Playwest

05/07/2024

Huge thanks to Columbia Valley Search and Rescue (CVSAR) for all their efforts! Super grateful to have them helping those in need. 👍🏻🤘🏻

05/07/2024

GUIDED HIKES!
5 Different trips to choose from!!!
1. The Signature Day Hike! Explore the incredible Canadian Rockies and Purcell Mountains on these full day hikes. We hit all the local classics. We even include a lunch!!! 🏔
2. Mountain Sunsets & Savoury FUNdue...yes, a Swiss style fondue on top of a mountain while watching the sunset...🙋🏻‍♀️
3. The Wild Wetlands...visit this incredibly important ecosystem with the intention of viewing a wide variety of wildlife. A great family friendly half day hike. 🐢🐦🦅
4. Side x Sides & Summits!!! The ultimate adventure...ride in SXS's most of the way and hike an incredible ridge all while under the watchful eye of Mt. Nelson!
5. The Lookout - The name says it all...and the views back it up. A great half day program
Head over to playwest.ca for details or DM us here. Lets adventure... and .

29/06/2024

21/06/2024

Big thank you to Summit Trail Makers Society for all the hard volunteer work! Looks like Assiniboine Lake is ready!

01/06/2024

Hello fellow hikers! This incredible organization needs your help. See the post below for more info! Summit Trail Makers Society

Trail Captains Wanted -
STMS maintains 11 trails in the Columbia Valley in partnership with RSTBC. In order to do this we rely on teams of volunteers to carry out approximately three work bees per trail each season. This includes the first scouting mission of the season where the trail is checked out, sign in boxes and trail counters are installed and one at the end of the season to remove these items. There is also another work bee that goes in to clear trails and carry out any maintenance required. Each trail has a captain who oversees these work bees and helps to champion the trail, working with our Director of Trail Captains.
STMS is currently looking to expand our trail network and we also have some long standing Captains who are looking to retire. As such, we need some new Captains to join the Society this season to prepare for new and exciting things in the 2025 season. If you love hiking and are interested in joining STMS in this capacity, please reach out either by DM or email ([email protected])

.valley.chamber

29/05/2024

Are you coming to Invermere-Panorama or Radium Hot Springs and the Columbia Valley? Craving a mountain escape? Adventure awaits any day of the week!
Dive into the beauty of the Canadian Rockies with Playwest Mountain Experiences! With daily half-day and full-day hikes, you can choose your adventure any day. Reserve your spot today and turn your vacation into a unforgettable adventure! 🏞️🥾✨ "

Playwest Mountain Experiences offers guided hikes in the Canadian Rockies and Columbia mountains. We

14/05/2024

Another amazing day in the Columbia Valley!
Our wonder guide took our new friends Teressa and Shawn on our Wild Wetlands Adventure yesterday.
Now is a great time to explore this important ecosystem. The spring migration is in full swing and is well worth a visit.
Check it out in our bio!

12/05/2024

Had another banger day in the Columbia Valley with these 2 guests!
Although the trails were busy we took it in stride with great conversations and lots of stories along with the odd laugh.

09/05/2024

Our annual Wings ramble over the Kootenay River to Dog Lake was spectacular today!
Blessed with blue skies and snow capped peaks this group was a riot. Thanks to the crew and to for the opportunity! national.park is an underestimated gem…you should@probably check it out…😉

03/05/2024

***ANNOUNCEMENT!***
After the success of our State of the Snowpack (S.O.T.S) this year, Playwest and thought we should keep the good times rolling!
Introducing "Mountain Mixers"- A Summit Speakers Series!🤘 Similar to the S.O.T.S, our aim is to get our mountain community together, share stories, and provide more value to our Columbia Valley family.
These free events will be a great opportunity for like minded folks to meet each other. Our friends from will be there to answer questions about the great work they do for the valley as well as membership sales.
Playwest will have trip reports, tips & tricks for hiking and backpacking and we will have exciting featured presenters, like and many more.
will host our first instalment on May 23 at 6:30pm. Come on by!

30/04/2024

Have you always wanted to go hiking but aren't to sure where to start??? ⁠⁠
Playwest has you covered! We are introducing our "Tuesday Night Treks" - An Intro to Hiking. This series is designed to give you the hiking basics and help build your confidence. ⁠May 28, June 4, 11 & 18th. ⁠⁠
On this 4 week series you will learn what to pack, how to plan a hiking trip, how to deal with animal encounters, some movement tips & trick and so much more! All while we explore our beautiful . ⁠⁠
So if you have been wondering what all this hype about hiking is and want to start out right, join our professionally certified ACMG Hiking guides and set yourself up for success! ⁠

25/04/2024

This is Bev…
Bev introduced us to an idea…
The Art of the Possible…
Check out our latest blog where we explore Bev’s journey of “Embracing Art of the Possible”
Thanks Bev, we are so much better for this idea!
https://playwest.ca/2190-2/

24/04/2024

Did you know? The Village of Radium is home to the world-famous Columbia Wetlands, which stretches 150 km from Canal Flats to Golden.

It's the perfect spot to explore the wildlife that calls the wetlands home.

From the Wild Wetlands Adventure with Playwest to getting out on your own, find all the ways to experience the Wetlands here: https://www.radiumhotsprings.com/things-to-do/columbia-wetlands/

📷 : Playwest

19/04/2024

Hiking season is here!
This year we are making it easier...much easier for you to book a hiking adventure with this summer. We will have a set schedule with a variety of different trip options for our Half-Day and Signature Full Day trips.
If you're interested in dates for any of our other programs please drop us a line and we would be happy to help you.
See you out on the trails!

