Many Steps Make Mountains

Just remember: You’re not Hoji

-Rich Marshall

The Trip –

In late January, a group of Truckee, CA skiers and I went on a trip. We visited a spectacular backcountry ski lodge in British Columbia. The Golden Alpine Holidays Sentry Lodge had been a destination we had been trying to get to for years. This was a rescheduled trip that had been canceled during COVID. We were elated to finally get here. We flew into Calgary, Alberta and made the three hour drive over to Golden, BC. We had a group dinner and planned to meet at the heli pad in the morning. We were checking out for a week of nothing but skiing!

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Stoke is high with Jeff and Dave awaiting our flight in to the lodge

The Lodge –

The Golden Alpine Holidays Sentry Lodge is a magical place. Set near tree-line in the Esplanade subrange of the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia. The location offers skiers the chance to make the most of the changing mountain weather. On a clear day skiers can head up into the alpine terrain. On stormy days, there are powder and pillow lines in the trees below the lodge.

Sentry Lodge was rebuilt in 2012 after a propane fire burned the previous structure to the ground. It has far more updated and luxurious offerings than most other backcountry huts in the world. Accessed by helicopter, groups stay for a full week; flying in or out alternating with the next guests. Groups can bring a ski guide and / or a chef for the week. Golden Alpine Holidays runs the lodge. They also have three other lodges in the area: Meadow, Vista, and Sunrise.

Sentry offers plenty of space for a group to spread out. There are open living spaces and bright windows to view the lines skied that day on the surrounding peaks. Leather couches provide comfort. A basement ping pong table offers entertainment. A chef’s kitchen supports gourmet meals. Together, they make for a world-class lodge to spend a week of backcountry skiing. Each week, a hut tender looks after every detail to keep this place running smoothly. This allows guests to concentrate on daily skiing and recovery each night to do it all again. We were fortunate enough to have Tim Styles as our hut tender and he was great. He actually preferred to do all of the dishes for the week. Thanks Tim!

The Guides –

Our group has worked with guides Rich and Julie Marshall, who own and operate Backcountry Solutions. Rich and Julie have years of experience guiding in the mountains near their hometown of Golden, BC. Rich and Julie did an artful job of setting the skin track all week. They effortlessly broke trail and put down great low angle, smooth tracks making for easy all day skiing. I have skied with many guides and found Rich and Julie to be absolutely top notch. They have an easy way of letting the group dynamics flow. They keep it safe and allow folks to push out into all sorts of terrain. Rich’s 38 years of guiding experience show. I couldn’t recommend them enough.

Rich and Julie Marshall of Backcountry Solutions

The sun coming up for our first full day at the lodge

The Skiing –

The weather was clear and cold during our first days at the lodge. This let our guides, Rich and Julie, take us into the alpine. The cold kept the snow fresh for excellent skiing. The alpine skiing was relatively easy. However, Rich and Julie planned great loop style tours, offering full days of wonderful views and skiing. It was a great way to get to know the zone and take advantage of clear weather.

Myself and Jeff D.

Gorgeous views above the outhouse on the feature called Midship Ridge.

Dave from Tahoe Mountain Sports

On our first full day of touring we poked over into the Secret Valley zone adjacent to the lodge

The Jerrys –

There was another group of Truckee skiers at one of the other Golden Alpine Holidays lodges. They graciously handed off their “Jerry Vest” as we passed at the helipad. This became a surprisingly effective way of keeping this large group of misfits inline. Each day Jerry Points were awarded for being late or any other act the group deemed boneheaded enough. Each night at dinner a new “Jerry” was crowned for the next day.

Jon Mitchell in some cold smoke

What is the most striking about Sentry, and all of the remote lodges of BC is the vision. They are not easy or convenient locations to get to. Only accessed by helicopter, essentially every item in the lodge was shuttled to the site with intent. Interestingly, professional skier and local legend Eric Hjorleifson, known as “Hoji”, worked on the stone masonry of the lodge’s main fireplace.

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Group shot on full day #2 as we skied Rasta Pass and some lines off of Billy Goat Ridge

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Mt Sir Sanford with our tracks in the foreground

One of my favorite runs on the north side of Billy Goat Ridge

Skinning home with our tracks in the sun above

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The Food –

Our personal chef, Courtenay Kohlhauser, prepared amazing dishes everyday. Each morning we were greeted with hot breakfast and gourmet sandwiches to throw in our packs for the day. We arrived back at the lodge in the late afternoon for usually a soup apres. Then after a sauna and a shower the main course and dessert were rolled out. We were completely spoiled.

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Morning light as the group pushes up towards Sentry Peak on full day #3

Matty E. with Sentry Peak in the distance

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Days were short this far north and set down in the valley. It varied when the sun hit us each day but seemed to be around mid morning. The low sun angles, cold temps and short days preserved the powder for the duration of our stay.

Just sublime views in every direction…

JP Prince!

The Tahoe OG Crew. I have known these three for so many years Dave, Sara and Jeff.

So cold Dave is touring in his puffy

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Sentry Peak –

Sentry Peak on the left. We made it up to the lookers left shoulder while ascending Sentry. The winds were ripping and had scoured off the snow. We held a group vote. The choice was to summit and ski bad snow at the top or to descend for more powder skiing. The group consensus was to head towards pow.

Jon Mitchell slashing it descending from Sentry Peak

Jerry JP

Dave and Sara

Home sweet home

Lower Siege –

Snow and decreased visibility rolled into the region. We left the alpine for the trees around and below the lodge. Rich progressively allowed our group to step into some uniquely challenging ski terrain. This area, called Lower Siege, was fairly steep pillow lines below the lodge. In this shot Rich is reminding us to keep your momentum so the slough doesn’t knock you off your feet. “…and remember, you’re not Hoji”

…another look at some of Lower Siege behind Jeff

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Jeff dropping in!

Looking up at Lower Siege from below

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Jeff D. on Plumb Line

Endless pillow skiing

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The lodge was perfectly designed for ski touring. There was a downstairs workshop for ski tuning and repairs. There was also an optimally laid out gear room for drying boots and skins.

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The easiest way to earn Jerry Points was to be late for the morning skin

Rich on Rampart

Jerry’s Cherry –

During one of our final days at the lodge, Rich and Julie took us to a new line. It was off the saddle between Rampart Peak and Gauntlet Peak. They had skied this line with friends before but never with clients. The photos don’t do it justice but we dropped around 2000 feet below the lodge down a large avalanche path. The skiing was epic, then variable, then smooth and amazing on the apron. A leg burner no doubt, both skiing it and getting back up. That night at dinner Rich gave us the honor of allowing us to name the run. Thus the newest named line from Sentry Lodge became known as: JERRY’S CHERRY!

Matt E. on Jerry’s Cherry

Donny T. skiing Jerry’s Cherry with views of the cloud layer and distant peaks behind

Matt E. again

JP supporting Rich as he makes “Jerry’s Cherry” official, putting it on the lodge map

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Bearded Sara

The last day was a powder pillow romp. We lapped fresh snow in an area called the Quiver and finished with a party ski near Archer’s Woods. Jon and Julie on one of our 8 or 9 transitions that day.

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Awaiting our heli bump back to reality on our last day

In Conclusion…

Our group had a spectacular week of skiing at the Golden Alpine Holiday’s Sentry Lodge. I would offer the highest recommendations for the lodge and our amazing hosts. Rich and Julie of Backcountry Solutions were outstanding. Courtenay, our Chef, impressed us greatly. Of course, Tim, our hut tender, was exceptional. Thank you, all.

Group debrief in Golden, BC

Rare shot of myself; dropping in

Thanks for reading this long post!