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Vacation Rental Nelson, B.C / Whitewater Chalet- Cabin retreat

                            

     Ideal Base Camp accommodation for skiers bound for the Kootenays. We offer the closest on hill accommodation there is to Whitewater Ski Resort and only 15 minutes to Salmo Ski Area, 50klm of Nordic skiing adjacent to the chalet with night skiing, 6 minutes to Nelson for apres activities, 6 minutes to the first chair at WH20, and only 45 minutes to Red Mountain. 

Chalet is hand built by ACMG Ski Guide Tim Rippel and his wife Becky. If you want to build a day or two of optional guided backcountry exploration into your stay, you can!  Ski Tours, Hot Springs, Helicopter Skiing and so much more!

        

         [Check Availability]       [RATES]     [RESERVATIONS]        [THINGS TO DO]       [NELSON PHOTO GALLERY]   Google Maps Directory

Whitewater Base Camp Chalet Guided backcountry skiing - Cornice Ridge Downtown Nelson Lakeside Park

                                                                                                                                          

LUXURIOUS WHITEWATER CHALET

Nestled in the cedar's by the water fall is a secluded and enchanting fully equipped luxury log chalet with a Tibetan theme, 8 person hot tub, satellite TV with music, laundry and a catering service.

 

New snow! No problem

Whitewater's closest on hill accommodation. Read about it in SKIER...the road team's perfect experience.

Average Snowfall: 1200 cm/40 feet!

 

LOCATION
Whitewater Base Camp Chalet is situated in the middle of pristine wilderness just 10 km south of  Nelson British Columbia and 10 km from Whitewater Ski area on the ski area road. Spokane is 2.5 hours drive, Kelowna a 3 hour drive and our regional airport is Castlegar just 30 minutes away with flight arriving from Calgary, Penticton and Vancouver daily.   Map:

TERRAIN
Kootenay backcountry! A place where legal ridgelines rise beyond chairlifts like stairways to heaven. Peak Freak Expeditions Base Camp Chalet is situated at the base of Whitewater Ski Area summit of 7867 ft and Salmo Creston pass at 5000 ft. Our play ground is surrounded by two of British Columbia's largest snow making lakes and Peak Freak's base camp is-     "right smack in the middle of it"

The Chalet was hand built by Mt. Everest guides Tim & Becky Rippel.  The closest on hill accommodation there is.  Just a 5 minute drive or shuttle. Ideal summer retreat for escaping from the heat. Relax under the canopy of cedars by the waterfall. Ideal for Nelson family reunions and weddings.  Breathe fresh mountain air and be only 10 minutes from the funky town of Nelson, B.C.

RATES  

 $350CA per night (minimum 2 nights) or $2000CA per week.  Sleeps 9

 

Add a personal chef service offering healthy, nutritious prepared meals while you ski the day away.

 

We love dogs but we don't like yellow snow!

Dog sitting available for your snow dog.

Call: 250 352 7796

 

     CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Base Camp Chalet location dinning best.JPG (981775 bytes) Base Camp Chalet One of 4 bedrooms One of two bathrooms
Kitchen Wilderness Cabin bedroom Dec11 04 005.jpg (383517 bytes) One of two dinning areas

[Nelson Photo gallery]

Becky & Tim

Many thanks for allowing us to experience your piece of paradise for our 20th anniversary. It was the perfect base camp from which to explore the Kootenay Lake area, although the reference to "camp" doesn't come close to capturing the comfort and charm of your chalet. You've done a fabulous job, with the additions made over the years creating a unique and very functional space. We particularly appreciated the views of natural forest in all directions. 

How wonderful to find a property where human development enhances, rather than destroys, its beauty.  We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Karen and Henri

 

Click on image to enlarge.

whitewater sat.jpg (69990 bytes)

Google Earth Satellite - click on this image to view our secluded location from space.

Traveling to Nelson 

By Air

  • From Vancouver or Calgary, travelers can fly with Air Canada to the regional airport of Castlegar, which is a 25 minute drive to Nelson. Queen City Shuttle operate an inexpensive daily shuttle service between Castlegar airport and downtown Nelson.

  • Alternatively, Cranbrook International Airport is a 2.5 hour drive from Nelson. Greyhound operate regular bus services between Cranbrook and Nelson. 

