Guidebook
Great Canadian Ski Traverses
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Great Canadian Ski Traverses
6 items in this guidebook
Skitour
Garibaldi Neve Traverse
The Garibaldi Neve Traverse is a rite of passage for ski tourers in the Coast Mountains — a 40-kilometre journey across sprawling glaciers, towering volcanic peaks, and some of the most photogenic alpine terrain in the province. Connecting the Diamond Head trailhead near Squamish with the Rubble Creek exit north of Whistler, it’s a line that captures the essence of backcountry skiing in the Sea to Sky corridor: accessible yet committing, and endlessly beautiful. Some teams go for the trip in a oner, starting early and finishing late, but taking multiple days allows you to immerse yourself a little more in your surroundings. The downside of the multi-day option is the heavy pack you’ll have to carry....pick your poison. The trip begins with a steady climb from the Diamond Head parking lot to Elfin Lakes, where the modern shelter offers a warm overnight stop and a chance to watch sunset light over Mount Garibaldi. From there, the route continues north past Opal Cone, The Tent, and Atwell Peak, all remnants of Garibaldi’s volcanic past. The most objectively dangerous part of the entire trip is usually the descent into and climb out of Ring Creek, which is threatened by overhead avalanche hazard. If conditions are not right - go home! The skinning is generally moderate once out of Ring Creek, with a few steeper pitches that provide efficient elevation gain onto the Garibaldi Neve proper. This vast, undulating icefield is framed by ridges and seracs, making navigation a critical element in moving safely and efficiently through the terrain. Make sure you download the relevant maps on Outmap before setting out! Midway through the traverse, most parties camp near the Warren Glacier or the Glacier Pikes, taking in huge views and the silence that defines this section of the park. As you leave the alpine, the descent toward Garibaldi Lake is long, flowing, and scenic, and thoroughly enjoyable in good snow conditions. Once on the lake, a final slog (let’s he honest here) across the frozen expanse brings you to the shore below The Table. The final challenge is the long ski and hike out through the Rubble Creek Trail, which winds through dense forest to the parking lot below. It’s a demanding finish, especially with heavy packs, but the satisfaction of linking such an iconic alpine route is worth every minute. Even if the satisfaction isn’t providing enough motivation, the prospect of burgers getting ever closer should do! The Garibaldi Neve Traverse requires solid fitness, reliable navigation tools, and crevasse rescue experience. Spring offers the best combination of stable snow and longer daylight hours. With clear weather, good planning, and a capable team, it’s one of the most memorable and aesthetic ski traverses anywhere in western Canada — a true Coast Mountains classic.
Skitour
Spearhead Traverse
The Spearhead Traverse is one of British Columbia’s most iconic ski tours — a high, glaciated arc linking the summits and cols of the Spearhead and Fitzsimmons Ranges between Blackcomb and Whistler. Although it begins and ends at two halves of one of North America’s busiest ski resorts, the heart of the route lies in remote, wild country where sharp peaks, broad glaciers, and long, elegant descents are all on the menu. The route can be done in either direction, but Blackcomb to Whistler is the more popular option. The construction of the Kees and Claire Hut has made the Spearhead a slightly easier proposition, but the fact that it’s close to the end of the tour means that most teams combine a night there with a camping night elsewhere on the route. Future huts are planned, which will make the Spearhead a much more “Euro” trip, but for now it’s firmly Canadian! The journey begins high on Blackcomb Mountain, where the lifts give you a ride to the top of the Showcase T-Bar, and the start of the route proper. From here, a short climb brings you over a gentle ridge and onto the Blackcomb Glacier, where the hum of the resort fades into silence. Ahead lies a skyline of jagged summits — Decker, Trorey, Pattison, Tremor, Ripsaw, Macbeth, Benvolio — each linked by snowfields and ice. The pattern of the traverse quickly becomes familiar: climb to a pass, cross a glacier, descend into the next basin - rinse and repeat. From the Blackcomb Glacier, a gradual ascent leads to Decker Mountain and the first real descent onto the Trorey Glacier. Here the sense of scale becomes clear — the Spearhead Range stretches out in a huge curve, and the Fitzsimmons valley beckons far below. Beyond Trorey, the route climbs beneath Pattison and onto the Shudder Glacier, then winds its way toward Mount Tremor, one of the highest points on the traverse. The views here are among the most spectacular in the Coast Mountains: endless peaks to the north and the Tantalus Range off to the southwest. From