Altus Mountain Guides — Local services in Area D (Elaho/Garibaldi)

I’ll start by saying the Guide and the course were great!

However the customer service end was terrible. I had been really sick the week prior to my course, I was starting to feel better however 2 days before I was having inner ear problems and extreme fatigue. I had checked numbers for the course I was taking and the next available date and based on the info on the website there should have been some wiggle room for me to join the next course when I was feeling better. I sent an email Friday, and left a message Saturday morning. Their hours said they were open Saturday but I didn’t get any response. So I tried back in the afternoon and was finally greeted by a very disgruntled woman. She let me know that it’s not in their policy to move people around especially since there were only 3 people in my course (even though the website said sold out for my date). She told me it would be best to show up and try to do the course. I understand if there was simply not enough numbers to run the course. However her immediate tone upon answering the phone was annoyed that I was calling. She let me know in the phone call that she’s not even supposed to be answering the phones on Saturday (then why does your website say you are open??). She was annoyed I was referencing the website in terms of minimum numbers to run course the and numbers in each course date (sorry I was trying to do my research before calling?). She even said to me that the website is misleading as if I should know that?! I went into that phone call totally pleasant and expecting at the very least a pleasant conversation and the lady on the phone was rude from the minute she answered. I ended up attending the course on Sunday feeling like crap the whole day and lacking the focus and stamina to get the most out of it. I felt bad slowing the group down. The guide was extremely patient and kind and I’m grateful for that. OH and there was 7 people in my course, way above what she told me on the phone as the reason I couldn’t switch. I also heard complaints from other people in my course who had a similar experience when calling for info assistance. Sounds like the company could use some improvement on the customer...

Myself and two friends signed up for the Spearhead Hut Overnight Trip on February 14-16 and it was an experience I'll never forget! As advanced skiers/snowboarders on resort, we would consider ourselves "intermediate" tourers as we have all the gear but don't get out a ton in the season. We really wanted to go to the hut but felt nervous in our navigation skills to get there, and wanted to experience some great riding once we were out there so this trip fit the bill perfectly.

All food was provided and it was plentiful and delicious - definitely didn't go hungry! It was supplied the morning we met up and we all divided it up among our packs. Everything else we had to bring was listed in a packing list sent to us via email, but given the hut's amenities it wasn't a massive bag we had to pack.

We really lucked out with incredible weather, an amazing group of like-minded and similar-aged people, and an awesome guide - Robert! We had the best three days with lots of smiles, some type-2 fun moments, fresh lines, good food, learning opportunities, and comfy digs.

It's SO worth getting a guide to explore the area out there - there's so much terrain to explore and a guide can really help navigate the conditions if things are spicy. I can't wait to plan my next trip into the backcountry with Altus/Robert!

Update Sept 20 2022: I've also done the Women's Split Weekend with Altus (Corvus) the last two years with Christine Feleki and it is the most amazing time ever! I look forward to it every year and it's always such a solid group of women. The experience I gain from this weekend is second to none - thanks so much for offering this...

I am sad to do this, but the adventure for the sport course on Saturday, July 7th was the only time I had a bad time climbing...not fun at all... We were 6 and our guide/teacher, I am tall and strong and I got paired with the smallest person...it was not great that she took an extra long time to get her first climb in (everyone was already done theirs and were just about to start their actual second climb)...I was still on belay and waiting for the climber to finish...then finally it happened...and then just as I am about to climb, I am told that the belayer had never belayed before...and I had to wait for the person to get trained etc...and it threw me of... I had to stop a few times etc...and due to this missed a bolt to snap my quickdraw in...I went back and did it...but the damage was done...the instructor saw that I missed it and deemed I was not ready...seriously...I mean really... :( then I am almost down from - yes of course I reached the top...it was a simple 5.9...but nearing the bottom I got dropped and smashed into the wall...scraping the leg and banging the arm so hard on the wall that I thought I had fractured the wrist...thankfully I did not, but it still painful and swollen 3 days later... and I couldn't climb the rest of the day...

So, no, it was not a good day...I should not have been with this person...or have us rotated...etc...

Just sad and not happy...and I cannot say that I'd recommend them...