About
BV Ski Guides is an independent guiding service led by AMGA Certified Ski Guide Blake Votilla. Based in the Teton Range of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, we bring over 15 years of experience guiding powder skiing and ski mountaineering in the Tetons and around the world.
Our passion for the mountains extends far beyond our home range — each year we travel internationally in search of unforgettable outdoor adventures. From deep local powder days to ambitious ski mountaineering objectives in remote corners of the globe, our goal is simple: to create safe, memorable, and inspiring mountain experiences tailored to every guest. We work with all ages, abilities, and group types — from solo travelers to families — to ensure each trip is the right fit for your goals and comfort level.
Blake has been leading groups in the outdoors since his college days at the University of Montana, where he served as president of the UM Outdoor Club. Following that, he cut his teeth in professional guiding with renowned service RMI, leading expeditions on Mt. Rainier and Denali. During this time, Blake honed his skills through notable first descents and ambitious ski mountaineering endurance efforts, all while working toward his Ski Guide Certification through the American Mountain Guides Association.
Fast forward to today — Blake is an AMGA Certified Ski Guide, a full-time ski guide for Exum Guides in the Tetons, the founder of the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club’s Backcountry Program (a one-of-a-kind initiative educating local youth ages 10–18 on backcountry skiing and avalanche safety), and the lead guide at BV Ski Guides.
With his extensive network, worldwide experience, and a proven track record of creating custom trips, BV Ski Guides is ready to help you plan and enjoy your next unforgettable skiing adventure.
Client Types
Individuals
Small groups
Experts
Trips
Ski Touring the Fjords of Norway
Ski Touring the Fjords of Norway
Trade the chaos of lift lines for the calm of the Arctic coast. Jagged peaks rise 6,000 feet straight from the sea, where remote fishing villages meet deep fjords and endless touring possibilities. Ski couloirs that plunge toward the ocean, traverse high ridgelines with panoramic views, and return each evening to the quiet rhythm of coastal life.
March brings northern lights and long winter nights, while late May offers soft snow and nearly 24 hours of daylight. Whether you’re seeking steep technical descents or mellow summit tours through breathtaking terrain, Norway’s fjords deliver something for every skier.
Each itinerary is custom-tailored around weather, conditions, and your group’s experience.
Contact Blake Votilla / BV Ski Guides to craft your Norway backcountry ski adventure.
Sail-to-ski boat-based, and land based options available.
Seasonality
Mar-Jun
SKI SVALBARD - one of a kind adventure
Svalbard, a remote archipelago, lies far north
in the Arctic Circle. There are no roads, ski
resorts, or civilization on the majority of
Svalbard. More than half of Svalbard is
covered by glaciers and icefields. With over
2,000 polar bears calling Svalbard and the
surrounding sea ice home, there are more
bears here than humans. It is forbidden to
leave the city limits of Longyearbyen without
proper polar bear protection (rifle and flare
gun - experienced guide will carry). This trip
takes place on Svalbard’s largest island of
Spitsbergen. We utilize snowmobiles to
access some of the most remote, and
least visited corners of the archipelago.
The adventure begins in the main village of Longyearbyen (population 1500). Longyearbyen has all the
amenities that you could need… nice restaurants (where you can try local specialties like seal, whale, and
reindeer), hotels, shops, bars, and even a brewery. The entire trip uses snowmobiles to access ski
terrain. After a couple of days based in the “city” we load the snowmobiles with supplies and head to…
Please reach out for the full trip itinerary. Each trip is fully custom.
Trips can be entirely hut / hotel based, base camp style, or boat based sail to ski.
No snowmobile experience needed, the riding is simple. All levels of ski touring welcome.
Please reach out for the full trip itinerary. Each trip is fully custom.
Trips can be entirely hut / hotel based, base camp style, or boat based sail to ski.
No snowmobile experience needed, the riding is simple. All levels of ski touring welcome.
Seasonality
Mar-Jun
Ski Touring on Senja Norway
Trade the bustle of ski resorts for the solitude of the Arctic coast. On Senja, jagged peaks rise straight from the sea, the air carries the scent of salt and snow, and every climb ends with a view of the ocean. This island feels wild and untouched — a place where deep snow, quiet fishing villages, and endless horizons define the pace of each day.
Senja is known as “Norway in miniature” for its mix of terrain — sharp alpine summits, broad glacial bowls, and gentle ridgelines that all lead back to the fjords. The coastal snowpack clings to steep faces for the ski mountaineer and settles softly on lower peaks ideal for touring. March brings long nights and northern lights; by May, daylight stretches through the night.
We organize the entire trip — guiding, logistics, and local arrangements — so you can focus on skiing and experiencing the best of Arctic Norway.
Contact Blake Votilla / BV Ski Guides to plan your Senja backcountry ski adventure.
Boat-based “sail-to-ski” options also available
Seasonality
Mar-May
Montana Hut Skiing
Downing Mountain Lodge — Bitterroot Backcountry, Montana
Tucked high above the Bitterroot Valley, Downing Mountain Lodge combines rugged Montana backcountry with the comfort of a well-equipped mountain home. From the front door, ski directly into hundreds of acres of glades, open bowls, and storm-filled powder runs — then return to a full kitchen, wood-fired sauna, hot tub, and the warmth of a private lodge shared only with your group.
The lodge offers everything you need for a seamless backcountry experience — running water, hot showers, and the space to relax and reset between big ski days. Mornings start with coffee and alpenglow; evenings end with good food and quiet views over the valley below.
We work in partnership with Downing Mountain Lodge and Bitterroot Backcountry Guides to create your custom Montana ski trip. Perfect for a long weekend, with convenient access from Missoula International Airport.
Day trips and single-day guided touring are also available in the Bitterroot Mountains.
Contact Blake Votilla / BV Ski Guides to plan your Montana backcountry ski adventure.
Seasonality
Jan-Apr
Dec
Custom Alps Ski Week — Based out of Chamonix
Custom Alps Ski Week — Based out of Chamonix
Set beneath the towering peaks of Mont Blanc, Chamonix is where modern alpinism was born — and still one of the most inspiring ski destinations in the world. From lift-accessed glacier runs and high alpine traverses to long ski tours deep in the Vallée Blanche, every day in Chamonix brings a new line, a new view, and a reminder of what makes the Alps legendary.
Mornings start with espresso and a look at the day’s weather — then it’s out the door to ski beneath granite spires and hanging glaciers. The terrain ranges from big alpine descents and steep couloirs to mellow glacier tours with views that stretch across France, Italy, and Switzerland.
Our trips are different — they’re built around flexibility and local knowledge. If the snow or weather shifts, we shift with it. With deep experience throughout the Alps, we can move where the conditions are best, whether that means a hut-to-hut traverse, a village-to-village tour, or a last-minute pivot to another valley entirely.
We work with local IFMGA-certified guides and handle all logistics, so you can focus on skiing and exploring the best of the Alps.
Contact Blake Votilla / BV Ski Guides to start planning your Chamonix-based ski week.
Seasonality
Mar-May
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