read the complete safety & risk information
Experience you can meet
Our mountain team.
Team portrait
Awaiting approved photo
Awaiting approved photo
Lead guides
Individual guide profiles and portraits are being prepared.
Team portrait
Awaiting approved photo
Awaiting approved photo
Tail guides
Tail-guide profiles and portraits are being prepared.
Team portrait
Awaiting approved photo
Awaiting approved photo
Snow safety & drivers
Snow-safety and driver profiles are being prepared.
Knowledge is meant to be shared
Learning beyond a single season.
Island Lake supports avalanche education and snow research, and has worked with the College of the Rockies’ mountain adventure program.
A conversation is the beginning
Who would you
bring here?
Tell us your dates, your group size, and what you have in mind.
Our concierge will help you plan the stay.