3rd annual Vancouver Island Backcountry Festival (Feb 9-10)

Here we go again!

For those looking for an excuse to see what it looks like on the island, Feb 9-10 is your weekend. The third annual backcountry festival is being held once again at Mount Cain and we are pretty stoked. The catch? All the accomodations on the mountain are already booked, it went fast this year… but Cain is very accomodating to people camping in the parking lot in camperized vehicles (or not camperized vehicles) as well as snow camping – there are some pretty awesome spots to throw a tent or dig a cave near the lodge, and facilities you can make use of.

http://vanislebackcountryfest.ca

One pretty cool addition this year we are pretty stoked on is that we will have certified ACMG guides doing by-donation backcountry laps all day saturday. There are 3 of them and they will be staggering so there is somebody leaving more or less every hour or so, and they will even have avy gear for those who don't have it. The tours will be tailored to the groups, so it will be appropriate for those with experience looking to learn more (or shred more) as well as inexperienced or even newcomers who want to know what's out there in a safe and educational way. 

All proceeds from this as well as the raffle go directly to the avalanche bulletin on the island (the CAC doesn't forecast for us on the island, so this is one of the ways we fund our own forecasting).

And the obligitory pictures to quell the "But there is no touring on the island" outcries: 

And my favorite shot from Cain last season (this was closing weekend):