Trip
Details and Small
Print - Wilderness Ski Traverses Rockies, Selkirks and Monashees
Can I do it?
This is a trip for seasoned ski tourers
with extensive ski touring background (except for the classic
Wapta Traverse): Very strenuous backcountry ski traverse in
remote, alpine and often glaciated terrain on alpine touring
(randonne) or sturdy telemark equipment. You must be able to
ski safely and controlled at all times while wearing a heavy
(15kg - 25kg = 33lb - 55lb) backpack. Inspite of the existence
of some huts and possibly pre-arranged food caches, the ski
touring party has to carry all technical equipment, winter camping
equipment, cooking fuel and dehydrated food. Depending on the
conditions, we might have to rope on while skiing both up and
downhill. You need to be in EXCELLENT physical and mental condition,
ready to be on your feet for about 10 hrs. On some of the days,
followed by setting up camp. If in doubt whether you have the
required skills, give us a call!
Why book with
us?
Aside from our credentials as ACMG / IFMGA
certified mountain guides we have excellent knowledge of
the remote ranges of the Canadian West. Most of us also work
as heli-ski guides for Canadian Mountain Holidays who is operating
in some of the areas travelled. Local expertise and insider
knowledge enables us to arrange food caches, drop offs and pick
ups by helicopter, snow mobile or truck in a cost efficient
manner or make terrain choices with the background of having
skied in these ranges for the entire winter season.
Additional
Risks of Wilderness Traverses:
Wilderness Ski Traverses involve substantially more risk than
other ski touring trips. Especially once most helicopter-ski
operators finish their season at the end of March / early April,
help can be far away in case of avalanche or other accidents.
Equipment failure, bad weather, fatigue or high avalanche hazard
might force us to interrupt the trip in a spot that is far away
from the next road access. This and other unforeseen circumstances
may require helicopter evacuation (provided reasonable flying
weather) that comes at additional cost. A risk that has to be
shared by all participants.
Equipment:
You need either sturdy
telemark equipment or (more common in Canada) alpine touring
equipment - either is available for rental at our base in Canmore,
Banff or Golden, BC. however we do recommend you bring your
own gear. Equipment failure can put an end to your trip and
cause a costly helicopter evacuation.
Meeting
Point:
Depending on the itinerary,
we commonly meet in either Canmore, Golden or Revelstoke on
the evening before the first day of ski touring.
Climate,
Weather, Temperatures, Snow Conditions:
The
Columbia Ranges of BC are primarily influenced by a moist, maritime
climate (very much in contrast to Canadian Rockies) with moderate
winter temps. During a typical ski touring week, you should
be prepared for heavy snowfall and temps from -1C (30F) to -15C
(5F). But of course, it can get as cold as -30C (-22F) in a
cold mid-winter week and as warm as 10C (50F) during a warm,
spring skiing week in May.
For spring skiing weeks, powder snow (dry, cold snow) usually
preserves well on the many northerly aspects even if it hasn't
snowed in days. At the same time, the southerly aspects will
start to corn up (melt-freeze cycle) with sunny weather, which
yields nice spring skiing, if the descents are well timed with
the day time heating. Unfortunately, as with any backcountry
skiing, we can't exclude (but do our best to avoid) the "in-between
stages" of powder and corn: Crud a.k.a breakable crusts!
Services
Included in the Total Price:
Guiding by a UIAGM/ACMG certified
Mountain and/or Ski Guide, possibly assisted by an apprentice
guide depending on group size / preferences, access by helicopter,
depending on the trip itinerary, lodging in basic alpine club
huts on some itineraries (bunks with foamies), all trip food
(home-prepped, light weight dinners, breakfast and lunch supplies),
avalanche safety gear (transceiver, shovel and probe), glacier
equipment (harness, rope and crampons, if necessary), National
Park wilderness overnight fee fees if applicable, pre-trip meeting
and all guide expenses.
Not
Included in the Total Price (most can be quoted separately)
are:
Lodging
in the valley before or after the traverse, transport to and
from the trailhead, ski touring equipment rental (if necessary),
any additional cost for transport including helicopter evacuation
in case the trip has to be abandoned due to adverse weather
or snow stability, equipment failure etc.
