"Men and women wanted for hazardous journey. No wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Possible honour and recognition in event of success."
I am envisioning this ski tour as being fairly laid-back, although not especially easy. Only the middle day will have a serious uphill component. Nevertheless, anyone in reasonable shape and able to carry an overnight pack should be able to handle this trip's demands. However, it will be dark and it is likely to be cold. Headlamps with extra batteries will be essential, as will plenty of warm clothes. Here's a tentative itinerary:
Day 1: assemble, paw through gear, figure out if we've got enough food, and head off to the Sunshine road; leave one car at the Borgeau Parking area, then start skiing at the Brewster Creek car park and bridge. Ski over the hill and then follow the Brewster Creek trail (likely packed by snowmobile) to Sundance Lodge; ski another couple of km up Brewster Crk and then head up the Fatigue Creek drainage for perhaps another 1-2 km to camp wherever it looks reasonable. If we get off on the trail around 10:30am, I think we could be in position to camp by 5:30pm -- about 14 km altogether -- but possibly longer. We may have to ford (rather than ski across) Brewster Creek, so bring extra socks or wading booties.
Day 2: Continue up Fatigue Creek to Fatigue Pass (about 8.5 km and 700m of elevation); there is supposedly a trail up Fatigue Creek, but I've heard that it has 'gone back to nature', which means we will likely have to put in our own ascent route, an adventure that will get simpler as we get higher (skins will be essential here). We will camp at Fatigue Pass and hardier souls might wish to climb Fatigue Mt (another 500m).
Day 3: Ski from Fatigue Pass to Citadel Pass and then back to Sunshine ski lodge, about 10 km; there should be a remnant trail from near Citadel to the lodge. Note: you're welcome to use any kind of skis you wish, but this is a tour and there will be very limit opportunity for cutting any turns. And, you might ask, why travel this direction rather than the other way? Here's my response:
1. It's usually easier to ski uphill through deadfall than to ski down;
2. What great fun to end up at the lodge for a burger and a beer, and then either ski down the ski-out or take the gondola down. And I'll buy the beer!
Required Items to Bring:
3-antenna transceiver, probe pole, shovel; skis, skins, poles. Warm clothes. Sleeping bag good to -23C; down jacket. Headlamp and extra batteries
Whatever else you might need to make your tour
enjoyable.
Recommended Items to Bring:
We should have a couple of small handsaws for bush and a few pairs of light wading booties
How to Get There:
Event Directions:
We will carpool to this point
Carpool Departure Time:
07:30 AM
Carpool Location:
Shouldice arena
Carpool Directions:
Give me a call if you need directions (246-8246)
Notes:
Give me a call if you want to discuss logistics (246-8246)
By the cutoff date I should be able to arrange tentage, stoves, food, cars, etc. and send everyone an e-mail,
Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review our participant responsibility guidelines!
Let me know by the cutoff date (December 23) if you cannot attend
*Cancellation Policy*: If a participant is unable to attend a paid course or trip, there will be no refund unless the participant finds a suitable replacement that is acceptable to the trip coordinator. Acceptable waiting list candidates will have priority. It will then be the participant's responsibility to recover funds from the replacement. If the coordinator cancels an event, participants get a refund (less any non-recoverable costs). Note that ACC National does not refund hut fees due to weather, delay, closures, or any other reasons. The Calgary Section of the ACC is a not for profit club and we only charge attendees what it costs us to provide courses or trips.
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Registration for this event closed on Friday, December 23, 2011 at 08:00 PM.