Baldface

Baldface Lodge is a "bucket list once in a lifetime trip" that is so good you have to explain to your family why you need to keep going back. Just wrapped up 11th trip to my favorite winter getaway. The terrain, staff, food, lodge life, safety are all awesome. Looking forward to 2025

The best trip I have ever had! There are 3 snow cats that hold 12 people each. So if you fill one up its all your buddies. We had 8 friends and 4 people that we didn't know and they were all super cool, 2 are actually coming with us again next year. Once you go once you cant stop!

Baldface Lodge is a "bucket list once in a lifetime trip" that is so good you have to explain to your family why you need to keep going back. 2022 was my first year back in five years but 9th trip in total. The terrain, staff, food, lodge life, safety are all 5 stars. They have really grown into a world class operation over the last 15 or so years and I hope to be back again next year.

My husband and I spent 5 days at Baldface Lodge in Nelson, BC in February, 2007. He is an experienced snowboarder, I am intermediate and was a bit out of shape. I had not read over all of the materials, nor had I looked at the website until approximately a month before departure - BIG mistake. I realized too late that Baldface Lodge is a retreat for very serious athletes, not a relaxing, romantic getaway for couples as I had imagined! Due to the very strict reservation and cancellation policy (full non-refundable payment almost a year in advance) I decided to go and make the best of it.||Despite my relative inexperience on a snowboard (I am great on groomed slopes, but terribly inadequate in waist-deep powder, five foot plus drop offs and tight trees) my time at Baldface Lodge was wonderfully relaxing.||First of all, the snow: This is what everyone comes for. I am not the expert, so I won't go into too much detail other than say that if I were a better boarder this would have been heaven. During the time we were there Billabong was also there filming with some of their Big Mountain riders. Truly the boarding is epic. Two sessions daily, morning and afternoon - all slopes accessible via snowcat only.||Second, the accommodations: The Billabong crew were smart and booked the timber frame chalets - unfortunately my husband did not have that foresight and booked the 'lodge rooms' which, although closer to the lodge, are basically shipping containers with two twin beds, a small closet unit and desk and about enough space for one person to stand in the centre of the 'room' and reach their hands out and touch either side. There is no privacy, you can hear the people in the 'room' next to you breathe at night. Bathrooms are communal and showers shared. Having said that, the lodge is gorgeous with a great fireplace, cozy chairs, pool table, ping pong and video games, this is where the party is after a long hard day on the slopes.||Third, the staff: This really is what made Baldface Lodge a wonderful experience even for a not-so-serious boarder like me! The staff was superb - from the chefs preparing DELICIOUS special vegetarian meals and baking fresh cookies for me, to the masseuses giving an impromptu yoga lesson, to the snowcat drivers letting me sit up front in the cab after I decided to 'sit out' a few runs. They went out of their way to accommodate me and deserve every accolade they receive!||Bottom line: This is the PERFECT place for serious snow-sport enthusiasts, but you may want to think twice before spending all that money to bring your less-athletic significant others along!

This place is absolutely stellar in every way. To begin with, you're there for the skiing and you WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! The snow is epic, they have an absolutely insane amount of terrain of every kind and the staff will work their tails off to make sure you get in as much as you are able. I would agree with the previous review however - you must be fit and prepared. This is really not a place for intermediates. From the word go you are going to be thrown into extremely tight, very steep tree lines, you'll either be expected to huck or figure out how to avoid hucking significant cliffs, and the snow is very, very deep. If these conditions excite you, you're going to love it. However, if you've ever said "how do I ski this stuff" when faced with 10" of fluff at Deer Valley, then you may want to consider a different vacation spot as this is the real deal. Red Bull doesn't film here every year 'cause it's mellow folks.||||As to the lodge itself, it is fantastic. Somehow Jeff and his crew built this amazing bastion in 3 months over the summer and made the coziest, warmest and most comfortable spot you can imagine right in the middle of some of the best snow in the world. The rooms are very comfy, mainly dorm style with shared baths. The baths are also pretty institutional but who cares - they're spotless and that's all that matters. The hang out areas are great and the bar is basically the spot around which Baldface revolves. ||||The staff is absolutely top shelf. Everyone from the guides to the maids work as a team to ensure that you are having the time of your life in the most stress free, fun and collegial atmosphere you'll find everywhere. One of my trip mates described it as college with epic pow, 5* food and amazing service. Not bad!!||||My only suggestion is that perhaps they could put soft close hinges on their doors. With a long hard floored hallway the constant opening, closing and automatic slamming of doors going on until 1:00am does get a little old. However, this is a pretty minor complaint for such an immense and complex operation such as the one they're running up there. Just absolutely loved it!!!!!