Tremor, the line turns south, dropping across the Platform and Ripsaw Glaciers before contouring below Macbeth’s steep north face. The midsection of the route feels particularly remote; even though Whistler is only a few kilometres away as the crow flies, it feels like another world. Many parties choose to camp in the broad basin between Ripsaw and Macbeth, where there’s shelter from the wind and easy access to morning sunlight. Beyond Macbeth, the traverse climbs toward the shoulder of Mount Benvolio and then rolls down onto the Fitzsimmons Glacier. This descent, broad and flowing, is one of the highlights of the trip — a long glide across an open glacier framed by Whistler’s most dramatic peaks. The final climb up and over Cowboy Ridge signals the approach of civilization (and the hut, if you’re using it). From the ridge, a steady descent down Singing Pass brings you back into the trees, where the route funnels toward the Whistler valley and eventually the village itself. In good conditions, strong teams can complete the traverse in a long single day, but most parties take two to four. The extra time allows for detours onto side summits, leisurely mornings at camp, and the chance to savor the route’s rhythm. Despite its proximity to the resort, the Spearhead demands respect: glacier travel, navigation, and avalanche safety skills are essential, and weather changes can be sudden and severe. For those prepared and patient enough to take it on, the Spearhead Traverse is a classic of the Coast Range — a perfect blend of accessibility and wilderness, challenge and flow. It’s a journey that condenses the essence of ski touring into one sweeping, unforgettable line across Whistler’s skyline.
Skitour
Bonningtons Traverse
Climbing onto the ridge on the final day of the Bonningtons traverse. With wonderful, quaint huts and no overly complex terrain, the Bonningtons Traverse is about as civilised as Canadian ski traverses get! The route presents some technical challenges, particularly on the last day, but for competent and experienced day tourers, it is a logical first step into the wonderful world of multi-day ski touring. The lack of glaciers and the availability of escape routes only add to the appeal. The huts on the trip all have log burners (complete with well-stocked log stores), outhouse toilets and in-situ stoves which require 1lb propane bottles that you'll need to bring yourself. Be a good hut user and chop more wood than you use, and leave the huts neat. The huts are booked through the Kootenay Mountaineering Club, and reserving them is essential. One thing to note is that they officially sleep 6 people, but you'd need to be exceptionally close friends if you went as a group of 6! 4 is a more comfortable and realistic maximum. The route described here is the classic route, but a new hut has been added at Lost Lake (east of Commonwealth Peak), and allows for an alternative finish to the route from Copper Hut. Over time, this may become more popular than the original finish, but - for now - this is the Bonningtons Traverse in all its glory. The first issue to address is the logistics associated with a linear route. The trip begins at Bombi Summit and ends in Porto Rico, but regular car break-ins mean that leaving a car at Bombi Summit cannot be recommended. Organising a drop-off at the start and a pick-up at the end of the trip is optimal, but leaving a car at the Logden Lodge in Porto Rico (just call them to organise it) and getting dropped off at Bombi Summit also works. From Bombi Summit, the first day of the trip is little more than a positioning day, but it does at least end at a fabulous hut. Start the day by following the huge road/sled track that winds north, vaguely following a powerline. After 6 somewhat tedious but efficient kilometres, branch off right onto a smaller sled track and begin climbing into the forest. If you miss the track, then there's no need to backtrack - you can cut up to it easily enough from further on. Follow the small track until it begins to peter out, and continue climbing - now cutting your own track - to a vague col. Rip skins and descend in a west-northwest direction to the charming and recently renovated Grassy Hut. The hut is modern, comfortable and a testament to the efforts of Kootenay Mountaineering Club. The next morning, the trip proper begins, with an excellent and not overly challenging day to reach the Steed Hut. This hut is notoriously hard to find, so leaving yourself time to locate it in daylight is highly recommended! Begin by climbing back up to the col you crossed to reach Grassy Hut, and then follow the wide ridge which heads towards Grassy Mountain. The ridge begins to bend eastwards and you need to get off it - the best way of doing this is to head directly north down another wide ridge from a sub-summit immediately west of Grassy Mountain. Descend the ridge and then make a short ascent over a small hump to reach a snowmobile road. If the weather doesn't look promising for