Welcome to Braille Mountain Initiative

Our Story

In the fall of 2018, I was preparing for the upcoming guiding season and my work at Great Canadian Heliskiing. I had also recently entered a new role as a rookie instructor with the Canadian Ski Guide Association. While teaching my first course, I noticed I was struggling to read a map. Shortly after this, I lost nearly all my vision in my right eye.

I adjusted to using only my left eye and continued to guide full-time at Great Canadian Heliskiing. Shortly after the end of the ski season, I noticed the vision in my left eye was starting to change, and just four short weeks later, I would be legally blind.

I was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease. The news was devastating, as I would not be able to continue my career as a ski guide. However this diagnosis would not prevent me from skiing in the backcountry.

Over the course of the next winter, I would learn to ski again. At first, it was a slow and exhausting experience. After months of relearning the basics, I was back to skiing fast in big terrain. With the help of a couple friends, I skied the 1700m descent from the summit of Mt. Jumbo to Commander Creek. It was truly a best day ever. I felt the best I had since losing my vision, and I knew I had to share this feeling with other blind skiers.

The following week Braille Mountain Initiative was founded. There are many adaptive sports organizations that do a great job teaching blind people how to ski, while providing a great resort-based experience. However, at this point in time, nobody was taking these people into the backcountry and providing a next level experience. That’s how we would be different—with untouched powder snow and no other people on the slope, we could give blind people the freeing experience of backcountry skiing.

Tyson Rettie,

Founder

Our Current Project

The Braille Mountain Initiative team is preparing for another trip to Sorcerer Lodge in April of 2025. This will mark the 5th trip to Sorcerer Lodge. The ease of access from the Lodge to wide open consistent alpine slopes makes it an ideal location for blind/vision impaired skiers andsnowboarders to be introduced to backcountry skiing. With no one else around and consistent open slopes we can provide a life changing and freeing skiing experience like no other.

Participants will learn the following:
– How to describe avalanche formation and release
– How to identify avalanche terrain
– To use appropriate trip planning resources
– The daily process for trip planning and execution
– Techniques to minimize risk when traveling in the winter backcountry
– How to perform a basic companion rescue

This is a challenging week long adventure where participants are pushed both physically and mentally. Participants leave with a renewed sense of confidence and ability to overcome obstacles which helps drive mental health and lead to success elsewhere in life.