December 2, 2003 – Callaghan Backcountry Lodge opened for the winter season on Thursday, November 27th with the best early season conditions the area has seen in years. “We've received over a metre of new snow in the past week, and we are expecting a lot more snow to fall before we open on Thursday,” says Brad Sills, President of Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures, the company that operates Callaghan Backcountry Lodge. “With the colder temperatures, the snow is dry and light and perfect for cross-country skiing.”

New this year, the company will be using a snow coach to transport guests to the lodge from its staging facility at the bottom of the Callaghan Lake Forest Service Road, 13 km south of Whistler Resort. The snow coach, capable of transporting up to fifteen guests at a time, will make accessing the lodge much easier and more comfortable than in past years, when snowmobiles were used as the primary means of transportation. The snow coach is a Ford F-350 crew cab truck that has been customized with a heated passenger pod that can seat up to ten guests. The trucks wheels have been replaced with rubber tracks, making it possible for the truck to travel on groomed roads and trails. The 22 km trip to the lodge is expected to take between 45 minutes to 1 hour in the snow coach, approximately the same time that it would take using snowmobiles, and more than twice as fast as a typical snowcat.

Callaghan Backcountry Lodge caters to comfort-conscious outdoor and nature enthusiasts from around the globe. The 5,000 square foot lodge features a live-in Chef, relaxing lounge area, commercial kitchen, elegant dining room, full plumbing, and comfortable accommodation for up to 16 guests in 8 private rooms. While at the lodge guests can enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing or guided alpine ski and snowboard touring adventures.

For more information on Callaghan Backcountry Lodge, or to make a reservation, phone 604.938.0616 or visit www.callaghancountry.com.