  • From Spokane International Airport is a 2.5 hour drive from Nelson. Kootenay Shuttles offers an online shuttle service.

  • Kelowna International is a 3.5 hour drive from Nelson. Greyhound operate regular bus services between Kelowna and Nelson. 

  • Trail airport is 45 minutes away with regular and inexpensive flights from Vancouver to Trail and return. Flights are operated by Pacific Coastal Air. 

  • Charter flights directly to Nelson can be organized by High Alpine Air

  • New for 2007: Kootenay Direct Air has applied for a license to operate between Calgary and Vancouver to Nelson and from Spokane to Nelson and other US cities. Stay tuned! 

By Bus

Greyhound bus lines have two buses per day leaving Vancouver for Nelson via Kelowna and Castlegar.  There are also buses available from Calgary to Nelson, via Cranbrook.

By Car 

Nelson is on Highway 3, which is a great alternative to the traffic of Highway 1.  Slow down and take the scenic route! 

  • From Vancouver:  head east through Hope, Osooyos, Grand Forks, Castlegar, and on to Nelson.  At 657kms its roughly an 8 hour drive in summer total distance of 663kms.
  • From Calgary: head trough Banff, Radium Hot Springs, Cranbrook, Creston, to Nelson.  This 624km trip will take about 7.5 hours.
  • From Spokane, WA: 237kms, 2.5 hours.

Whichever direction you're coming from, there are plenty of things to see & do along the way.  Refer to our useful links page for some ... useful links!

SHUTTLES

 

The Chalet offers

SLEEPS 9                   

Loft- 1 Double Bed + 1 twin bed

Lower Level- 2 twin bedrooms

Wilderness guest cabin with queen bed

2 Dinning areas

1 full bath with tub on main level

1 full bath with shower on lower level

8- person hot tub

Laundry room

Kitchen with Dishwasher, Microwave, Gas cook stove,

Wood heat - Electric heat backup

Comfy furnishings

Maximum number of people is: 9

 

  • All linens are provided and a fully equipped kitchen which includes a microwave and dishwasher.
  • Washer and Dryer.
  • The wood shed is full for the wood stove in the winters only. Backup baseboard heaters in all the rooms to help keep the chill off while you are away skiing.
  • We have VCR, DVD Player, stereo out and satellite TV.
  • Snowshoes, x-country ski equipment and technical ski–board and safety equipment rentals are available in Nelson.
  • Enjoy star gazing paradise from the 8- person hot tub nestled in the cedars accompanied by relaxing piped in satellite music from the forest

                                                                                                  

Our base camp chalet  is conveniently located minutes from Nelson B.C. for shopping and more. You will find many excellent restaurants, grocery stores, bars, video rentals, art galleries, historical tours, theatres, gift shops and more. In the summer enjoy Nelson's lakeside park and sandy beaches. So much to do! Have a look at some of the offerings below.  Also check out a couple of our links loaded with useful information:  Things to Do in Nelson   Nelson Photo Gallery


BIKE and STAY

NELSON MOUNTAIN BIKING- Mountain biking in Nelson is the stuff of legend. Showcased in many mountain bike films, Nelson trails offer everything from gentle railway grades to steep, rooty technical tracks. For the hard core freestylers there are enough stunts, ladders and big drops to keep the adrenalin pumping long after the last epic ride of the day. With the breathtaking backdrop of the Selkirk Mountains, Nelson’s rides take the West Coast style and crank it up a notch.

There are many great rides within 15 minutes drive from Nelson including Sproule Creek or the Kootenay Canal (beginner/intermediate) to the west of Nelson and Ledges (intermediate) near Kokanee Creek Park. For those looking for a serious workout, most trails are accessible by bike right from town, otherwise you may want to park at Mountain Station and start your climb from there. If the only climbing you like to do is out of bed in the morning, consider a vehicle drop or ask a local bike shop about shuttles.   click here for more: Discover Nelson

The newly developed Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway trail system is right at the front door of  base camp chalet. North or South with  return shuttle service. A house favorite is the ride from the front door of the chalet along the Burlington Railway to Nelson. Pack a lunch or grab a tasty picnic mix on your way through town and continue on to Troup. Here you will find a secluded sandy beach. Rest, relax, swim. Take your cell phone and call for a shuttle to meet you at the town's edge to ride back to the chalet or enjoy the return ride back on the trail keeping cool under the waterfalls you find along the route back to the chalet. 

