|
This trip targets a ski ascent of Mount Forbes with a helicopter approach to the Mons Hut 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 - May 5 to 13, OR
- May 13- 20. 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, or once the Mons Hut is booked.
Itinerary · Day 1: 6-hour drive to heli staging area (51.79111, -117.16976: drivable end of the Valenciennes River Forestry Road). Fly in to Mons Hut. Set up an uptrack from the hut for next morning. · Day 2: Ski ascent of Mt Forbes through the West Glacier, Rosita couloir, Rosita-Forbes ridge, then NW face or W ridge. Ski back down to hut. 1,600 m gain, 20km return. Expect a 16- to 18-hour day. · Day 3: Spare climbing day for Mt Forbes, or ascent of Mons Peak or Cambrai Mountain. · Day 4: Ascent of Mons Peak, Cambrai Mountain or Division Mountain. · Day 5: early start with descent (ski then bootpack) to vehicles traversing below Mons Peak (exposed to avalanches and rock falls). 1,500 m loss, ±5km ski then ±18km walk with skis on pack, many creek crossings.
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. High clearance 4x4 vehicles are required to get to the staging area (1 to 3 vehicles, depending on the group size). If a smaller group of 4 or 4, we will likely fly from Golden.
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 degrees slopes). Participants should have an AST-2 training or equivalent experience, and a few winter alpine routes under their belt (easy but exposed mixed climbing). There are 2 main challenges on this trip: 1) the Mt Forbes climb, 2) the descent and return to vehicles (8 to 10 hours; do not underestimate the effort!).
Costs:
· · 4-night stay at Mons Hut ($50 + GST per night per person): $210 · Helicopter fees (fly-in only): approx. up to $800 per person ($3,900 for 4- or 5-person flight or $5,100 for up to 10 persons in 2 flights). · Other: carpooling fees to the heli staging area: approx. $200 per vehicle, or ±$50 per person (not included in payment to ACC Calgary) · Total: roughly $1,050.
A detailed budget will be shared with participants later. The trip budget is based on 5 participants. The ACC Calgary will offer refunds if the number of participants is 8, 9, 10, which creates cost efficiency regarding heli flying.
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.
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/
|