IT DOES NOT GET BETTER THAN THIS! ABSOLUTE INSANE EXPERIENCE. BUCKET LIST✔🤙 Jeff Pensiero is one hell of a host not to mention the hospitality of his staff is literally unmatched and did I mention the pow?! If you go, first bump homey J after he drops you off at the top of some of the sickest lines you'll ever ride! You guys have created something amazing and you've gained a life time guest! 👏👏👏

Cool but not very welcoming of our Chinese nationality

This little slice of winter heaven is off the charts amazing. The crew, the food, the entire program is an epic lifetime experience. Wild Pine Martin sanctuary is a bonus.

Everything from the check-in, transfer, lodging, meals, and cat skiing was nothing short of a logistical marvel. Each and every staff member seemed to recognize how truly special Baldface is, seemed genuinely happy to be there, and genuinely happy to have each of us guests there. The service and hospitality in each unique phase of the restaurant, the lodging, and the cat skiing operation was exemplary. What Jeff and Paula have built with the help of their amazing staff is a memory that will last me a lifetime. Sasha kept the trains running on time, dealing with 40+ "adults", some of whom may have had a few cocktails (guilty), and all their gear is a testament to her attention to detail and patience. Kirsten amazing bartender, engaging with all the guests, a pleasure to discuss the elements of hospitality with. Our lead guide Jessica exuded competence, confidence, and professionalism on the top of the mountain and on the slope, while also having some great jokes while waiting for the cat. Tail guide Wiggles kept an excited group of snowboarders and skiers focused and paying attention, as appropriate to the seriousness of backcountry skiing/boarding. Mitch our cat driver had the most genuine and sincere smile on his face every time helping us load and unload that was a ray of positivity. To Homey J and the rest of the crew were all so nice and welcoming. It was the best by far of my 5 different Cat/Heli Ski experiences. Thank you Baldface.

Lost my bucket list opportunity. They canceled my trip a little over a week before I was scheduled. They offered me to come a week early... Who can change an international trip with that short of notice? For my inconvenience they offered me 10% off, thanks but that doesn't match up with the inconvenience of changing an entire trip. Also, they didn't help me connect with anyone else that could replace the trip. When I researched other companies there were no other operators in the area with availability or a similar trip. Not only did they cancel but they did it so late I had no other opportunities. To throw salt on the wound, it's going to be a powder day when I was scheduled with them... I would not recommend this company as you cannot count on them to follow through.

It's hard to leave a review, even a five star one, and not feel that I'm short changing this fine establishment. It's like comparing the birth of your first child to the quality of a panini from Panera. First off, the crew, first class all the way. Starting from the kitchen staff, through the guides and the owner, everyone is friendly, helpful, and makes the experience as amazing as possible. The cabins are all set conveniently so they are close to the lodge, but far enough where you feel that you have the mountain to yourself. The food was also plentiful and high quality. We spent almost a week up here, and I don't think I stopped grinning the whole time. Every morning started with a stretch class to loosen up the limbs for the powder. A high end breakfast, and then pack your lunch. Next, you gear up and go up in the cats and shred pow till your legs burn. Some of the turns were made a little harder given the massive erection I had from all the snow. Coming back, you got hot soup, snacks and drinks awaiting you in the lodge. There is a wood fire sauna that was, in my opinion, a must. Just make sure you heat it up, hard. Next, a slide show to recap the awesomeness of the day, and dinner. Bottom line, every day was heaven, and I'm going back. Food, accommodations, and staff were all level 9,000.

