My first trip to the Wapta Icefield. Definatly a humbling experience. Being surrounded by so many majestic peaks, being quieted by the wind, feeling insignificant, and of course giddy at the joy of being surrounded by the effervescence of the sparkling fresh snow.
Our route was based on Hut traverses begginning at Bow Hut, crossing part of the Icefield to Peyto, summiting Mt Habel and returing to Bow again for our descent. During this time we practiced safe glacier travel. For example ropping up, probing techniques, reading terrain, and pace setting. During our glacier travel we also spent and large amount of time practicing crevasse rescue, which I highly reccomend should you decide to follow in my footsteps. (Which by the way may be detrimental considering this trip we discovered the path I paved resembles that of a drunkin sailor) None the less training is good.
As always here is the eye candy from our adventure.
Between Bow Lake and Bow Falls, you cross this river canyon on a boulder wedged between both sides. Pretty “Radical Dragon”.
This serac hangs over the trail to Bow Hut and is the site of many winter avalanches. Note to self- if you plan on making this a ski touring mission.
Want to know where to take your super slick city clients? Try the Bow Mansion. With sleeping quarters for 30 ppl having this place to ourselves made my apartment look like a shack. Thanks to the “Alpine Club of Canada” for their hard work and dedication to the mountains in BC and Alberta. www.alpineclubofcanada.ca
This is our guide GREG GOLOVACH. He is the Lead Guide AKA “Runs the Show” up at Great Canadian Heli-skiing. Between Revelstoke and Golden. Check them out at www.canadianheli-skiing.com
My Unidirectional and my V thread. Dude Those anchors are SWEEEEEEET!
St Nicholas Peak.
ROSSIGNOL WAS HERE 190910 Wapta Icefield
Roped up and ready for our Ascent. Stoke factor is off the charts here.
Bow Lake from Bow Glacier
A line I’d like to ski.
Lunch on the Wapta Icefield. Where is my suncreen?
Our sunrise descent.
Want to learn where to refernce good information on how to become a mountaineer. Check out the “ACMG Technical Handbook for Professional Mountain Guides”, or buy yourself the bible “Freedom of the Hills”. On its seventh edition now, this mountaineers bible ia a great reference for mountaineers both newby and pro.
The experience I hope has left me wiser and more prepared. I know however it has left me more thirsty and calculating. Striving to be less egoic, I have been embracing challenge with a softer purpose, and this trip put little less stress on me physically as it did mentally. Not to worry, as I become physically stronger, I am becoming much stronger mentally as well. This recovery process (ACL SURGERY) has forced me to challenge my outlook on the sport of skiing and has opened doors into worlds previously left for others to discover. Now with an open mind I plan to emerge a stronger more talented athlete. A skier, but also a mountaineer. So if I may give myself the tall challenge. In the coming months I hope to post more on skiing (as the season approaches) , but also ski mountaineering. A sport I have discovered is the best of both worlds, Skiing and Mountaineering.