the next few days, then this is one of the easiest spots from which to bail on the trip - just turn left on the snowmobile track and head back to Bombi Summit. Assuming you're continuing, proceed north over a couple of minor summits, which offer fabulous views and provide some excellent tree skiing. There are plenty of options for seeking out steeper ski lines, but our line shows the mellowest option in case you have concerns about conditions or time. All of the various options lead out onto a snow-covered road. Follow this to a col overlooking Glade Creek and then turn off rightwards and make the tricky climb up to a small col just to the south of Siwash Mountain. The climb isn't too physically tough but the trees are quite dense on the lower section so micro-navigation becomes critical to find an efficient route. The upper section of the climb is much more open, and avalanche hazard needs to be considered. All in all, it's a toughie at the end of the day, but the view from the col is fantastic, and a steep and exciting descent is all that separates you from the Steed Hut. Some highly competent parties have failed to find the hut, and you'll understand why when you finally locate it amongst dense trees around 100 metres north-northeast of a small lake. Looking for it in the dark is not recommended, so factor in half an hour of emergency time when planning this day! Once inside, the hut is cosy and gets you in position for the wonderful journey to the Copper Hut - the most quaint and characterful hut on the traverse of the Bonningtons. Start out from the Steed Hut and make a descending traverse into the Rush Creek bowl. There's some great skiing to be had if you drop right into the bowl, but holding onto your height and saving yourself some ascent is the more efficient option. Once in Rush Creek bowl, climb a wide gully which in turn leads to a col with a spectacular view to the north. Snowwater Heliski operation flies in this area, and you might get buzzed by a helicopter while in the neighbourhood. Follow the spectacular ridge on its crest as it undulates and heads east. Just before the ridge turns north and begins to descend, drop off leftwards and enjoy some great, mellow tree skiing. Much as the skiing is fun, it's important not to drop too low, so always drift right when in doubt, and aim for Erie Creek. Getting over the creek can be tricky but you need to do it before putting skins back on because there's a steep gorge not far up, and that will shut you down if you get up to it. Once over the creek, by hook or by crook, skin up a long and enjoyable mellow slope to reach the Copper Hut. The hut is full of character and a charming spot at which to spend the last night of this amazing traverse - the only issue is that it's likely to be a shorter night than you'd like because you'll need an early start and plenty of time in hand to tackle the final - and toughest - day of the trip. There can't be many treeline ski tours that can rival the finale of the Bonningtons traverse - it's a spectacular journey along a ridgeline with epic views and plenty of excitement. The ridge has cornices for much of its length, and escape from some sections of it would be extremely problematic, so only attempt the day in reasonable conditions - navigating the ridge safely in a whiteout would be challenging to say the least. (If you wake up to poor weather, it's possible to bail by skiing down the slope via which you reached the Copper Hut, and then crossing Erie Creek as high up as possible and then going to Saddle Cabin Recreation Site, from where a long but safe track leads down Snowwater Creek valley to the power station at South Slocan). Assuming you're keen to tackle the ridge, head straight up from the Copper Hut to reach the ridge descending from Copper Mountain and then turn south and follow the ridge easily enough to the foot of Territory Peak's summit dome. The final ascent to the summit might (depending on conditions) require bootpacking. Ski/skin from Territory over to Colony Peak on a narrow-ish ridge, which then gets considerably narrower and exposed as the ridge takes you from Colony to Empire Peak. Parts of the ridge will require you to bootpack, and careful micro-routefinding is crucial to avoid the cornices which line the route. Doing this section in a whiteout is a serious undertaking and can't be recommended - if the weather is poor, then this is not the place to be! Shortly before you reach Empire Peak, the ridge flattens out, so you can spend the last few minutes savouring your trip. From the top of Empire you'll have a magnificent view of the terrain you've spent 4 days covering, so soak it all in and then ski down towards Barrett Lake, picking the most fun line that conditions allow, and aiming to hit the valley floor a few hundred metres north-east of the lake. Once on the valley floor, make the long descent down a snowmobile track (about as fun as it sounds! But at least it's quick) to reach the Huckleberry Hut parking lot.
