Ski Touring to and around the Sydney
Vallance/Fryatt hut
Thanks to Chris Girard for the (modified)
trip posting below.
This is trip to a remote backcountry area
seldom visited.
“The trip into the hut is an excellent winter
ski tour. The terrain beyond the hut may have
good ski slopes as well. Refer to Ski Trails in
the Canadian Rockies by Chic Scott.”
Day 1: drive in (5 h, including 1 food stop
in Canmore or LL) and ski the full, long 21 km
(9 hours) approach from Athabasca Falls OR
shorter 13 km (6 hours) one crossing the
hopefully still frozen Athabasca River to the
Sydney Vallance hut (800 m elevation gain).
There are vertical switchbacks up to the hut
over the last 1 km, including potential
bootpacking.
Group supper feast on day 1. Relax and spend
some time by the fire in the really well
appointed hut. Fryatt hut is rated as a Class A
hut.
Day 2: depending on avi conditions, ski tour
or ski mountaineering to explore the Fryatt
area. There is skiing for all ability levels
here. Alpine Touring skis and Telemark skis are
best, but light backcountry skis may be ok if
you are not into ski mountaineering.
Day 3: optional early morning ski tour to do
more exploration. Ideally let’s aim to summit a
small peak for the sunrise. Ski out around 10
a.m. Back to car around 3 p.m. Optional Lake
Louise pub stop. Back in Calgary by 10 p.m.
Hut fees are $60 for this trip.
Info
Contact me if you have any questions but please
refer to the links below:
http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/wp-
content/uploads/2014/03/FryattHut-InfoSheet.pdf
http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/huts/sydney
-vallance-fryatt-hut/
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