
Mountain Escapes | A Backcountry Podcast
By Mountain Escapes | A Backcountry Podcast
Your host, Brad Harrison, has worked and adventured in remote settings most of his life. He’s owned and operated lodges, operated mountaineering camps and provided avalanche courses. He is the Executive Director of the Backcountry Lodges of BC Association.

Mountain Escapes | A Backcountry Podcast Oct 20, 2021

Mountain Escapes | Episode 12 - Battle Abbey
The BLBCA welcomes you back to another episode of Mountain Escapes. In this episode Brad chats with Roger Laurilla, owner/operator/guide of Battle Abbey, located in the Selkirk Mountains, SW of Golden, BC. This BLBCA member lodge is steeped in history, the founders were none other than Hans Gmoser and Bill Putnam. Roger does a wonderful job communicating how remote and spectacular Battle Abbey really is.

Mountain Escapes | Episode 11 - Ice Creek Lodge
The BLBCA welcomes you back to another episode of Mountain Escapes. In this episode Brad chats with Russell and Courtney Hulbert, owners/operators/guides of Ice Creek Lodge, located in the Valhalla Mountains, near Slocan in BC's West Kootenay region. Ice Creek Lodge really meets the "comfortable adventure" expectation, with a reliable snowpack in a beautiful high alpine setting. Find out why operating Ice Creek Lodge truly is a "family affair".

Mountain Escapes | Episode 10 - Walt Judas, TIABC
Your host and backcountry veteran Brad Harrison is privileged to have an opportunity to chat with Walt Judas, Executive Director of the Tourism Industry Association of BC. Walt is one of the most influential people on the industry side of tourism in our province. We strongly recommend listening to this episode if you are involved in tourism in any fashion, be it a frontline employee, sector representative, club member, government staff, educator, owner/operator, marketer or just enjoy the many opportunities that tourism in BC presents. Make sure you catch Walt's insightful answers to some challenging questions.

Mountain Escapes | Episode 09 - Sol Mountain Lodge
The BLBCA welcomes you back to another episode of Mountain Escapes. In this episode Brad chats with Sabine and Aaron Cooperman, owners/operators/guides of Sol Mountain Lodge, located in the Monashee Mountains, south of Revelstoke, BC. Sol Mountain Lodge is an amazingly comfortable facility, situated in big snow country and is definitely family-friendly. The Cooperman's young adult children, Josee & Seth are actively involved in the day-to-day operation. Don't miss it.

Mountain Escapes | Episode 08 - Diana Lake Lodge
The Backcountry Lodges of BC Association (BLBCA) Mountain Escapes Podcast with backcountry veteran Brad Harrison is back! In this episode, Brad chats with the owners/operators of Diana Lake Lodge, Pat Comer and Mike Bourns. Diana Lake Lodge is perched high in the Canadian Rockies, east of Spillimacheen in British Columbia's East Kootenay region. Being relatively new to the BLBCA and the backcountry lodge business, Mike and Pat bring a very interesting perspective to lodge life. Check it out when you have a minute.

Mountain Escapes | Episode 07 - BC AdventureSmart
The Backcountry Lodges of BC Association (BLBCA) Mountain Escapes Podcast with backcountry veteran Brad Harrison is back! In this episode, Brad talks to the executive director of BC's AdventureSmart program, Sandra Riches. This is your chance to hear about the challenges, successes and nuances of running an information program for travellers venturing into some of the most demanding backcountry terrain in the world. Sandra also provides a number of travel tips for the BC adventurer.
Hope you have time to listen in.🎧

Mountain Escapes | Episode 06 - Mt. Assiniboine Lodge
The Backcountry Lodges of BC Association (BLBCA) Mountain Escapes Podcast with backcountry veteran Brad Harrison is back! In this episode, Brad talks to the owners/operators/guides of Mt. Assiniboine Lodge, Andre Renner and Claude Duchesne. To say that Mt. Assiniboine is both iconic and historic would be a major understatement. In many ways Mt. Assiniboine is the cradle of mountaineering, skiing and backcountry travel in the Canadian Rockies. Andre and Claude will provide us with a glimpse into Mt. Assiniboine Lodge both now and back then, way back then. We will hear stories about legendary characters such as Lizzie Rommel, Erling Strom and Andre's father, Sepp Renner.
Thanks for tuning in.

Mountain Escapes | Episode 05 - Blanket Glacier Chalet
The Backcountry Lodges of BC Association (BLBCA) Mountain Escapes Podcast with backcountry veteran Brad Harrison is back! In this episode, Brad talks to owner-operator-guide Marty Schaffer of Blanket Glacier Chalet in the Monashee Mountains south of Revelstoke. Lots of family history in this episode outlining how Marty and his sister Heidi grew up in this amazing environment.

Mountain Escapes | Episode 04 - Callaghan Country's Journeyman Lodge
The Backcountry Lodges of BC Association (BLBCA) Mountain Escapes Podcast with backcountry veteran Brad Harrison returns! In this episode, Brad sits down with Whistler Search & Rescue Manager Brad Sills of Callaghan Countries Journeyman Lodge. Learn more about the history of the lodge and the area through Brad's 40-plus years of experience. In addition to that, you'll hear an early story of the snow cat journey to the lodge that you'll never forget.

Mountain Escapes | Episode 03 - Whitecap Alpine
Your host and backcountry veteran Brad Harrison is back! In this episode, he sits down with father and son team Ron and Lars Andrews owner/operators of Whitecap Alpine Adventure. This is a historic and wonderful facility located in an amazing setting well-situated for both winter and summer backcountry adventures
Be sure to stay tuned for My Best Backcountry Story (29:40), in this weeks episode we hear from Alex from Assiniboine Lodge, sharing his story about discovering more nature than he expected while touring a group of women through the alpine one summer.

Mountain Escapes | Episode 02 - Talus Lodge
The BLBCA welcomes you back to another episode of Mountain Escapes. In this episode, Brad sits down with Thomas Grandi and Sara Renner owner/operators of Talus Lodge. They were both Olympians and World Cup skiing multi-medalists before taking over Talus Lodge. Recounting those experiences as well their joy in raising a young family in BC’s backcountry highlight this podcast. Be sure to check it out.

Mountain Escapes | Episode 01 - Valhalla Mountain Touring
Your host and backcountry veteran Brad Harrison, sits down with Jasmin Caton of Valhalla Mountain Touring, located near New Denver, BC. Be sure to stay tuned for My Best Backcountry Story (20:06), this week on the pod we hear from Lynea Nielsen from Salmon Arm, BC, about her first solo lodge experience!