Skitour
Bugaboos to Rogers
In a country blessed with some of the finest ski touring on the planet, the Bugaboos to Rogers traverse stands above all others. Longer than other classics like the Spearhead and Bow Yoho, the Bugs to Rogers (as it's generally and affectionately referred to) is the most famous and classic of the so-called "grand traverses" - trips too long for the average party to do in one good weather window. Some remarkable longer ski traverses have been completed since the first Bugs to Rogers trip in 1958, but none have ever quite captured the collective imagination of skiers like the OG has. The scenery certainly helps, as does the logical route between 2 legendary landmarks, but the fame of the route has been self-fulfilling, and Bugs to Rogers is now firmly established as the pre-requisite tick for any ski mountaineer looking to join the big leagues. There are multiple routes between the Bugaboos and Rogers Pass, and how strictly you stick to your chosen line will depend on conditions, luck and your ethical strictness. The vast majority of parties aim (understandably) to get from A to B safely via the logical route. In contrast, others insist on following the classic higher route and earning the full tick. Either way, have at it and be safe. The route described here is the low route, which bypasses the complex glaciated terrain around the Beaver/Duncan area but still presents numerous technical challenges along the way. This route also avoids the steep terrain on International Glacier - again, your call. The vagaries of route choice and conditions make it tricky to recommend camping spots, so this description covers the entire route and can be broken up as needed. Regardless of the line you take, this is a huge adventure that will inevitably involve dealing with logistical/weather/snow issues. Pick a weather window that looks decent, but be prepared to be adaptable and, unless you're remarkably lucky, expect to deal with a storm or two. Glacial retreat means that accessing the Bugaboos in winter without a helicopter is unjustifiably dangerous, so the first challenge of the trip is handing over a decent chunk of cash to one of the excellent heli operators in Golden. They provide exceptional service and are keen to help adventurous folk, but expect a minimum of $500 per person for the flight in. Teams generally land and drop at least one food and fuel cache during the heli flight, meaning that you don't need to carry enough food for the entire trip. The debate of how many caches to drop is tricky, but when we did it, we only dropped one (at the Kingsbury Hut) because there are so many variations to the route that there aren't many spots you're CERTAIN to pass through, and having to detour to reach a cache is annoying and potentially dangerous. The Kingsbury Hut is halfway along the route, and you can be 99.99% certain that you'll pass by it, so it's a logical spot to leave the second half of your supplies. Make sure you put them in a solid wooden box (which you can burn after reaching the cache) to keep rodents/bears/whatever out of your supplies. The heli flight is spectacular, and swooping in to land beneath the towering granite walls of the Bugaboos is thrilling. Once on the ground and alone in the wilderness, the first job is to bootpack the steep and challenging snow gully to the right of Snowpatch Spire. It's a tough introduction to the trip, and more than a few skiers—the author included—have questioned their life choices halfway up. Once at the top of the gully, a leisurely and staggeringly scenic cruise down the Vowell Glacier awaits, and the trip finally begins to feel like a ski traverse! A somewhat spooky-feeling drop into an avalanche-threatened bowl is followed by a short climb up and onto the Malloy Glacier, home to the "cozy" Malloy Igloo - a basic shelter which some skiers use on the first night of the traverse. From the Malloy a gentle traverse of the vast Conrad icefield begins, and the ambience changes completely as you leave behind the towers of the Bugaboos and pass through wild and complex glaciated terrain. After a couple of days in high alpine terrain it feels wonderful to drop down slightly at the northern end of the Conrad Icefield and traverse across the deep, tree-filled valley at the southern end of Crystalline Creek. Cross the head of the creek and then make a beautiful ascending traverse beneath Crystalline Peak to reach a col due south of Deluge Mountain. Traverse around the south-west slope of the mountain and down its west ridge, then drop into the northern branch of Crystalline Creek. Camping in the trees, with a running creek, is significantly