The story starts with Al and Marion Schaffer, life-long adventurers who share a love for skiing, a playful spirit and a passion for the mountains. They are business owners, parents and partners, and were a few of the first guides in Canada when they stumbled upon the Blanket Glacier Chalet.
When the Schaffers found the lodge in 1986, it was only three years old, built by a heli-guide who just wanted a retreat of his own. It was nothing more than cozy little A-frame, nestled in the Monashee Mountains outside of Revelstoke at the base of the Blanket Glacier, surrounded by Dr.Suess-like trees and an untapped promise of magic and opportunity. The Schaffers initially rented it for their own guided trips, but in 1986, purchased the Chalet to use for friends, family and guests. It was that same year Marty their son arrived, and so the two became three, and they added one more to the adventurous little family.
At first, the Schaffers ran telemark ski camp out of the lodge, often cramming at least 20 people between its wood frame, people sleeping on cots on the floor, scores of wet layers drying on rafters above the wood burner. Meals were Bring Your Own Food, and everyone pitched in with the cooking, cleaning, and countless other chores the chalet demanded. Often, the snow was so deep it would take hours just to dig out and make it across the lake to Caribou Ridge. It wasn’t fancy, it was rustic and homely, a little snow globe of skiing perfection for anyone who could brave the outhouse, tolerate some snoring and would prefer no reception or internet.
As the years went by and the business continued, Marty spent a lot of time at the lodge. He was guiding his parents guests and learned all the nooks and cranny’s of the terrain the in tenure. He learned all the nooks and cranny’s of the lodge too, it’s charm with its quirks. At 23, he became a certified ACMG ski guide, and in 2012 started Canadian Powder Guiding, CAPOW for short. He started to grow his own enterprise, providing camps, avalanche education and private guiding to skiers and splitboarders, and eventually focused on the Blanket Glacier Chalet as a new opportunity.
Marty transitioned the lodge into a formal guided operation, expanding the lodge, improving the structure, and making it more comfortable for guests. He then started providing 4-5 day camps as a package, bringing in skiers from near and far, with some of the best professional skiers in the world gracing it’s slopes and pillows. Need proof? Check out the walls of the outhouse for signed posters from the pro’s.
As a guiding company, CAPOW’s spirit and brand is grounded in fostering community, providing an approachable, welcoming environment to learn, and offering exceptional backcountry skiing experiences.
Come ski with us.