13/04/2024

Have you ever had a fondue?
How about a fondue on the top of a mountain???🧀🥖🏔️
Well…we do that…yep…you heard that right!
Our “Mountain Sunsets & Savoury Fondue” program is one for the books. Date night? Proposal? Anniversary? Ladies night? Or add a fondue to your Signature Day Hike!
https://playwest.ca/half-day-hikes/sunsets-fondue/
Or DM us if you’re curious…

01/04/2024

***ANNOUNCEMENT***
STATE OF THE SNOWPACK WRAP UP SHINDIG...THURS APRIL 4TH - 6:00pm
Join us for the last State of the Snowpack and help raise funds for
*$5.00 Beers - Care of
*$10.00 Burgs - Care of Lucas
*$8.00 Brats - Care of Konigs/Playwest
*2.00 Pop/Bubly/H2)
*Cash for 50/50 draw & prize table
***ALL MONEY RAISED GOES TO CVSAR***

Like, Share & Come hang out with like minded mountain folk!

24/03/2024

Solitude isn’t as elusive as you think…
Booking trips in “solitude” now…😉
Playwest.ca/multi-day-hikes/purcell-lakes-adventure/

15/03/2024

This is pretty real. Take the messaging seriously…mountains aren’t going anywhere…stick to non-avalanche terrain.

Not quite sure people are understanding yet. It's not the time to be in any avalanche terrain. Don't do it. This is a big spring cycle with numerous dangerous weaknesses within the snowpack. Until there is a major change in the weather, returning us to less hazardous conditions it's not worth going....

05/03/2024

"Meet a Playwest Guide Monday"
Introducing Brodie! Brodie has been guiding for Playwest for several years now and is an invaluable member of the Playwest team.
Brodie is born and raised in the Columbia valley and calls Invermere his home. At a young age Brodie started hiking and skiing in the Purcell mountains and has been addicted ever since. Brodie is a Ski and Hiking guide with the ACMG and a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association.
You’ll find a smile on Brodies face whenever he is in the mountains sharing his love for the outdoors. Always laughing, always professional and always ready to help!
Thanks for all that you do, for all the laughs and your love of the mountains!

27/02/2024

We have the best lunch spots…😉
📸

23/02/2024

Chris, owner of Playwest, is stoked to be a proud member of the Columbia Valley Search and Rescue (CVSAR) team and was the "Meet a Member" for this month! 🤘

We are delighted to bring you this months Meet-A-Member; the capable and entertaining Chris Skinner.
Since joining three years ago, Chris has been focused on Ground Search and Rescue with a specialty in Avalanche Rescue. Chris’s charismatic character is a pleasure to work with and when a job needs to get done, you know he’ll make it happen.
When not volunteering with CVSAR, Chris is the owner and operator of Playwest Mountain Experiences , where he offers guided hikes, backpacking trips and Avalanche Skills Training courses. In his spare time you can find him hiking, backcountry skiing, enjoying good coffee and the occasional brew 🍻.

Thank you Chris for your great energy and your continued dedication to CVSAR.

11/02/2024

Another great State of the Snowpack Thurs!
Thanks to everyone that came out and to our presenters. A very special thank you to for hosting! We sure do appreciate you guys!
I also want to thank all of our sponsors! As always your support means a lot and we are so happy that you contribute to this community building event! 🤘🏻
Also a special thanks to from for helping out with the raffle ticket sales and just being a rad human! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
See you in March, on the 7th. Mark it in your Calendars!

08/02/2024

vibes last summer…

16/01/2024

It’s simple really…

12/01/2024

We are super excited for our friends at Summit Trail Makers Society for launching there new website! Congratulations👍🏻
If your not familiar with the STMS group they are a volunteer organization that “promotes safe sustainable hiking experiences by assisting in development and maintenance of hiking trails in the Upper Columbia Valley region”

Give this group a follow and better yet support them by becoming a member…it’s only $15!

Thanks Summit Trail Makers Society for all that you do for our area trails! We are super grateful. 🙏

Our new and improved website is Live!!
A big thank you to Chris and Joe for all the hard work they have put into this project, along with everyone who helped along the way.
Head over and check it out! While you are there don’t forget to purchase your 2024 STMS membership.

https://summittrailmakers.ca/

03/01/2024

Our next S.O.T.S (State of the Snowpack) is TOMORROW NIGHT!
That snuck up quick! While there hasn’t really been big changes in the snowpack since our last chat, there some productive things to talk.
Skinner from Playwest will present a “near miss” story and discuss the idea of “spacial variability”.
Brodie Smith will shed some on light on inversions and how this can impact the snowpack as well as where our donations are going to.
Our friends at forecasting is going to chat about ski cutting and how it can be used as a method of testing slopes etc.
Lots of great stuff to discuss and we hope to see you there!!!

02/01/2024

LAST AST DATES OF THE 2024 SEASON!!!🤘❄
We have 1 more AST-1 course available Feb 10-11. Even though the season isn’t shaping up the way everyone was hoping, it is even more of a reason to take an AST-1!🤔
Learn how stay safe this winter…🤘🏻
Book Now!
Whats included?
Pre-course online learning
2 Days in the field
Companion Rescue Techniques
Avalanche Hazard Recognition
Snowpack Layering & Avalanche Formation
Route Planning and Decision-Making
DM if you have any questions.