Wapta Icefields Ski Traverse

Course Details

DATES - PRICE - AGENDA - INSTRUCTORS & GROUP SIZE
DIFFICULTY, FITNESS & EXPERIENCE - TRANSPORTATION
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS - GEAR - INSURANCE - BOOKING

This quintessential 'hut to hut' ski tour through the beautiful Wapta Icefields is one of the best ways to experience classical ski-mountaineering. Stretch your physical limits while having great fun skiing from peak to peak, glacier to glacier.

Avalanche awareness, glacier knowledge and route finding ability are essential to a safe traverse. Your certified-guide will demonstrate these skills to you as you head south over the glaciers towards the Kicking Horse Pass, our final destination.

Dates

February 26 - March 3, April 16- 21, 2001

Price

$860 CDN (c.$570US) includes GST, guides, accommodation, meals, 'Back Country Park Fee' and use of avalanche beacons.

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Course Agenda

Note: The Wapta Icefields can be prone to whiteout in storm conditions. If this happens on Day 5 we may not be able to cross the Balfour High Col. We can wait a day for conditions to clear but there is a chance we may not complete the Traverse as described and have to ski back out via Bow Hut. There is no way of eliminating this risk. Even if this happens the trip is still an excellent ski mountaineering experience.

Day 1: Meet us at the Lake Louise Alpine Centre at 7:30pm for introductions, trip review and equipment check.

Day 2: We drive 45 minutes north to Bow Lake, our start point. After an avalanche safety session, we commence the climb to Bow Hut which is located at 7700 ft. on a shoulder adjacent to the snout of the Bow Glacier, this will take us between 3 and 5 hours. We cross frozen Bow Lake then ski up the canyon which leads to the amphitheater below Mounts Olive and St. Nicholas. After a final steep section we reach the welcome warmth of this spacious cabin. We travel 6km and climb 2000ft.

Day 3: It's only a couple of hundred meters until we're on the the Bow Glacier. Gradually we climb the 'Headwall' to see a vast icefield surrounded by peaks stretching before us. The easy slopes of our objective, 10,000ft. Mount Rhonda, lie 2km away and it's not long before we are 'skinning' onto its final ridge and the scenic section leading to the summit. After a summit snack it's off with the ski skins and a long enjoyable ski along the ridge and then back across the glacier towards the Hut. The 'Headwall' is fun to ski in almost all conditions and we may well put our skins back on for a repeat before finally heading across to the Hut and a hot drink and snack before supper.

Day 4: Today we start the Traverse, our objective Balfour Hut, located at 8000ft. near the snout of the Balfour Glacier. We get there by climbing the 'Headwall' one last time then heading over the 9,500ft. high col between Mt. St. Nicholas and Olive. If it's a nice day we can leave skis on the col and climb a beautiful snow ridge to the summit of Olive at 10,200ft. From there we can see tomorrows' route over the Balfour High Col. A long, easy descent brings us to the Hut. It will take us upwards of 4 hours depending on whether we climb Olive or not.

Day 5: First light will see us heading out of the Hut and onto the crux of the Traverse, the crevassed slopes leading to the 10,000ft. Balfour High Col. This is undoubtedly the most spectacular section of the traverse as we pass beneath Balfour with its towering seracs and corniced ridges. We need reasonable visibility for this part. Once on the high col we can look across the gently descending slopes of the Waputik Glacier to Mount Daly with the Scott-Duncan Hut, today's objective, below. It's a phenomenal panorama ... to the north the Front Ranges and to the south the granite spires of the Purcells with the main peaks of the Rockies between! Life is magnificent! This section will take around 6 hours.

Day 6: Not far now! From the Hut we ski towards the rocky thumb of Mt. Daly where the fun really begins. This long descent sees us swooping down along snowy benches, through treed glades and along a canyon. We then finish skating across Sherbrooke Lake to a trail through the trees that brings us to the Trans Canada Highway at West Louise Lodge on the Kicking Horse Pass. We should be back in Lake Louise by mid-afternoon.

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Instructors and Group Size

Your guides are certified by the internationally-recognized Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and also licensed by Parks Canada. There will be an average of 6 participants per guide.

How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?

Typically, the glacier terrain is not steep and even has flat sections. The most difficult section is the descent on the last day. Participants should be comfortable traversing and controlling their speed in tight terrain.

Participants need to be at least strong intermediate downhill skiers (on either telemark or 'alpine' gear) able to take a few spills and 'carry on'. They must be in good physical condition, able to carry a 35lb pack for several hours a day. No prior ski mountaineering experience needed. This program is not suitable for snowboarding.

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Transportation

Lake Louise is 180km west of Calgary on the Trans Canada (#1) Highway in Banff National Park. Calgary International Airport is regularly serviced by flights from Europe and throughout North America. Participants are responsible for their own transport to Lake Louise which can be reached by regular bus service (on booking we'll send you full bus info).

To reach Bow Lake we will coordinate a car pool among participants. We will organize extra transportation if necessary.

Accommodation and Meals

The first night is spent at the Lake Louise Alpine Centre, a beautiful hostel operated jointly by the YHA and the Alpine Club of Canada. You will share a bunkroom with other participants. The Centre has showers, a lounge and a restaurant. You will be able to leave excess gear here whilst on the trip. During the trip we stay in alpine huts operated by the Alpine Club of Canada. Sleeping areas are communal and facilities basic. We cook on Coleman stoves and melt snow to get water for drinking, cooking and washing.

All meals, snacks and drinks are supplied from breakfast on Day 2 to lunch on Day 6. Mountain meals are made from lightweight ingredients, some of which are pre placed in Bow Hut. We tend not to use freeze-dried meals as we find them lacking in nourishment. Please let us know, well in advance, if you have any dietary restrictions.

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Equipment and Clothing

You will need to bring your own clothing, skis, poles, climbing skins, backpack and sleeping bag. We have many of these items available to rent and if not can pre-arrange them for you. We supply avalanche beacons and other group safety items (ropes, harnesses, crevasse rescue gear etc). We will send you a complete list of what to bring when you book.

Skis & Boards

There are two ski systems you can use: System 1 'Randonee' (also known as 'Alpine Touring) skis are essentially 'downhill skis' with a special touring binding which allows the heel to lift whilst going uphill or across the flats and then 'locks down' to become a regular downhill safety binding. We recommend this system to anyone with a background of downhill skiing who is not already an advanced telemark skier. System 2 'Telemark' skis. These should only be used for this program if you are at least an advanced-intermediate telemark skier with some backcountry experience. This system is more difficult and less forgiving than the other.

Bringing A Snowboard on this trip would be an exercise in masochism. There are some really long long low-angle sections.

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Insurance

There is no charge for rescue so long as you have a valid National Park Entry Pass (obtain on entry to National Park.) It is wise, though to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra coverage if necessary.

Booking Information

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require a $287CDN deposit with the balance due 8 weeks in advance, after that, full payment is required. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest you take our cancellation insurance for an extra non-refundable $43, this must accompany your deposit.

For detailed booking instructions and conditions, click here.

Along with all relevant receipts we will send you a full trip logistical kit (containing meeting times, a list of what to bring and info on how to get here), a sample copy of our waiver which we will ask you to sign when you meet us and a experience questionnaire which we ask you to return to us in advance of your arrival.

PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US IF
YOU NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS COURSE!