“They don’t have snow like that in Texas!”

Justin Lake was excited. We all were. We’d just finished a late March lap at Retallack Lodge, BC. “We” meaning The Snowboarder’s Journal staff and friends from around the country—marketing partners and one lucky subscriber who’d won their spot on this trip to interior BC, to eat good food and ride a private powder paradise with some of the steepest terrain the Kootenays have to offer.

Michael Rauenbuehler from K2 Snowboarding dips into Retallack’s famous pillows.

Justin Lake onslope while the rest of the crew waits their turn.

Catie Groves from Anon points it into a steep one.

We were scoring. A late-season storm had dropped eight inches of snow, and another three or four were en route. Couple that with a lack of traffic and a bit of wind, and the high country was caked in blower powder. It was only our second run, but for Justin, that long flight from Austin, TX was already worth it. Maybe our friend from Solo Stove knew it, maybe he didn’t, but we were standing in the shadow of Texas Peak.

For those of you unfamiliar with Retallack Lodge, it’s a bucket list worthy destination. Situated upon historical mining claims an hour or so north of Nelson, BC, it’s named after Major John Ley Retallack, who once owned one of the largest silver mines in the world. In the late 1800s, pioneers gathered at the eponymous townsite in search of their own personal fortunes and named much of the area for their place of origin. Nowadays, it’s pure powder country, with a few roadside mining relics near the drive-in lodge serving as a reminder of the area’s rough and rowdy past.

Matt Barkley of Low Pressure studio finds a little airtime.

Low Pressure’s Brian Hankerson lays down a clean line.

Mervin Mfg’s Jeff Kempf amongst it.

The riding at Retallack retains a bit of that frontier spirit—it’s the kind of place you go to smack pillows and ride steep, deep trees. We were there to oblige. For two days, the incredibly capable guides unlocked line after line, from steep, playful glades to open bowls, and a particularly rewarding pillow zone near treeline. It was a moment to forget about work and gather, simply, as snowboarders—as a group of folks who have dedicated their lives to sliding sideways.

This group fit right into the Retallack mold. It’s a more down to earth spot than many mechanized operations—a place where the staff feel like friends, not servants. We like it that way. They offer a game of neglin (hammering nails with a pointy rock hammer) at the bar, a later night, if you want it, and fireworks, of course. During the day the tail guide went bigger than everyone, despite dropping last.

Subscriber and “Big Winner” of this trip Beau Richardson lays one down. Per tradition, he got to drop in first each day.

Dropping last ain’t bad. Retallack bartender, social media manager and more Kate MacKinnon emerges from the white room.

Our own Director of Sales & Marketing Matt Wibby finds a slice of the deep.

Even though we were only there for a two-day trip, the guides squeezed every ounce out of this late season storm, leaving our crew fully saturated in the deep and feeling like we had been there for far more than a mere 48 hours. Perhaps Sean McKillop, an old friend and Brand Director at Rainier, put it best: “I didn’t think about work at all on that run,” he said, loading up the cat near the end of day two.

He was joking of course but that, ultimately, is the point. We come to a place like Retallack to get off grid and slow it down over good snow, good friends, and good food. Maybe a beer or two if that’s your thing. No pretense, just powder boarding. And Retallack, of course, delivered.

Burton’s Morgan Bennett stacking memories near the end of the trip.

Sean McKillop forgetting about work.

Thank you, Retallack Lodge.