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The Durrand Glacier and Mount Moloch Chalets, combined with the exclusive use-permit of the largest ski-touring area in North America, have created a ski touring Mecca that can not be duplicated. Selkirk Mountain Experience is the first ski-touring company in North America to establish back-country hut based ski-mountaineering at such high quality, hut to hut skiing and deep powder skiing in an exclusive area of incomparable terrain with a reliable snow-pack. This superlative is absolute paradise for ski mountaineers. The huge and wild broken glaciers, the rugged mountains with their steep granite-faces and the deep valleys with steep forested slopes form a Shangri-la for the guests and guides of Selkirk Mountain Experience.
At some point the quality and quantity of the snow becomes as important as the terrain. At the Durrand Glacier this has never been a problem as it is in the center of one of the world's largest snow-belts that covers most of the Selkirk Mountains. While many areas, even fringe areas of the snow-belt, might receive little or no snow, the Durrand Glacier, because it sits on the west slopes of the Selkirks and in the centre of this snow-belt, has always received enough to offer its guests the legendary skiing expected in the Northern Selkirk Mountains. During the "dry" winter of 2005 there were over 3 meters of snow at the Durrand in December and January and over 6 meters on the glaciers in March and April.
When the snow has finally melted by late June the Durrand Glacier Area is transformed into a hiking and mountaineering paradise. The melted snow pack produces lush blooming meadows, roaring waterfalls and crystal clear alpine lakes. With over 80 km of maintained hiking trails for the exclusive use of our guests the wonders of the mountains are accessible for hikers of all ability levels. Trails lead to peaks, waterfalls, ridges, glaciers, lakes and meadows. Mountain Goats are the only other users of the trails and occasionally one can view the grizzly from a safe vantage point across the valley.
The climbing and summer mountaineering is superb at the Durrand Glacier. With over 150 alpine and sport climbing routes this area is a fantastic playground for climbers of all ability levels. Whether it is an introductory mountaineering course or a week of private rock climbing there are challenges and rewards for everyone who enjoys the high alpine world of rock and ice. Among the many routes is the Inominata Ridge which, with 800 vertical metres and 2.2 km., is one of the longest alpine climbing routes of moderate difficulty in Canada. Climbing at the Durrand Glacier lets one enjoy the solitude, grandness and splendor of the unspoiled alpine just as it was when first discovered by the original explorers of the Selkirk
Mountains in the early 1900's.
The Durrand Glacier area is not just the area where my guiding colleagues and I share our mountain passion with guests. It is also the mountain-home of my family: my wife Nicoline and children Charlotte and Florina... it's a family affair. During the winter-months we hire a teacher to teach the girls school. For physical education class the girls go for a ski-tour to one of the many peaks. Interacting with guests is an enjoyable part of the family's life. During each week, in both summer and winter, everybody becomes friends and it feels like an extended family living high up on the mountain in this Swiss style chalet.
It is the main focus of Selkirk Mountain Experience that each guest feels cozy and at home while spending time at the Durrand Glacier Chalet. It is a family-run operation where friendship, passion and professionalism frame the entire scene. The log and pine-wood building has a comfortable day-room, a reading room and single and two person bedrooms with full bedding. The Durrand Glacier Chalet is fully equipped with a 120 V AC power-system generated by two water-turbines, hot and cold running water, showers and a large sauna. For communication the lodge has a satellite telephone as well as wireless internet for the guests, two- way radio communication for the company in addition to the satellite high-speed internet.
It is very important to Selkirk Mountain Experience to pay maximum attention to all details of every guest's stay. Selkirk Mountain Experience fully believes that all guests deserve the highest quality of services, not just in guiding but also when it comes to lodging and eating. While the guests are out skiing, climbing or hiking, the professional cook prepares delicious 100% home-cooked meals including afternoon snacks and four course dinners. The daily menu includes freshly baked European breads, tortes and cakes and desserts.
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