All participants must be competent using an avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, ice axe, and crampons, and must be familiar with glacier travel & crevasse rescue techniques.
Starting from the Lake O'Hara trailhead, we ski along the Lake O'Hara road for about 3 km and then ascend a treed shoulder E of Cathedral Crags (which avoids the gully & headwall described in Chic Scott's Summits & Icefields). From there we follow the glacier to the Cathedral Mtn-Crags col, and then hang a left for the summit of Cathedral Mountain.
The basic descent route is to come back the way we came. If stability is very good we can ski the gully or headwall mentioned in Chic Scott's book, or the 1800m couloir and slope that runs NNW from the E edge of the Crags all the way down to the highway. But don't count on us doing the latter!
ATES Rating: Class 3 Complex
Distance: 18km
Cumulative Vertical Gain: 1600m
Sunrise: 0714 Sunset: 2025
Duration: 10-11 hours , plus driving time
Required Items to Bring:
AT or tele skis & skins
Avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel
Ice axe, crampons fitted for ski boots
Harness, 2 locking carabiners, 2 snap carabiners, 2 prussiks, 1 ice screw
Headlamp
Personal first aid kit
Lots of water
Recommended Items to Bring:
Ski crampons
Ski helmet
How to Get There:
Event Directions:
Take the TransCanada past Lake Louise and on toward Field. About 10km past the Icefields Parkway turnoff, turn left onto the Lake O'Hara access road, cross the railway tracks, and turn right down a short hill to the parking area.
*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.
Trip Feedback If you have any feedback, positive or negative, concerning this trip or any other, we want to hear from you!
Click here to be directed to our "Contact Us" page and contact the appropriate Chair person or the Section Chair. This is also a simple way to make your section executive aware of any praises, suggestions or problems you may have with any area of the Calgary Section of the ACC.
Thank you for your response.
Registration for this event closed on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 11:55 PM.