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The Wapta Ski Traverse: Day-to-Day Itinerary

Day 1:
Meeting in the afternoon in Canmore AB (1.15 hrs from Calgary International Airport). Review of trip itinerary, distribution of rental equipment, food and equipment check. Dinner with the guide and lodging in Canmore. Airport pick up at Calgary International Airport can be arranged.

Day 2:
Drive via Lake Louise along the Transcanada Highway and Icefield Parkway to Peyto Lake (1.5 hrs). After a short downhill ski, we traverse the frozen Peyto Lake - one of the famous postcard images of the Canadian Rockies. A steep ascent leads onto Peyto Glacier, which we traverse to arrive at the newly renovated Peyto Hut (a.k.a. Whyte Hut)at 8400ft = 2560m. 10km horizontal, 1804ft = 550m vertical distance.

Day 3:
Traverse day to Bow Hut. We traverse the Wapta Icefield towards the south and climb Mt. Ronddha North (10020ft = 3055m), a beautiful view point that shows the vast expanse of the Wapta Icefield. A beautiful descent leads down to the Wapta Saddle and after a short climb we get to ski down the steep headwall of the Bow Glacier right to the door of the Bow Hut (7700ft = 2347m), the largest of the four Wapta huts.

Day 4:
Traverse to the Balfour Hut. We reclimb the head wall underneath the steep walls of Mt. Saint Nicholas onto the Wapta Icefield. After caching our packs, we continue to the summit of Mt. Gordon (10505ft = 3200m) which, aside from a beautiful, north facing descent, offers great views of the remainder of the traverse and further south all the way to the Bugaboos. A short climb leads us to the Olive - Nicholas saddle (option to climb Mt. Saint Nicholas), from where we ski to the newly renovated Balfour Hut at 8000ft = 2440m. 15km and 2950ft = 900m climb.

Day 5:
Traverse to the Scott Duncan Hut. The steep ascent on the heavily crevassed Waputik Icefield underneath the north face of Mt. Balfour make this day the most exciting of the whole traverse. From a backpack cache at Balfour High Col at 9905ft = 3020m, we have an option to climb Mt. Balfour, at 10725ft = 3270m the highest peak on the Wapta Traverse. A long, mellow descent gets us to the Scott Duncan Hut (8900ft = 2710m), the highest and smallest of the Wapta Huts. 13km with 3380ft = 1030m vertical gain.

Day 6:
Long Descent to the Transcanada Highway via Sherbrook Lake. A narrow and windy forest trail eventually spits us back out into civilization at West Louise Lodge, close to Kicking horse Pass on the Transcanada Highway. We usually arrive there before noon and head back in our van to Banff/Canmore for the traditional soak in the Banff Hot Springs. For those with a tight schedule, an Airport drop off in Calgary can be arranged for that evening.