I just stumbled upon this again tonight. I went waaaaaaay back in the day, 2003 so my review is probably exceptionally outdated but I'm sure they've improved even more since then. The only slight issue (I'll get this out of the way first) was getting the helicopter ride up to the top of the mountain... there was a little miscommunication, especially in an era before cell phones. We were given vague instructions and where/when to meet the chopper... when we got there, they were gone for the day and that would have been the last flight out. We somehow scrambled and found the helicopter guys, paid them extra to get us up there that night... which they did. I'm so sure they have this dialed in now, so don't even sweat that. The ride up to the top was great, we were greeted warmly. They'd already started dinner so we had some amazing steak. We were there to do some shooting with some pros and they were already having fun (I think playing pool too, if I remember right). We dropped our stuff off at our room. Back then, it was like a bunch of connected train cars to the side of the lodge. It was definitely tight and a little cold, somewhere between camping and a cheaper hotel but I found that to be part of the fun of it. We went back and met with our group and our guide... this little Canadian guy (um, being Canada and all). I'd been riding about 16 seasons by then and obviously the guys were all pros so we kinda half-listened to him (even though he was such a good dude). He asked us, "You guys sure you're ready for this kind of riding? It's a lot different than you probably have done." He told us about the weight back, staying away from tree wells, avalanches, etc. We (over-confidently) nodded, "Yup, we'll be good... thanks!" (Not the case, haha) So in the morning we did the Avalanche beacon training, which was great. I'd never done that before but it's a great thing to learn and it made me feel safer, especially since one of our heroes, Craig Kelly, literally just died in an avalanche a month earlier that year (he was also a guide there at the time, but he died on a different mountain there - they had a nice memorial for him). We hopped in the Snowcat and went to our first run. It was a nice blue sky, amazing day. The guide went first then we followed down pristine powder. WOW... the freedom!! It's amazing to know you can just chuck yourself and not worry about landing on icy snow of a blown-out mountain. (Of course, you can't just huck yourself off a cliff, the guides tell you where those all are.) Now... remember the part about us being "ready"? We weren't, haha. It's a WORKOUT. It's all back leg riding and you have to switch or your legs will be dead. We were all sweating, red in the face, peeling layers of clothes after our first run... the guide was just laughing at us. Amazing, amazing, amazing day. I'm so proud to have been one of the first people here and it's awesome to see it in films now. To this day, I still talk about how this was a once in a lifetime experience. I'm not sure about the rates (they generously comped us because of the shoot, which hopefully started the ball rolling for some exposure) but I'm telling you - it's worth every penny. You'll be one of the .0013% of boarders who'll ever do something like this. If you're on here doing the research... listen to me... seriously, you're already interested - BOOK THE TRIP - NOW!!!!

I know, the scale goes from 1 to 5 stars. But, YELP should allow every YELPer to highlight their personal starriest 5 star. This would be mine. Of all the things I have ever done, the places I have eaten, the vacation destinations I have been to... Of all the 5 star reviews I have written - this is the starriest!!! The first day was the best day of skiing I have ever had in my life (for reference, I went to school in Bozeman, MT for the skiing). And then, the next 3 days got better. When we got off the helicopter at the end of the trip Scott Schmidt was getting on for the next week!!! The staff was a ton of fun, the guides were awesome, the snow was incredible, the bar was stocked, the photographer knew the lines we would be taking. The snow, OMG the snow... some nights I dream about the turns and I wake with tears when I realize I am not there. I love my life, my family, my work, my community... but the lightest fluffiest pow, thigh deep, with bright blue skies overhead is very, very difficult to beat. All in all, I would MOST CERTAINLY go back - hell, I almost didn't leave.

The most epic experience you will have in snow! If you are an avid skier or snowboarder throw this on your bucket list and erase everything else. After you ride Baldface you will have lived a happy life. Had the pleasure of doing a Christmas trip this year and rode nipple deep pow for three days straight. I highly suggest you bring a snorkel and leave the short sticks at home. Absolutely amazing, friendly and fun staff the experience is truly amazing up at 2000m. Can't wait to go back ! #SFD

Food was killer, accommodation was decent, staff was friendly, guides were knowledgeable and patient, the terrain was extensive and varied. I had one of my all-time best runs through a burned out old growth forest. Simply stellar! I even had my first heli ride - very smooth! If you haven't done the remote lodge cat board/ski thing, you're missing out. I even bumped into Travis Rice there...

I went there from the 27th to the 29th of Dec for some skiing and snowboarding with my son Tommy. The service was great for the Heli pick up to the awesome lodge. The food was absolutely awesome and the people there are great. The guides were knowledgeable and very nice. The powder was endless! This place is sooo worth it!!!!! I am going back next year!