Looking for Hut information for Canada

[mchin]

We're thinking of spending a week at Mistaya or Icefall Lodge in February. I'm interested in your experience with the terrain, lodge, guides, etc. What is tree skiing like (for the storm days)? What is the alpine/glacier terrain like? It looks like Icefall is booked for February, but I am still curious about the area. We've been to Sorcerer, Fairy Meadows and Burnie Glacier so any comparisons with those places would be welcome.

Thanks!

[fogey]

Mark--I've been to Icefall--but none of your other candidate huts. The alpine terrain at Icefall is the most spectacular I've seen at a Canadian hut, and the "tenure" is big, with at least one, and maybe now two, subsidiary huts. The hut was brand new and plush (for a ski hut)--Linda and I had a room with a little deck and a fantastic view. The tree skiing we saw was relatively limited. The social scene wasn't to my taste, and the guiding wasn't ideal, but I'm not into online bashing based on personal reactions--PM me if you want details on that.

[aka-bigsteve]

I've never been to Icefall, but from what friends have told me, the best feature of Icefall is the big glaciated terrain, as at the 3 lodges you mention having been to.
Mistaya has plenty of glaciers, but the terrain in general is mellow, and the tree skiing is typical of the Canadian Rockies- OK for a day or two but not great.
We were at Mistaya in 2009, you can get a good idea of the surroundings from my photo album-

https://picasaweb.google.com/steveandjoriggs/MistayaLodge

The lodge at Mistaya is comfortable enough, but I can't comment on the guiding or food as we went there with a friend who is a guide. After his guided group there cancelled he salvaged the week by bringing in a group of friends. We did our own cooking and were informally guided by our friend and not by lodge owner Dave.

[mchin]

aka, Fogey - thanks for the info. Aka- nice photos of the freeheelers! Scepter spire looks cool. It looks like our window has shifted to March. If we decide to pull the trigger, we need to figure out how we can get into ski shape w/o any snow here in California!

[dauwhe]

I spent a week at Mistaya in 2011. It was my first (and so far only) experience with such a lodge, and I felt like I was in paradise. The lodge was extremely comfortable, and the food was delicious and plentiful. The owner Dave was our guide, and besides being a great guy he knew the area far better than I know the back of my hand. He found good quality snow even when there was lots of sun crusts due to a few days of warm weather. The alpine scenery was spectacular. Skiing was probably on the mellow side, which was perfect for me. There wasn't a huge variety of tree skiing. but it was fun. It was the best ski experience of my life so far.

[Moose pit]

I have done Icefall and Fairy... in both spots there is a lot of terrain. If you are going guided I have heard good things about Larry (Icefall) and I would guess unless you are setting up the whole trip yourself the guide for Fairy would be up to you. Both spots are great fun although if you are into epic tours I think Icefall is a better bet. I think a little later in the season both areas open up as the glaciers bridge. There are more treed aspects close to Icefall than Fairy (where there is pretty much only the one). I haven't gone guided so I can't really comment but I definitely think catered is the only way to do large huts and big groups.
There are posts and TR on TGR that can give a pretty good idea as to what both areas offer.

[mchin]

Moose, dauhwe - this is good to know. I've been to Fairy Meadows twice and both times was self guided and self fed. It worked out well and the first time at FM was probably the best trip I've ever had. We're not in the best ski shape due to the lack of snow here in CA, so this is a concern. I'd hate to be in an epic location and not be able to take advantage of it because my fitness $ucks!

[Rads63]

I'm heading to the Mistaya lodge this February. Never done the guided lodge thing. Lots of good info here for me as well. Mchin I let you know that I think.