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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.
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