Night before
Arrive in Revelstoke
The “Blanket,” as locals and loyalists affectionately call it, is a classic backcountry lodge that Al and Marion Schaffer bought back in 1986. Now, their son Marty Schaffer—owner of CAPOW Guiding—runs the show. We lovingly dub it the “eh-frame” because, well, it’s Canada and we love a good pun. Just a quick flight gets you to some of the deepest powder in the world, and this little lodge that could keeps delivering the best things in life: epic powder, great friends, and high-fives year after year.
“NOT a cabin in the woods. Chalets have three large, comfortable and clean outhouses.” — Al Schaffer
And he’s not kidding. The Blanket is a cozy A-frame chalet in the Monashee Mountains. It’s a snug little triangle of fun where we fit 14 ski enthusiasts, with a mix of private rooms and dorm-style setups. The main level has a big dining table, a kitchen for culinary magic, and a hangout zone…guests sleep upstairs. Plus, we’ve got a sauna to melt away those powder-pummeled muscles.
The Blanket has some of the best tree skiing in the world, right outside our door. We’ve got options in every direction, so you’ll find great snow no matter the season. In winter, dive into playful pow and features, and the Monashees’ legendary terrain. Come spring, enjoy sunny glacier runs and extra long ski days, ending with apres on the deck. It’s adult adventure camp.
Owned and run by Marty Schaffer, CAPOW is the crew you want on your side in the backcountry. Our ACMG certified guides are not just pros—they’re your new best friends, stoked to show you the ropes or take you to the ultimate powder zones. Ever dreamed of shredding with Andrew McNab or split boarding with Adam Zok? If you’re lucky, you just might! We’re here to make sure your trip is not only safe and educational but also the best ski adventure you’ve ever had.
“People come for the skiing, but remember the food” Marty Schaffer, CAPOW Owner
We’re big on great food, or what we call CAPOW Chow. We keep it local with meat from a Revelstoke farm and other ingredients sourced nearby. Our chefs, pros at backcountry cooking, whip up two breakfasts, a pack lunch, après (2 kegs of beer included), dinner and dessert on the daily. We brew local coffee from Dose, bake our own bread, and serve up wholesome, tasty meals. Oh, and our cookies? Legendary.
The Blanket is perfectly situated to town. Guests usually arrive a day or two prior to their trip, and either stay with us in the CAPOW House, or somewhere in Revelstoke. The first day of your trip, we meet in the morning at 7AM and fly from the Heli Staging area to the Blanket. It’s only an 8-minute flight!
Group dynamics and vibe are so key in the backcountry. We excel in connecting the right environment for your ability, personality and interests. Think of us like the backcountry matchmakers; hook it up with the right guide, crew and direction for your experience. We’ve developed a way for you to communicate using your hands. Be honest and use this format to communicate your vibe.
Experience: You have a day or two out touring with friends but feel new and intimidated with 1) the term “complex terrain” 2) Transitions 3) multi peak day 4) Your outfit
Fitness: Love the outdoors, but wish you could get out more. A full day is fine, but prefer lots of snack breaks
Shredability: Strong intermediate. Can shred at least 85% of inbounds terrain at your local resort.
Experience: Completed either an Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 course or been guided backcountry skiing before. Generally proficient and confident with mountain travel. Limited experience in complex terrain, but excited to #exploremore
Fitness: Bring on a big day, but let’s talk the whole way. There’s more to life then panting for air.
Shredability: Advanced. Will shred all terrain and comfortable in changing snow conditions
Experience: You’ve been out there doing this for years maybe even completed an AST 2. You own an ice axe and aren’t afraid to use it.
Fitness: So you’re fit, and you identify yourself as such. You’re looking for big days and big vert.
Shredability: Humility is good but you can ski any terrain and make it look good.
Experience: Years of backcountry touring in complex terrain and a credible level of avalanche training. More-than-proficient with technical equipment: ice axe, crampons, roping up on a glacier.
Fitness: You think you can actually hang with Greg Hill?… the guy that ski toured 2 million vertical in a season.
Shredability: Rappel into a couloir or 10,000+ ft days – BRING IT
Peace Sign
Shaka Bra
Devil Horns
Air GuitarArrive in Revelstoke
Meet at Revelstoke Airport. Caravan to staging
Flights in and out of Chalet
Breakfast inside Chalet. Lunch is packed for you.
Avalanche training then hit the trail
Dinner
Breakfast with the backcountry PROcess (Update in Avalanche and Weather Conditions)
Full day, 2-5 runs (700-3000m vertical)
You bet! Scroll through all available dates below.
Beyond a really good time? ... Awesome 10 minute heli ride to and from the Chalet with an A-Star. Lunch packed for you everyday. Avalanche safety training. All home cooked meals which includes a 2 course breakfast, prepared lunch (including SNACKS), Appies when you first get back. Large dinner - and if you're nice to the chef, DESSERT.. 2 kegs of mt Begbie beer = 2-4 pints a night. Demo set ups ~ K2 skis on dynafit demo tracks or Weston split boards. Lodging includes all bedding.
A positive attitude and willingness to learn. Don’t leave home without it! // You will need to provide your own accommodation the night prior and transport to and from Revelstoke, which includes a 20min drive south of Revy to our staging area. Bring any additional alcoholic beverages that you fancy. We have a sweet sauna, if you bring a swimsuit is up to your comfort level. You will need all your own ski touring gear and avalanche safety equipment. Gratuity is not included. We do not provide travel and/or cancelation insurance.
