Activities for Women – Guided Backcountry Skiing

Women’s Ski & Connect Retreat
Guided Backcountry Day Trips for Women
Renting Backcountry Equipment
Welcome to the Inspire section on Activities for Women. Presently, we offer guided backcountry skiing activities for women led by Olivia Sofer, accredited ski guide, from Wild trips. These activities started during covid. We had observed that connecting was good for women and were thinking of offering something to gather women and improve their wellbeing but covid hit leading women to become even more isolated.

Anne-Marie Fafard. PT, manual osteopathy therapist working with women reached out to Olivia Sofer to organize an Avalanche Safety Training 1 course for women. The first one was offered in December 2021. It was then followed by two single days of guided backcountry skiing for women that winter.

The participants’ enthusiasm and Olivia’s encouragement led to creating the Women’s Ski & Connect retreat at the Talus lodge. It is two and half days of guided skiing in a rustic alpine lodge accessible by helicopter. At the Talus lodge, we ski with guides during the day then offer a women’s health retreat in the evening led by Janine Mak, women’s health physiotherapist and Clinical Pilates instructor and Anne-Marie Fafard, PT, and manual osteopathic therapist, both co-owner of the Inspire Physiotherapy and Osteopathy clinic, in Canmore, Alberta.

The Women’s Ski & Connect 2027 will be February 1 to 4, 2027, still at the Talus lodge. It will be our 5^th year offering this retreat. It has been well received every year. It is a great opportunity for women to connect with nature, other women and themselves while disconnecting from their cell phones, computers/internet and work. There is no internet access at the Talus lodge.

It is also an opportunity for self care for women. The Talus lodge provides nutritious meals cooked onsite. It is a treat for women to arrive after a day of ski and have time to mingle and rest. There is also access to a wood burning sauna and water-can showers that makes the stay even more comfortable.

For our single guided ski days for women, it will be our 6^th season, offering one day per month, from December to April. The monthly single days give women a break from their busy lives and allow them to step out in nature. The destination for each trip is decided closer to the date depending on weather, snow & avalanche conditions and the group experience. This allows women to explore different areas of the Rockies.

We welcome new women to our group. Please let other women in your life know about our skiing activities. Below, is more information about the Women’s Ski & Connect 2027 at the Talus lodge and the single day guided backcountry skiing for women.

If you have any questions, reach out by email at info@inspirecanmore.com

Registration for the Women’s Ski & Connect 2027 is through Inspire Physiotherapy and Osteopathy. Please email info@inspirecanmore.com or call 403 679 8004.

Registration for the Backcountry ski days is through Olivia Sofer: https://www.wildtrips.ca/how-book-wildtrips-adventures

Wishing a good Winter 2026-2027 season and hoping to ski with you!

Anne-Marie Fafard, PT, manual osteopathy therapist

Women’s Ski & Connect Retreat at the Talus Lodge 2027

About the Women’s Ski & Connect Retreat

For the fifth year in a row, we are delighted to be offering a women’s retreat and backcountry ski trip combined. Women’s Ski & Connect seeks to inspire women to connect with themselves, each other, and nature. It is a chance to embark on an adventure with a group of women to grow your backcountry skiing experience in a safe and supported environment. It is also an act of self care: an opportunity to invest in your wellbeing.

Overview / Flow
Day time focuses on skiing/split boarding in the pristine high alpine of the East Kootenays. “Après” is dedicated to relaxation, wood-fire sauna, comforting food, and mingling. After dinner, group sessions focus on women’s health teachings and on stretching bodies, minds, and hearts together.

Who, Where and When
The skiing adventure is led by Olivia Sofer and Thomas Grandi (owner of Talus Lodge or another Talus Lodge guide). Both are ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides) accredited.The evening sessions are led by women’s health therapists Anne-Marie Fafard & Janine Mak, owners of Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy.

The group of 12 to14 women stays at The Talus Lodge, accessed by helicopter in the winter. It is a rustic and comfortable place, ideal to slow down and connect (= no internet access).

Dates are Monday, February 1 to Thursday, February 4, 2027.

Fee
The total base fee for the Retreat is $2,175 (GST included). Breakdown as follows:
$450 to Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy
$1725 to the Talus Lodge

The information below explains what is included and not, for Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy and the Talus Lodge.

The Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy Fees cover:
$100 Registration fee (Non-refundable). It covers the administrative cost to organize the trip.
$350 for the Retreat group sessions led by Anne-Marie Fafard & Janine Mak.

Not included:
Anne-Marie Fafard and Janine Mak are not offering individual physiotherapy, manual osteopathy therapy or clinical Pilates sessions during the retreat. The focus of the retreat is on the group experience.

The Talus Lodge Fees cover:
-$431.25 non-refundable registration fee.
-All meals
-Lodging
-Helicopter rides
-Taxes

For more details, Click here

Not included:
-Insurances: trip cancellation, evacuation, or private health insurance.
-Gratuities for the guides.
-Alcohol

For more details, Click here

Registration
1- Email info@inspirecanmore.com to complete your registration and payment, $450, with Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy.

2- Complete the Talus lodge guest agreement and payment.

Part of our 2024 Women’s Ski and Connect’s group with one guide.

 

Guided Backcountry Day Trips for Women

Single days of guided backcountry skiing/ split boarding for women.

Dates for 2026-2027:
Thursday December 10, 2026
Thursday January 14, 2027
Wednesday February 24, 2027
Wednesday March 10, 2027
Wednesday April 7, 2027

Olivia Sofer from wildtrips.ca is our main guide for these daily adventures.

Location: Determined closer to the date. Dependent on the weather, snow and avalanche conditions.

Time: 9 am – 3:30 pm : 9 am is start time, we usually meet earlier.

Group size: 3 to 6 women per 1 guide

Fee: $190 + GST = $199.50 per day
Gratuities are not included in the fee. If you are happy with the guide work, tips are appreciated.

Registration: https://www.wildtrips.ca/how-book-wildtrips-adventures

Payment: Olivia Sofer will send you an invoice to be paid via e-transfer at olivia@wildtrips.ca

This season Olivia Sofer is offering a 5% discount on the 3^rd trip a participants’ attend. Meaning the first and second trip are at regular rate, the 3^rd trip will be $180.50 + GST.

Renting Backcountry Equipment

Olivia Sofer, our guide for these trips, rents avalanche safety packages including: transceiver, probe, shovel.
When registering for a day trip, you can ask to rent this package on the registration form. Registration link: Day Trips Registration Form
You can also reach Olivia Sofer by email at olivia@wildtrips.ca

Gear up in Canmore rents backcountry skiing or split boarding backcountry equipment: Backcountry ski and split board packages
and Avalanche safety kit

Ski Uphill in Canmore rents demo backcountry skis.