Wapta Icefield Hut-to-hut Ski Itinerary

Day 1 Introduction to backcountry ski and field day

Meet the group at an office in Canmore, Alberta at 8:00 am for introductions, trip review, and equipment check. Once ready, you’ll drive about 1 hour and 15 minutes north to Bow Lake, the starting point of the tour. After an avalanche safety session, the group will commence the climb to Bow Hut which is located at 7700 ft. on a shoulder adjacent to the snout of the Bow Glacier, this typically takes between 3 and 5 hours. The group will cross the frozen Bow Lake then ski tour up the canyon which leads to the amphitheatre below Mounts Olive and St. Nicholas. After a final steep section, you will reach the welcome warmth of the spacious Bow Hut.
Overnight Location: Bow Hut
Distance: 6km, 610m of ascent
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Field Day and training

Today you’ll start the glacier travel to your objective: Balfour Hut, located at 8100ft. near the base of the Balfour Glacier. You’ll get there by climbing the ‘Headwall’ one last time and then heading over the 9,500ft. high col between Mt. St. Nicholas and Olive. If it’s a nice day, the group can leave skis at the col and climb a beautiful snow ridge to the summit of Mt Olive at 10,200ft. From there you can see tomorrow’s route over the Balfour High Col. A long, easy descent brings you to the Balfour Hut. It will take you upwards of 4 hours depending on whether or not you climb Mt. Olive.
Overnight Location: Balfour Hut
Distance: 8km, 550m of ascent (+additional 1.5km and 215m for Mt Olive climb)
Meals: Dinner

Day 3 Field Day and training

First light will see you heading out of the Hut and onto the crux of the Wapta Traverse, the crevassed slopes leading to the 10,000 ft. Balfour High Col. This is undoubtedly the most spectacular section of the Wapta traverse as you pass beneath Mt. Balfour with its towering seracs and corniced ridges.

You need reasonable visibility for this objective as it is a complex section of terrain and has been the scene of many accidents. Once on the high col, you can look across the gently descending slopes of the Waputik Glacier to Mount Daly with the Scott-Duncan Hut below. It’s a phenomenal panorama. To the north are the Front Ranges and to the south the granite spires of the Purcells with the main peaks of the Rockies between!

This section will take around 6 hours. Weather, visibility, and avalanche hazard can make the Balfour High Col unpassable. In this case, the group will exit via the route you came in. Your guide will make a decision as to whether or not the Balfour Col is passable. You may attempt the col and turnaround if you are optimistic that weather or avalanche conditions will improve. If visibility is poor or avalanche conditions are unfavourable, you will exit back to the Bow Hut.
Overnight Location: Scott Duncan Hut
Distance: 10km, 610m of ascent
Meals: Dinner

Day 4 Field Day and training

From the Scott Duncan Hut you ski towards the rocky thumb of Mt. Niles where the fun really begins. This long descent sees you swooping down snowy benches, through treed glades, and along a canyon. You then finish skiing across Sherbrooke Lake to a trail through the trees that brings you to the Trans Canada Highway at the Great Divide Lodge on the Kicking Horse Pass. You should be back in Canmore by late afternoon.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 13km, descent only
Meals: Not included