The North Face Summit Snow Basecamp

Words by William Fraser

The North Face Summit Snow Basecamp excursion at Baldface Valhalla was unlike anything this street boarder had ever seen. The experience sat within 21,500 acres of terrain, measuring roughly 8,000 feet of elevation. It was expansive, and this might sound weird, but it made me proud to be Canadian.

Photo William Fraser

It began with a half-day information session hosted by two renowned speakers: John Buffery (AKA Buff) and Jeff Pensiero (AKA JP). Buff is a snow science expert, guide, and co-founder of Baldface. Early in his career, he was the personal guide to the legend Craig Kelly. JP is the founder of Baldface and an inspiring and infectious speaker. He can do just about anything, refuses to take no for an answer, and pulls others on board. Everywhere he went, people would follow, trying to get some time with him.

After the talk, we jumped on a 30-minute long bus ride to Whitewater for a half day of boarding and community engagement. There were about 50 of us mobbing side hits in the sun. Going up the lift, a little shredder – trying to keep his cool – shared his biggest airs and the folklore of the mountain: “I heard someone 720’d off that rock this year.”

Photo William Fraser

The North Face generously fed the mountain that day, providing burgers and poutine for everyone. The line-up was long, but you could overhear people saying, “Crazy that they are doing this!,” or, “This is awesome!,” or my personal favourite, “The free lunch is why I came today.”

The following days shifted from the town to the backcountry. This is where we tested out the Summit Series gear. During those days, the snow conditions were not ideal, but the vibes were high, and the guides relentlessly searched for powder.

Photo William Fraser

We rolled back into base camp after a long day, passing a small jump line and a snow volcano before entering a cluster of little yellow tents, each outfitted with Summit Series gear: an 800-fill Pro sleeping bag, reasonably comfortable sleeping mats (for the backcountry—lol), and a Himalayan suit. We later dubbed it the Himmy, a bright yellow suit that increases your main character energy by at least one.

Photo Dustin Lalik

That night we enjoyed each other’s company, drank from the cocktail bar, and ate really well: tomato soup and grilled cheese for a snack, and pesto penne and chicken skewers for dinner. Strong fuel for the late-night micro jib session on a log.

Photo Dustin Lalik

Tucking in that night, we slept on layer after layer of puffy fabric, prepping to do it all again. It was rinse and repeat in the morning: eat some good food, pile into the snowcats, plug into the AUX, and search for good snow.

The best lap was the last. A top-to-bottom run that ended in a sofa carved from snow where we hung out and pulled tarot cards.

Making our way out that day, there was a mix of relief and hesitation. The backcountry is great, but it’s also hard. Despite how picture-perfect everything was, there is still the reality of being two hours away from everything. Lying on your back and staring up at the stars, however, makes returning to the concrete jungle hard.

Photo Dustin Lalik

As the trip came to an end, I tried to put it all into perspective, so I pulled out my phone, which hadn’t had service for two days, and wrote this list of takeaways:

1. The backcountry is beautiful. It offers time to reevaluate who you are, where you are, and what you want. It lets you slow down, look around, and be part of the natural world again.
   

2. The Summit Series product is incredibly well-made. I usually ride at max a 10K waterproof setup and avoid sitting in the snow at all costs. On this trip, I was literally lying in the snow.
   

3. Baldface is one of the best places in the world to snowboard. The terrain is breathtaking and seemingly limitless. JP and Buff are geniuses, and I’m grateful to have met them. They make you want to be better at what you do and take chances on becoming who you are.
   

4. The North Face, as a brand, is mad respectable. The people involved in this event genuinely care. They want to contribute to the industry in healthy, meaningful ways. They believe in protecting outdoor communities and aren’t solely driven by the bottom line.

Photo William Fraser

For more information on the The North Face Summit Series, visit https://www.thenorthface.com/en-ca.