Maps & Safety

Here you’ll find a collection of maps and resources to help make your trip into the backcountry safe & successful.

Area Maps

Always Ride Within Your Limits

These maps are intended to inform users of the general locations of the first aid caches as well as known avalanche paths. This area has complex terrain features and requires recreation users to know how to “read” the terrain and snow. This map is not intended to replace knowledge and experience of snow behaviour and local terrain. Decisions to travel on snow should be based on the observed conditions at the time of travel. Always check the avalanche conditions before going out, website: http://www.avalanche.ca/ Or call 1-800- 667-1105

Download Basic Map >

Download Full Area Map >

Download KMZ file Here

This file is for information purposes only and not intended for navigational use.

DOWNLOAD

Forecast & Safety

Useful links to keep you safe out there. Always go with a buddy and know the terrain you are riding in.

Mountain Forecast

2213 meters, Brandywine Peak

1500 meters, Brandywine Bowl

500 meters, Parking lot

Clear Dark Skies

Avalanche Forecast provided by Avalanche Canada

View Forecast >

Safety – Radios

The Black Tusk Snowmobile Club (“BTSC”) in Squamish has recently started to monitor ch16 for Walkie Talkies.
Please note, this is different than the marine Ch 16.
A marine VHF radio will not work as described below.

PMSC appreciates the initiative of the BTSC and thinks that this is a great idea. Accordingly, we have now commenced to monitor Channel 16 at the booth.

We are talking about handheld radios that communicate using the FRS or GMRS channels. This could be a BCA radio or another generic one. Portable VHF radio (ie Baofeng) also has the capability to communicate on Ch 16. Please check out the following link if you need more info about this.

https://backcountryaccess.com/en-ca/blog/p/two-way-radios-2-0-landscape-changing

Please note, these radios are line of sight communicators. They work great, but have limitations. So chances are if you need help, you will be too far away to actually reach the booth.

But if others are monitoring the same channel, then your distress call may have been heard and they can help relay the message to others.

The main objective is NOT to communicate with the Booth, but to have others listening for distress calls when people are in need!

And if we can get lots of people monitoring Ch16, when help is needed, help will be on the way!

Others brands are out there – Motorola, Kenwood etc – all very similar.

If you are using the BCA radio, set your radio up for your local group, and consider setting your ‘E’ (for Emergency) setting to channel 16 (no privacy code!). If someone in your group is in need, a quick switch of the dial and you can send out a distress call. However, monitoring ch 16 at the same time is not possible.

If you are using a Baofeng VHF radio (or similar), you maybe able to monitor 2 channels at the same time. Set the first to be your local group channel, and the secondary to channel 16 (freq 462.575 MGz). A quick switch to the ‘B’ channel, and you may be able to reach someone.
Note: Baofeng radios are not expensive, and are programmable to specific channels.

This way if someone needs help (for whatever reason – Avi, stuck in creek etc), you may hear the shout out and be able to actually respond. If you are too far away to physically respond, maybe you can help relay the distress call to others that can!

Note: While on Powder Mountain, you can hear people on Whistler and Blackcomb! you may even be able to hear people on Brohm Ridge!

Thus monitoring Channel 16 may be a life saver!

Note: The more people that can monitor a second frequency (ie ch16) the better it will be!

These radios are available at our Sponsors. Consider it, the right set up may help save a life someday. Like any tool, you need to practice and know how to use it!

Trail Etiquette

Please note that we share the trail with others. Some of these people are not as comfortable on a sled as you may be. Some have never ridden a sled before. Thus please be considerate of others.

Some courtesy rules to follow:

Slow down when passing others
Stay on the right side of the trail when coming to a turn
Give trail groomers the right of way
Never pass the groomer on the trail unless the operator waves you on.
The Groomer will win all the time.
Travel at a safe speed, whoops or no whoops
Whoops will happen, reduce your speed
When starting up, try to refrain from pinning it. The ice shower behind you hurts
Slow down when passing a parked snowmobile on the trail.
If you’re stopping along the trail, pull the sled as far off the trail to the right as possible.
Don’t stop near curves.
Don’t stop near the Beacon Checker, you mess it up for the next person!
To help maintain our trail, try to keep a steady speed. Especially when it is warm out. Pinning the throttle will make the whoops come that much faster!