You might just find a new best friend. Yes, we’re guides, but we’re not going to hold ourselves higher than everyone else. More than anything, we’re mentors. We think safety should be fun, cool and the first priority of the ever-growing community of backcountry enthusiasts. It is our prerogative to communicate from the start to the end of the day. We’re going shredding and we’ll let ya know whats up, there’s a lot to learn from that. If you’re not into this, we’re not into you…the backcountry is our home, passion and arena to bring the best out of you. Lets get deep
Y-E-S. There is inherent risk in the activities we are partaking in. We are exposed to a remote and uncontrolled environment. It is vital to us that you understand what you are getting yourselves into. We use a waiver for you to understand these risks, use this document as a way to communicate to us that you understand. Expect to see a copy upon booking. We will have a fresh waiver for you to sign the first day. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions – info@capow.ca
First off, no one is getting left behind. secondly you’re probably faster then you think. We’re here to empower you, and cater to all abilities. CAPOW excels at dynacmis, we do everything we can to get like minded people together and make sure you’re in the right trip before we even start. We will give options for those that want to go home early. Our terrain works really well for that. We tailor to any ability: strong skiers are going to tackle objectives through mentorship, newer skiers are going to differentiate walk-mode from ow-mode.
The Caposse comes with years of experience both traveling in the big mountains and some with filming with the best skiers in the world…some trips even have the best skiers in the world. Some of our trips will get into big complex terrain given group ability and conditions. We trust that you keep all shredding within your ability and will get into some rad stuff. We do a really good job at combining like minded people together. You cant expect every trip to be super rad, some camps are designed specifically for higher levels.
This all depends on vibe. We will cater to where the group is at or the vibe we set for a camp. Length of runs depends on conditions, we’ll focus our attention on skiing the best snow each day. 95% of our skiing is all above the Chalet so we end each day with a ski home. A softer day would be 500-700m (1500-2000ft) a big day would be 1500-3000m ( 6,000-10,000ft). We do anywhere from 2-5 runs a day.
We believe in coaching you on the gear you own. It is a requirement to have all your safety gear to the highest standards and touring equipment in good working order. If you do not have the requirement we recommend renting from www.revelstokepowderrentals.com based in downtown revy. We will have K2 skis to demo with dynafit bindings along with a few fun shaped K2 splitboards…and lodge noboards. If you show up with inadequate or malfunctioning (we will check prior to skiing) safety equipment we will have BCA gear for you to demo.
Common, of course you are…encouraged even. Each trip we have a number of splitboarders. Make sure you have any extra bolts or parts specific for your set up.
Early morning in Revelstoke
For emergencies only - Have them contact Sarah, our base manager ~ Info@capow.ca. She will contact us via radio and you can call out with our sat phone. We have our radio on 24/7.
Through Lifestyle Travel Insurance Services. It is custom to each person and trip. Follow this link to start the process. http://www.lifestylefinancial.ca/index.php/travelinsurance/blanket-glacier-chalet
YES. Food is a very important part of this trip. If you have a special request let us know! Let us know early and communicate with our chef. You can't decide to change your diet once you’re up there or choose to change your diet because those cinnamon buns look aaaamazing. We have to fly everything up, so if you can't just change because you feel like it. You will fill out a dietary request when you book, we will take it seriously
Valley Retreat is at - 3250 Airport Way, Revelstoke, BC - Transportation to and from the staging area is up to you. Get yourself to Revelstoke the night before the trip. Kelowna is a 2.5hr drive from the airport and the most reliable. There is a shuttle service, The stoke shuttle with trips daily in the winter season. Calgary and Spokane are also options, just further away. Heli flights out of the Chalet are planned for first thing in the morning on the final day, but weather can delay these flights. Do not plan a mid afternoon flight out of Kelowna for your way home.
In the backcountry, FREERIDE! At the Chalet we have a two hole, clean and comfortable outhouse. There is an inside pee toilet….phew.
If you’d like to cuddle up with someone (predetermined) let us know. We will arrange our sleeping arrangement based on who shows up. We have a mix of single and double beds.
Everynight we have the sauna going. We have water on the wood stove that heats up for a shower. Just because our terrain isn’t groomed, doesn’t mean you can't be.
Yes... but don't bring things like laptops? Theres no wifi, and you're not going to get any work done up there!
Here's the deal, with the demand to get into the Blanket we've created a program to honour our guests that have been with us before. We will check in with them before we open new bookings. BUT with that being said give us a shout and get on our waiting list!!
We understand you’ve had something big come up (changed your millennial mind, you got bad frostbite, your loved one is making you go to your cousin's wedding) but we’ve saved you a spot. We can't just give you your money back. Here are your options // 1) Buy cancelation insurance, this makes it easy for everyone // 2) Excluding your non-refundable deposit, any amounts paid can be refunded or applied as credit at your discretion if you are making the cancelation 60 days or more in advance of the 1stday of the trip. // 3) If you are unable to attend a trip and notify us 14 days or less prior to the start of the trip, CAPOW guiding has the right to keep full payment. 4)If you are unable to attend a trip and are able to fill with a substitute to fill your space, DO THAT!!
Its up to you fill the Chalet, but we'll help with the pestering process. We will send individual booking links once the group leader puts the crew together
We run camps that are open for individual bookings, but if you want to rent the whole chalet filling 12 spots is up to you. OR pay the 12 person min price.
Heck yes! We require a non-refundable 25% deposit before Sept 1st anyway to hold your spot. Full payment is due after Sept 1st of the year of trip.
There is no wifi… you’re welcome.
Look no further, you are not our demographic
Nice try... NO