MOUNTAIN SKILLS ACADEMY & ADVENTURES
Our local certified guides ensure our guests have a safe, challenging, and fulfilling experience. Our aim is to exceed our clients expectations by bringing years of local knowledge, careful selection of terrain/environment, and exceptional client care. After all, our guest’s satisfaction is a matter of professional pride.
ADVENTURES BELOW...

BACKCOUNTRY SKI & SPLITBOARDING
Get your first taste of the backcountry with a professional Mountain Skills Academy guide who can show you the basics. Tour out of the resort and into the Whistler Blackcomb backcountry for the freshest lines.

ICE CLIMBING
Whether you have years of ice climbing experience or have never climbed before this tour is for you! Experience the thrill of ice climbing tours while you move safely up a frozen waterfall using ice axes and crampons. No climbing experience is required, we’ll show you how.

BACKCOUNTRY SNOWSHOEING
Step into a winter wonderland on amazing trails of old-growth forests with ancient cedars in geologically interesting landscapes. Let us take you on a rejuvenating excursion to our favourite areas and experience a unique atmosphere of natural beauty at a relaxing and enjoyable pace.

ROCK CLIMBING
We guide outdoor rock climbing for adults, youth, beginners, and experienced climbers alike. Our professional guides set up everything for you. We have a wide variety of climbing crags to choose from in Whistler and Squamish, British Columbia.

VIA FERRATA
Via Ferrata (or “klettersteig” in German-speaking nations) is a relatively young pursuit here in North America. But in Europe, its history dates back over a century. While the first via ferrata routes were built to access popular mountain summits more easily, most protected routes in the Alps were a result of military construction.

WILDERNESS HIKING
Let us take you on a rejuvenating excursion to our favourite areas and experience a unique atmosphere of natural beauty at a relaxing and enjoyable pace. Gain the backcountry through a network of hiking trails featuring iconic viewpoints, such as surreal turquoise lakes, majestic waterfalls, tapestries of wildflowers, meandering meadows, lush forests, and fascinating ecosystems.

THE MSAA EXPERIENCE
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I completed the AST 1 course with April this weekend and loved it. Learned loads in a supportive and relaxed but rigorous environment, and can't wait to get out and... read more practice. April was really articulate, knowledgeable and fun, and the experience with MSA was smooth from start to finish. When I'm ready for AST 2 I'll come knocking again!
3/10/2020 -
I’ve been keen to try splitboarding for a few years now and saw this trip with MSAA and thought it looked ideal.
That proved to be the case, the small... read more group met at the rental shop for a briefing and to pick up the kit that had been hired.
The guide, April, was very informative, friendly and highly professional - she was attentive to the needs of the group and as you’d expect from a mountain professional, she was able to adapt the day according to the conditions and needs of the group.
To get out into the back country and earn the turns was wonderful and with the right kit and instruction it was a lot easier than I had expected to get up the slopes.
Safety was always considered and a lot of knowledge imparted without ever being patronising or overwhelming.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day and will look to do a follow-on course next time I am in the area - thanks
3/05/2020 -
What an amazing experience, our guide Eric was so easy going and helpful. We were pretty nervous going in as we didn't have much experience, luckily it was just... read more myself and my brother and nobody else besides our guide. It was a spectacular day and we made our way up to the peak and then boarded down the beautiful glacier to a breathtaking ice rock.
Eric showed us the basics and then let us have fun, we tried several different variations with the same rope so we were constantly challenged. I will definitely be back again!
Thanks!
2/24/2020 -
The folks who took us around were very kind and helpful and very informative and generous with sharing their knowledge about the land and the plants as well as the... read more nature and the birds.
We didn't see a lot of eagles as it was the end of the season, though we had a great experience in the bush and got to enjoy hot chocolate and some flames of the fire at the end of our walk.
Highly recommended
2/20/2020 -
nature can not be controlled by humans. So, the fact that we saw only 3 eagles is no one's fault.! At all. And I did learn quite... read more a lot about trees, moss, ferns etc. Our guides, Eric and Marcus were very knowledgeable. And very pleasant and helpful. Because it rained for most of the time, the trail was slippery, and Marcus always was watchful, and had a hand to help me, when the passage was difficult.
However, I DO feel the tour was expensive.
2/17/2020 -
Via Ferrata in Squamish was a mind/body challenge with breathtaking views and a fun knowledgeable guide. A great way for non-climbers to get a real feel for mountaineering and see... read more parts of the mountain you don't normally get to experience.
9/15/2020 -
Had a great 2 day intro to alpine rock course with chief guide Eric. He made the experience enjoyable and relaxed, while ensuring we learned all of the appropriate skills.... read more He was great at adapting the lessons for the various skill levels in our group, and made sure everyone was involved and learning. Wouldn’t hesitate to do another course with MSAA
7/20/2020
LET OUR INCREDIBLE GUIDING TEAM SHARE THEIR LOVE FOR THE OUTDOORS!
Our local certified guides ensure our guests have a safe, challenging, and fulfilling experience. Our aim is to exceed our clients expectations by bringing years of local knowledge, careful selection of terrain/environment, and exceptional client care. After all, our guest’s satisfaction is a matter of professional pride.