 

SKI and STAY

HELI SKIING and CAT SKIING NELSON B.C - As the crow flies our heli ski terrain is less than  one mile from the Chalet. We offer packages ranging from 1 to 5 days programs and shuttle service to the heli port is provided right at the front door. For more on our heli ski programs 

SKI WHITEWATER

 Average Snowfall: 1200 cm/40 feet!
- Lodge Base elevation: 1640 metres/5400 feet
- Summit elevation: 2040 metres/6700 feet
- Ymir Peak: 2400 metres/8000 feet
- Vertical Drop: 396 metres/1300 feet

The mountain consists of groomed runs, open bowls, glades, chutes, and tree skiing. Ski Canada has rated Whitewater to have the Best Deeps, Best Bowls and Best Glades.

Whitewater has two double Chair lifts (Silver King and the Summit Chairs) and one handle tow (The Hummer).
- 20% Beginner
- 40% Intermediate
- 40% Advanced

Optional Shuttle service to hill provided by Gravity Adventures.

RED MOUNTAIN

Red Mountain is actually made up of two mountains, Red and Granite, which provide 1,585 ski able acres amidst the resort's total 4,200 acre area. Both mountains are ski able 360 degrees around. That means you can choose from a virtually endless number of runs with each descent!

SALMO SKI AREA Salmo Ski Hill in the west Kootenays of British Columbia is famous for its great night skiing on fully lit runs that are always groomed to perfection. Salmo Ski Area offers a wide variety of skiing opportunities for all ages and levels. The hill has varied terrain including groomed runs, gently sloping runs, moguls, steep slopes, pristine powder, racing courses, a half pipe for snowboarders, a bunny hill, and cross country ski trails. 

NELSON NORDIC SKI TRAILS- APEX - Situated adjacent to the chalet.                                                              NORDIC TRAILS ADJACENT TO CHALET

  • The Nelson Nordic Ski trails operate from mid-December to late March
  • Trails are open dawn to dusk daily. Apex lighted loop is open until 9:30 pm daily
  • 25 km of groomed trails classic and skating tracks - beginner to expert level
  • Warming huts at Apex and at the top of Clearwater road
  • Night skiing
  • 10 minutes south of Nelson on Highway 6 at the Whitewater Ski Area turnoff- same location as Chalet.

KOOTENAY PASS- Salmo/Creston - 30  minute drive from the Chalet. Backcountry skiing area favorite. The south-west slopes above are controlled by highways indicating the the type of terrain in this area. The runs are moderately steep and require very good knowledge on avalanche terrain travel and rescue skills. No one should enter this area with the proper equipment for backcountry travel. Courses on avalanche awareness are offered by Tim Rippel of Peak Freak Expeditions- owner operator of the Base Camp Chalet. Click here for Avalanche Courses: and  Guided Backcountry Ski Tours.

AINSWORTH HOT SPRINGS- The resort features three odorless pools, 150 foot horseshoe cave, main lounging pool and stream-fed cold plunge. The pools provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of the West Kootenay's majestic scenery- Purcell Mountains and Kootneay Lake. The springs dinning room offers something to tantalize everyone's tastebuds and check out their wine selections. Only a 45 minute drive from the chalet along the scenic Kootenay lake makes for nice evening out. Visit their site!


SAIL and STAY

RED SKY AT NIGHT SAILING ADVENTURES   Let us take you on an unforgettable adventure to explore the thrill and beauty of sailing the pristine waters of Kootenay Lake. Welcome to our 5th season of charters aboard our new 30 foot sailboat. Depart from Balfour for day tours, sunset dinner cruises and multi-day adventures.  www.sailthekootenays.com  ph# 1-877-RED-SKYS.

 Rates and dates.


FISH and STAY

REEL FISHING CHARTERS  Come try your luck at catching the big one on world class Kootenay Lake. Located in the heart of the West Kootenays, Kootenay Lake has lots to offer. From the famous Gerrard Rainbow, which have benn caught up to 35 lbs. (a Canadian Record), to Dolly Varden, which have been caught up to 29 lbs. (another Canadian Record). Also available to catch are Kokanee salmon, which are considered one of the best tasting fish. Although they are small, they are abundant in this lake. 

