Trip Description top of page WHAT IS THE WAPTA EXTREME? This is the ultimate Wapta traverse where you will maximize your powder skiing, ski mountaineering and exploration potential on this classic Canadian Rockies ski tour. Venture with us to visit an amazing array of peaks and incredible ski descents! The traditional Wapta is a beautiful tour that focuses on completing the traverse. It usually includes a handful of ski mountaineering objectives and mainly follows glacial flats on lower angled terrain. Staying at 4 comfortable huts combined with 6 long spring days, means we minimize our hut to hut travel time and maximize our powder skiing, summit bagging and enjoy many a long descent from the top. One of the goals of this trip is to summit the crown jewels of the Wapta. And we do this in style by leaving unessential gear at the hut and travelling light as a feather. Finally, the month of April enjoys long sunny days, fantastic snow and is known as the prime period for ski mountaineering. WHAT TO EXPECT WITH SKI MOUNTAINEERING? No previous ski mountaineering experience is required. Most ski mountaineering summits on the Wapta are reachable by skiing to the top, whilst others may require some boot packing for the final few meters. For those who have that extra drive, there will also be the opportunity to summit more technical peaks. This involves being tied in and short roped by your guide, up more challenging scrambling or along a narrow snow ridge. Others may opt out and ski adjacent slopes. ADDITIONAL MENTORING ON GLACIER TRAVEL AND SKI MOUNTAINEERING SKILLS We will be using glacier travel techniques, navigation and ski mountaineering skills, all of which can be learned and perfected along the way.
Trip Itinerary top of page 2011 Itinerary **This is a sample itinerary and may be changed depending on conditions** Day 1 6:00am: Meet at Beamers Coffee Shop, Bow Valley Trail, Canmore Depart for West Louise Lodge to leave a car shuttle and then continue to Peyto Lake parking Ski through Peyto Canyon and Peyto Glacier to Peyto Hut Options: Peyto Peak, Trapper Peak, Mount Baker Day 2 Options: Mount Baker, Mount Rhondda, Saint Nicholas Depart for Bow Hut Day 3 Options: Saint Nicholas, Ayesha and Ayesha Glacier, Mount Collie, Yoho Glacier, Mount Des Poilus, Mount Gordon, Mount Olive and all adjacent slopes Head back to Bow Hut Day 4 Options: Mount Gordon, Vulture Col, Vulture Glacier, Yoho Glacier, Waves Creek, Diableret Glacier Depart for Balfour Hut Day 5 Options: Mount Balfour, Balfour Glacier, Balfour High Col, Waputik Icefield, Fairy Glacier, Mount Daly, Daly Glacier Depart for Scott Duncan Hut Day 6 Options: Bath Glacier, Niles Glacier, Mount Lilliput, Mount Daly Ski out to Wapta Lake and West Louise Lodge - car shuttle back to Peyto Lake parking lot
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Equipment List top of page General Equipment List
Glacier Travel Kit - this may be rented out
Optional
Clothing and sleeping gear
Group gear provided by Guide
Trip Logistics top of page Food Logistics top of this page All meals are provided by Backcountry Bistro. Backcountry Bistro is unmatched in their quality and lightweight packaging. The food is specially prepared for each trip according to each persons dietary needs, dehydrated and vacuum packed. There is also fresh food included. All huts are equipped with cooking and eating amenities. Breakfast, lunch, apres ski appetizer, supper, desserts, snacks and beverages. Accommodation Logistics top of this page Dormitory style accommodation at the following Alpine Club of Canada huts. Comfortable foam pads, cooking and eating amenities and lighting. Transportation Logistics top of this page Transportation is included from Canmore however one additional guest vehicle will be required for the car shuttle from West Louise Lodge back to Peyto Lake parking lot.
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