ABOUT US

Who We Are. What We Do.

Since 1991 we have been specialists in the mountain disciplines of Backcountry Skiing, Rock climbing, Ice Climbing, Mountaineering, Hiking, Mountain Safety and Mountain Adventures. We are proud of our good reputation and of the true expertise we provide. Our services are divided into the following three categories:

  1. Mountain School: Our mountain school offers the worlds most extensive and comprehensive mountain skills courses. Ours are carefully crafted curriculums that are efficiently delivered to provide each and every student with a strong foundation geared for rapid progression.
  2. Mountain Adventures: We provide mountain based adventures and interpretive tours such as our signature experiences, the Whistler and Squamish Via Ferratas
  3. Guide Service: 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.

Genuine Experts: Integrity, professionalism, experience, innovation and unrivalled expertise sums up our team and our organization. Owned and operated by seasoned IFMGA/ACMG certified Mountain Guides, we are genuine mountain professionals committed to the pursuit of excellence in all the mountain endeavors we provide.

Impeccable safety record: After over 20 years spending time in the mountains with our clients, we are proud to say we uphold an impeccable safety record. Guest safety if always our prime concern. Whatever your passion, ability level, affinity towards snow, ice, rock, or mountain; you can count on us to have a course, an adventure, and a guide for you.

MOUNTAIN SKILLS ACADEMY’S HISTORY

Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures traces its roots back to 1991. At that time the company was called Whistler Alpine Guides Bureau. The idea was to create a European-style guide service in the Coast Mountain Range based out of Whistler. This made a lot of sense, as Whistler was becoming a major tourist destination, even rated the No. 1 resort by American Ski Magazine in 1991.

WAG, as the company was affectionately known, was originally focused on backcountry skiing and avalanche courses. It grew to include ski traverses, ice climbing, and snowshoeing and later developed the summer guide services of mountaineering, rock climbing and Hiking. In 2006 we created and began operating the first Via Ferrata in Western Canada as well as running glacier tours.

Meanwhile, in the Canadian Rockies, the International Guide Bureau (IGB guides) was on a similar path. IGB guides focused on the private guiding of mountaineering, rock and ice climbing and backcountry skiing. IGB guide Eric Dumerac began a company offshoot; Mountain Skills Academy, that focused on its namesake, offering mountain skills. This was met with great success and appeal. Eventually, by 2009 the IGB ceased and the private guiding services were assumed by Mountain Skills Academy.

The mountain guides at MSA succeeded in two important things. They only offered privately guided mountain ventures that were selected for their high quality. As well, they developed a cutting-edge mountain skills program. To this day our program remains the world’s most complete offering of mountain skills and is widely regarded for its quality, customization, breadth and depth.

Finally, in 2015, Whistler Alpine Guides Bureau and Mountain Skills Academy rebranded under the strength of one banner; Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures. This bolsters our capability and our guests will now enjoy an even greater diversity of trips, courses and adventures.

We continue to serve as one of Canada’s leading mountain schools, adventure providers and professional guide services in the Sea to Sky Corridor and beyond.

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