Note: If you are interested in this trip place yourself on the wait list and send you ski resume to Kyle (Kylegpotts@gmail.com). Do not worry about the number of people on the wait list! Acceptance of persons on the trip will be at the discretion of the coordinator and not first-come, first-served. If you are accepted, you will be required to submit payment prior to being moved to the registered list.
The Wapta Traverse is the ultimate Canadian Rockies hut-to-hut ski traverse! We will cover the appropriately 45km over 5 days and 4 nights! Staying at the Peyto, Bow, Balfour, and Scott Duncan Huts. We will try and attempt some of the numerous objectives along the trip based on conditions and group dynamics.
Day 1: Approach to Peyto Hut. After shuttling vehicles, we will begin with a short downhill ski to Peyto Lake, then a steep ascent leads onto a moraine ridge from where a short descent leads us to Peyto Glacier. From there a mellow climb up the glacier gets us to the Peyto Hut. Depending on conditions there may be time and energy left for a few turns behind the hut on the Peyto Glacier in the afternoon.
Day 2: Traverse to Bow Hut. After crossing the Peyto Glacier we will have the opportunity to climb Mount Habel and/or Mount Ronda. The day will finish with the classic rundown the headwall of the Bow Glacier right to the door of the Bow Hut.
Day 3: Traverse to Balfour Hut. First, we will reascend the headwall. From here we will have a few options of potential peaks, including Mount St. Nicholas, Mount Olive, and/or Mount Gordon. Then a ski down to the Balfour hut will finish off the day. Given the conditions there may also be the opportunity to head directly to the Balfour hut and make an attempt on Mount Balfour!
Day 4: Traverse to Scott Duncan Hut. The crux of the traverse! The steep ascent on the heavily crevassed Waputik Icefield underneath the north face of Mount Balfour makes this day the most exciting of the whole traverse. From Balfour High Col at 3020m we will have the opportunity to climb Mt. Balfour (3270m), the highest peak on the Wapta Traverse! A long, mellow descent will get us to the Scott Duncan Hut.
Day 5: Home Run. We will traverse from the hut into Niles Saddle where a long, descent leads us to Sherbrooke Lake and an easy ski back to the dropped cars. There are also more skiing opportunities should time and energy allow.
Required Items to Bring:
A detailed gear list will be provided prior to the trip.
Ski touring and mountaineering kit (including boot and ski crampons), glacier travel kit, base layers, warm layers, hardshell pants/coat, softshell pants/coat, hut booties, sleeping bag, change of clothes, sunglasses, avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel. Plus food for 5 days.
Recommended Items to Bring:
Whatever makes you smile and comfortable for a weekend in the mountains!
How to Get There:
Carpool Departure Time:
05:00 AM
Carpool Location:
TBD
Notes:
Car pooling and shuttling will be coordinated prior to trip.
*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 Friday, March 31, 2023 at 12:00 AM.