If you headed west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada highway you'd have to pass through Canmore, Alberta before getting deep into the mountains.  The once small mining town is now home to more mountain enthusiasts and guides then miners these days.  It's also home to quite a few of Canada's Olympians, Silver Medal Boarder-crosser Mike Robertson to name one.  The town is surrounded by mountains but just doesn't get the traffic that the areas around Banff and Lake Louise get for backcountry users.  The Smith-Dorian access road which starts just behind the Canmore Nordic Centre opens up a ton of amazing terrain.  The area also gets really solid snow falls and is at such a high elevation that weather up on the road is almost completely different then in the town of Canmore, AB.

Here are some photos from some of the surrounding areas.... a mere 30 min drive from the Tim Hortons in Canmore and you can find deep face shots.

First you'll need a split-board or some snow shoes to make some turns out in this area..... no lifts.... no snowmobiles allowed.

Another world above Canmore, AB

Busting trail to bust some powder...

High alpine north facing slopes hold snow well into May here.

This chute looks good to me!!

Snow shoes off and splitboard put back together... 

Canmore's finest powder stash. Rider: Chris Meyers

Once the skin track is in.... it's time to lap this place up.

Some rare looking terrain for Alberta.  Rider Chris Meyers checks out his next line.

Riding to the valley bottom. Rider: Chris Meyers

INFO: Canadian Avalanche Association  K-country report.

Backcountry goods for this trip by DAKINE