From its first introduction to the Banff area by Scandinavian Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) workers and Swiss mountaineering guides, skiing has grown to be the very heartbeat and pulse of Canadian Rockies culture. Skiers may have traded in their pea coats and wooden skis for Gore Tex shells and the perfect camber, but the spirit of the sport remains in Canada’s first national park.

Each winter, skiers and snowboarders duck the lines that separate in-bounds from out at ski areas throughout Western Canada. Enticed by the untracked terrain beyond the ropes, many do so without avalanche training and the gear that could save their lives if the slope goes for a slide. Here’s how you can prepare yourself for your next slip into slackcountry.

We all hope we’ll adventure furiously in the mountains for years and years without incident. But each and every time we step out into the great outdoors – each time we seek that joy-filled rush only the mountains can bring – we tap into the potential that something will go wrong. For Abby Cooper, getting caught in an avalanche was a wake-up call to trust her gut feelings. Here is her story.

We all know things can go wrong in the mountains. We prepare ourselves by taking courses, gearing up, and carrying our emergency beacons. But are we prepared for what comes after a trauma?

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a backcountry pro, west of Calgary the Rocky Mountains have more terrain than you could ever hope to cover. From steep couloirs to mellow glades, you don’t need to drive far to hit the uptrack! Check out these popular touring areas – all within 200 km of Calgary.

When you have an opportunity to join mountain man Jim Buckingham in the outdoors (or anywhere), you take it. Writer Nathan Jones spends a day on skis with the Banff legend, and comes away with some great turns – and wisdom to go with them. Turns out, the only way to have the good days is to get out every day…

Mountain biking season is here. Wondering where to start? Here are our top early-season trails to get the wheels turning and the legs burning.

Luxury in wilderness comes a bit off the beaten track for many getaway lodges in the Canadian Rockies. But, Emerald Lake Lodge maintains a semblance of isolation and the elegance of simplicity, despite being just a short drive away from the nearest village. The historic Swiss-inspired lodge is just as inviting as the peaks seen from its windows, beckoning visitors to explore and enjoy the splendour of Yoho National Park. Tera Swanson tells you the best ways to experience this mountain gem in winter.

In an industry that can sometimes have a reputation for serving sass and crass, UNLTD is dedicated to sprinkling positivity everywhere, from the ski hills to the skateboard parks. It’s this different attitude that has helped to outfit skateboarders and snowboarders in carefully-selected, top brands for the past 25 years.

Margo Talbot's All That Glitters tells the story of her journey through addiction and depression and the healing she found in nature. In this interview, she tells us what that journey signifies for the greater mountain community and how we might empower ourselves in the context of COVID-19.

In the Rocky Mountains we’re no stranger to the impact that human behaviour has had on the wildlife that call this land home. But do we really know the full extent? Considering events that unfolded this past summer, Günther Bloch’s The Pipestone Wolves: The Rise and Fall of a Wolf Family couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. In this review, Scott Lilwall unpacks this all-in-one scientific summary, indictment, and wolf family drama, brought to life through images from wildlife photographer John E. Marriott.

Bernie Schiesser calls it fate, but the cast of characters in his bio reads like a who’s who of Rockies history. Over the course of his long life, Schiesser’s positive energy and remarkable contributions to many aspects of mountain life have firmly established him on that same roster. Here’s the story behind the man – the pioneer, guide, and backcountry host – who will forever have a legacy in the Canadian Rockies.