Island Alpine Guides

11/07/2024

Come for the Vibes ⛷ Stay for the Door Prizes!! 🎟🎟 IAG gift certificate giveaway + an HVI toque! Friday, 15 November ❄

11/06/2024

We've managed to organize another iteration of our very popular on-line weather forecasting course. The last time we offered this it filled up in about 24 hours so don't delay in registering if you want to take it.

Everything we do in the outdoors relies more on one variable than any other: THE WEATHER.

As professional guides and avalanche forecasters some of the most common questions we get are "where do you get your weather" or "which website is best to get my weather information from".

Most of the weather forecasts that people look at these days are output from numerical weather models about which users know little of the strengths and limitations. To really get a handle on the weather you need a basic grasp of how weather works and access to resources other than just numerical model outputs.

Join meteorologist Matt Macdonald for a short training that will significantly up your weather game. In two, one hour, online sessions separated by a week for you to practice in between them, Matt will teach you a forecasting process that will improve your weather predicting capabilities many fold.

It's All About the Weather! Everything we do in the outdoors relies more on one variable than any other: THE WEATHER. Join meteorologist Matt Macdonald for a short training that will significantly up your weather game. In two, one hour, online sessions separated by a week for you to practice in betw...

11/04/2024

Companions being fast and effective in avalanche rescue will make all the difference to a buried person's chance of survival in an avalanche. As a backcountry traveller just imagine being involved in a rescue and having to live with the thought afterwards of wishing you had practiced more. Join us f...

11/04/2024

Do you want to be able to find your buddy quickly and get them out of the snow before they die in an avalanche? It's a rhetorical question for sure but how many of us actually put in the work each season to make sure these perishable skills are fresh and practiced? Join us for a full day of scenario based companion rescue practice and be up to date with the latest in companion rescue techniques. Courses running December 30th and February 15th. Register at

Companions being fast and effective in avalanche rescue will make all the difference to a buried person's chance of survival in an avalanche. As a backcountry traveller just imagine being involved in a rescue and having to live with the thought afterwards of wishing you had practiced more. Join us f...

11/03/2024

Weather station in our area (central east coast) is down so we went for a little tour to measure the snow. 50cm at 1100m and 70cm at 1450m. Not a bad start. And the skiing was pretty good too.

10/30/2024

It's GAME ON for the 20224/25 winter!

Image 1 is the current reality: 25 cm of new snow by 11:00 this morning.

Image 2 is what's coming: According the the high resolution Canadian model 90cm by Friday morning!

Image 3 is what we'll be doing. Pow dreams will become reality!

Most of our winter programs are live on our web site now and starting to book already. Head to islandalpineguides.com to check them out and to sign up for our latest newsletter which just went out.

10/15/2024

IT'S BACK! Our ever popular on-line intro to weather forecasting course is running again 18th and 25th November.

Everything we do in the outdoors relies more on one variable than any other: THE WEATHER.

As professional guides and avalanche forecasters some of the most common questions we get are "where do you get your weather" or "which website is best to get my weather information from".

Most of the weather forecasts that people look at these days are output from numerical weather models about which users know little of the strengths and limitations. To really get a handle on the weather you need a basic grasp of how weather works and access to resources other than just numerical model outputs.

Join meteorologist Matt Macdonald for this short training that will significantly up your weather game. In two, one hour, online sessions separated by a week for you to practice in between them, Matt will teach you a forecasting process that will improve your weather predicting capabilities many fold.

Matt MacDonald is a professional meteorologist who was one of the creators of the Avalanche Canada Mountain Weather Forecast - which is now an indispensable part of any mountain recreationist or professional's trip planning process. He is the lead instructor for Canadian Avalanche Associations weather courses, worked for Environment Canada's Pacific Storm Prediction Centre and as a Warning Preparedness Meteorologist. Currently he is the Lead Forecaster for the BC Wildfire Service. Matt is an extremely knowledgeable meteorologist who is able to communicate concepts to a wide audience.

Sign up at https://www.islandalpineguides.com/trips/435. Last time this course filled up in a couple of days so don't delay!

10/11/2024

09/27/2024

New Course Date - Wilderness Navigation 1 (Map and Compass Skills) - Saturday October 19, 2024. 

Course details on our Hike Vancouver Island website here: https://www.hikevancouverisland.com/trips/55 🧭

For overall backcountry safety tips, check out BC Adventure Smart's website here!: https://www.adventuresmart.ca/ 🏔️

09/16/2024

Intro to Multi Pitch Climbing!

2 x course spots have just become available on this Saturday's (September 21st) Intro to Multi Pitch Climbing course @ Comox Lake Crags! 

Check out our website or send us an email for more info. 🧗

09/12/2024

Been dreaming of attempting the Comox Glacier? Three trip spots available on our upcoming guided 3 day/2 night Comox Glacier Hike (via Hike Vancouver Island.com) - September 13 - 15, 2024! Email ([email protected]) or Call (250-400-2870) with any questions. Safe Travels!

09/09/2024

Another successful BCSAR Rope Rescue training. This past weekend we were in the Sea to Sky training and Whistler Search & Rescue Society . Well done PSAR and WSAR volunteers and IAG instructors .a.seal and Rob Coates. As always, we are stoked to be part of building capacity in BC volunteer search and rescue.

09/01/2024

Have you been wanting to start rock climbing outdoors? Or perhaps you already do but would really like to tune up your technical systems with a certified guide. Or maybe you are a hiker who is wanting to start venturing into more technical terrain using a rope? Our Intro to Rock 102 course coming up 7/8 September will address all of these objectives. Check it out and sign up here:

Start your outdoor climbing journey with an introduction to technical systems and movement on rock. Over two days, we’ll hone skills necessary to safely climb on top rope outdoors. By the end of the course, we’ll have you moving more confidently and safely over rock, with solid rope systems in p...

08/11/2024

Give this rare species a fighting chance. Don't ride any of the closed trails please!

Toad UPDATE: Thursday 8th. Teapot, all of Vanilla, Trestle, Railroad and Allen Lake road are clear of the Western toad migration. Trails still seeing thousands of toads is Upper and Lower Blue Collar where the main body of the migration is happening. We ask trail users to avoid using any of Blue Collar and surrounding roads around that migration area. The toads are also on eastern end of Shortline and approaching the Trent River Main service road. All of the West side of the network including Nikkei mountain and the Eastern block is clear of toads.
We have placed bright and obvious signage on the busy trails asking trail users to refrain from using that trail ahead. There are daily updated maps and information boards at the entrance points of the trail network which show the exact locations of the toad migration now, avoid the red zone marked in the maps.
Please share this post and spread the word.
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07/31/2024

Using a map and compass are foundational skills that every backcountry traveller should have. GPS Navigation is great, but don’t let it be your only navigation source and don't be lulled into thinking that it is all you need! Be prepared & deepen your skill sets with Wilderness Navigation level 1 and level 2 courses taught by our professional and highly experienced ACMG guides. Check them out on our hikevancouverisland.com website.