Photo credit: Icefall Lodge

This trip targets a ski ascent of Mount Forbes with a helicopter approach to the Mons Hut from Golden where we will be based for up to 4 nights. The trip will take place on the best 5-day weather (cold and sunny ideally) window from

•  Wed. May 6 to Wed.  May 13. The trip may be shortened to 4 days based on weather/conditions.
• The exact trip dates will be selected by the group 1 week before departure.

Itinerary

·      Day 1: 3-hour drive to Golden airport. 1-h fly-in to Mons Hut. Set up an uptrack from the hut for the next morning. 

·        Day 2: Ski ascent of Mt Forbes through the West Glacier, Rosita couloir or South glacier, Rosita-Forbes col, then NW face / W ridge. Ski back down to hut. 1,600 m gain, 20km return. Expect a 15- to 18-hour day.

·        Day 3: Spare climbing day for Mt Forbes, or ascent of Mons Peak or Cambrai Mountain.

·        Day 4: Ski ascent of Mons Peak, Cambrai Mountain or Division Mountain.

·        Day 5: possible early ski ascent. Fly out to Golden with departure by noon. Drive back to Calgary.

We will work in ropes teams of 3 to 4 persons. The max. number of participants is 10 (2 heli flights), and the min. is 4 participants (1 flight, to keep the helicopter cost per person manageable).
Other rope leaders will be selected first, then drivers.

Technical difficulty:

Advanced mountaineering skills and good stamina: glacier travel with big crevasses; potential for WI3 ice climbing. Complex, big terrain regarding avalanche risks (>40 degree slopes). Participants should have an AST-2 training or equivalent experience, and a few winter alpine routes under their belt (potential for easy mixed climbing). There are 2 main technical and physical challenges on this trip: 1) the Mt Forbes climb, 2) the descent from Mons Hut and return to vehicles (8 to 12 hours; do not underestimate the effort!).

Costs:

·        ·  4-night stay at Mons Hut ($2,000 for 10 persons + GST): $210 to $350 per night per person

·  Helicopter fees (fly-in only): approx. up to $960 per person (based on 10 participants). 

·  Other: carpooling fees to the heli staging area: approx. $120 per vehicle, (not included in payment to ACC Calgary). Individual food.

·  Total: $1,170,  based on 10 participants. 
A detailed budget will be shared with participants, and the exact amount will be adjusted based on the number of committed participants. 

Gear:
Ski mountaineering gear. Some ice climbing may be found in the Rosita Couloir, and on Forbes NW face or West ridge: boot crampons, 1 mountaineering axe + 1 ice tool should suffice to pass those ice patches.

POTENTIAL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS EVENT - READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING UP. By signing up for this trip you acknowledge these Backcountry Skiing Risks, among others not listed:
Avalanches, cold-induced injuries, terrain (cornice fall, crevasses, cliffs, trees, tree wells, forest deadfall and tree stumps, creeks and creek crossings, holes, rocks and depressions below the snow surface, etc.), becoming lost or separated from one’s group, challenging communication, rescue and medical treatment due to remoteness and adverse weather, slips, trips and falls, equipment failure, negligent first aid, negligence of other people.

Readings:

·        Bill Corbett’s, The 11,000ers of the Canadian Rockies

·        David P. Jones, Rockies West

·        http://www.icefall.ca/icefall-traverse/

·        https://perpetualski.ca/2015/07/forbes/

Beacon, probe, shovel, ski crampons, crampons fitted to ski boots, 1 mountaineering axe, 1 ice tool, glacier travel kit, climbing/ski helmet, layered winter clothing. Approach shoes/light moutaineering boots for the walk to vehicles (several creek crossings). Food for 5+ days.

 A detailed list of required and suggested gear will be shared with participants prior to the trip 

The group chose to fly in and out from the Golden airport. 

If we have not climbed together before, send me a paragraph at joad.clement@gmail.com about your alpine & ski mountaineering experience. Let me know if you're interested in leading the 2nd or 3rd rope team. Please also confirm that you have freed your (work) schedule from commitments from May 6 to 13.

 
Trip departure decision timeline:

• November to March: rope leads and drivers are selected
• January to March: other participants are selected
• Around March 11: Group conference call, review budget, itinerary and gear list
• March 25: deadline to make full trip payment to ACC Calgary (cancellation fee: approx $300 to cover sunk costs)
• April 30: Group conference call to select departure date (May 6 or 7)
• May 3: Optional group conference call to confirm departure date (May 8 or 9)

March 18: deadline to make full trip payment to ACC Calgary

Cancellation fees: participation cancellation with another participant found = $50;

If we cannot find a new participant, the cancellation fee is $310 (to cover the hut fees and the increase in flying fees for everybody else).