For your chance at a trophy fish, come and join us for an exciting day on world class Kootenay Lake.

Guided- rates and dates.

HIKE and STAY

Hiker's paradise!  Nelson has both the terrain and the scenery that makes for fantastic hiking. Clear streams, large lakes, forest covered valleys, wildflowers, make this area a hiker's paradise. Wildlife thrives here, so don't be surprised if you encounter deer, elk, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, both grizzly brown, black bears. Both bald eagles and golden eagles fly overhead. Blue Herron nests across the road from the chalet and all wildlife mentioned live in the area of the chalet. There at at least 10 trails close to the city for hiking, biking and snowshoeing. One can walk or bike the Burlington National rail trail right from the front door of the chalet to Nelson and take a taxi or shuttle service.  Hire a guide?

A few to mention:

  • Kokanee Creek Provincial Park - There are 8 family hiking trails leaving from the park visitors centre. 
  • Kokanee Glacier Park- hikes for the more adventurous. The 32,035 hectare, Kokanee Glacier Park is a rugged wilderness area of the Selkirk Mountains between Slocan and Kootenay Lakes, near the communities of Nelson and Slocan.
  • Nelson, B.C.. - There are least 10 trails close to the city and chalet for biking, hiking and snow shoeing. You can ride from the chalet to Nelson and back on the Burlington National rail trail.

A FEW TRAILS CLOSE TO THE CITY OF NELSON

  • Elephant Mountain
  • Pulpit Rock
  • Grohman Narrows
  • Burllington National Rail Trail
  • Lakeside- John's Walk- goes from one side of the city to the other along the waterfront.
  • Sproule Creek
  • Cotton Wood Lake- trail from chalet to lake and back.
  • Anderson Creek Trail
  • 5 Mile creek trail
  • Troop- access via the Burlington National Trail

CANOE- KAYAK and STAY

Hellman Canoes manufacture and retailer of high quality Kevlar and composite canoes. Located on the shores of beautiful Kooentay Lake,  offering Kayak and canoe rental and professional instruction. Also, visit their new paddling store full of the latest  touring kayaks and accessories.

Guided- Self Guided and general information.


CLIMB- LEARN AND STAY

Organize a private basic mountaineering course for your group with Everest Expedition Mountain Guide and Chalet owner Tim Rippel while in Nelson. Or a wilderness survival course or a guided hike somewhere.  COURSES and PRIVATE GUIDING

ROCK CLIMBING-   Routes in the Kootenays 

 


GOLF and STAY Nelson's Granite Point Golf Course. With splendid views of the Kokanee Glacier, Kootenay Lake and the mountain city of Nelson, the Granite Pointe Golf Club is yet another gem in BC’s scenic Kootenay Rockies Region.  More information.

 

 


 

 

Check Availability

 

Reservations…  

 

CONTACT:  Peak Freak Expeditions Inc. 

  • Phone: 250 352 9133

  • Email: trek@peakfreaks.com     

  • Mail: #110-622 Front Street Nelson, B.C. Canada V1L 4B7

  • Email contact is preferred

RESTRICTIONS:

  • Minimum age for rental is 25 years of age. Not recommend for the elderly.

  • For the protection of the pristine environment and in respect of the wildlife that share the land with us, the chalet is non-smoking, no pets and no outside fires.

DEPOSIT:

A 50% deposit is due at time of booking.  

Full payment due upon check-in.

 

Tim and Becky,  we can't thank you enough for allowing us to stay in your amazing chalet. I would not call it a cabin but rather a beautiful home. We enjoyed all your expedition artifacts and adventure photos and your tending to every detail. The hot-tub, the clear night skis, fresh air, the wildlife freely roaming around, the incredible snow, convenient location to the ski hill and the warm restful luxury that your chalet offers after a day on the slopes. This place is a wonderful retreat away from it all. We felt like we were at a spa.   Eric and Tina from Ohio

   

              

WHITEWATER CHALET "BASE CAMP" LOCATION MAP- 10klm south of Nelson, B.C.

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HIMALAYAN HIGH ALTITUDE SPECIALISTS since 1983

 

Email:  trek@peakfreaks.com  -  Nelson, B.C. Canada

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Website designed and maintained by Becky Rippel