warmer and more comfortable than a camp high up, so most teams try to engineer a camp around the creek head. Just be aware of bears waking up in springtime! Climb up past Snowman Lake, over a couple more cols and then descend the Syncline glacier, north-east of its eponymous peak. At the foot of this is a broad plateau, just below which begins the climb up to Syphax Col. Climb the peak immediately north-east of the col, and drop off the back side of this by drifting gradually rightwards and following a series of micro valleys before pushing back left to the head of Malachite Creek. In a strong field, this is the most spectacular scenery on the whole trip, with Malachite Spire towering above you, and stunning glaciers tumbling down from Mount Syphax. Soak it all in and then choose your poison - either make the steep climb up to Malachite Col (the final part of which requires a bootpack) and then cross International Glacier, or take the safer but longer option and climb up to Carbonate Col, drop into Bobby Burns Creek, and follow the valley up to the Kingsbury Hut. However you get there, opening the hut door and finally feeling warm, safe, and comfortable is fabulous after four or five days in rugged, high mountains! From the hut, make an incredibly scenic rising traverse (which includes a short but steep section of descent) to reach a broad col east of David Peak. Drop onto the Spillimacheen Glacier and ski where possible, traverse where required. If necessary, it's possible to drop down to the McMurdo Hut, due north of the Spillimacheen Glacier, but this does add a significant ascent to your trip. If the weather is turning, that ascent will feel more than worth it versus getting caught high up in a storm... From the north-west end of the Spillimacheen Glacier, make a fun descent down to Silent Lake - a popular and somewhat adventurous snowmobiling area, and one of the few places on the trip where you might see other people. The lake will be completely frozen in ski season, so don't expect to find running water, but it's a lovely spot nonetheless. From the lake, make a scenic and enjoyable climb up to the blunt south shoulder of Silent Mountain, from where the famous peaks of Rogers Pass appear, and you know you're getting close! The high route goes from Silent Mountain straight down into Beaver Creek, and then up into complex and - at times - serac-threatened glacial terrain, gaining the Beaver Glacier via an ever-narrowing gully east of Mount Duncan. Cross the Beaver Glacier to a col north of Sugarloaf Mountain (reaching the col will require bootpacking and gets steep towards the top), and then descend the Grand Glacier onto the Deville Glacier. The quicker, lower route of reaching the Deville Glacier from Silent Mountain is to make a loooong descending traverse northwards into Beaver Creek, using height as efficiently as possible to minimise the distance you need to travel when you inevitably hit the valley bottom. The descending traverse takes you through a beautiful burned forest, and the angle is just right for efficiency, so in good conditions, this section is wonderful. Once in the Beaver Creek valley, head north and then swing round west into the narrowing valley south of Beaver Overlook. In certain conditions, the huge south-east face of Beaver Overlook can shed snow and present an overhead hazard - be aware of this when deciding how close to pass under it and at what time you do so. The valley gets increasingly tight, and you need to stay climber's right of the creek bed, so micro-navigation and efficient route-finding are key. At around 1650m the valley opens up and the view changes completely, from tight trees to towering peaks. Follow the valley bottom south-west until a rightwards leaning snow runnel appears on the right. Put on boot crampons and climb this (competent cramponers will be fine, but it's firmly front-pointing terrain) to reach lower-angled ground on the Deville Glacier's moraine slopes. Continue up onto the Deville Glacier proper, and join where the high route comes in from the Grand Glacier. From here, the route is fairly non-negotiable, but one of Bugs to Rogers' most famous cruxes still awaits you... Descend the Deville Glacier northwards until due east of Mount Topsham, at which point you will find yourself at the top of a cliff band - home to the famous Deville rappels. For mountaineers and climbers, these three thirty-metre rappels will present minimal difficulty, but for those who "only" ski tour, they can be quite a challenge. Make sure that your rappelling skills are up to scratch before the trip, because the Deville rappels are steep (and therefore exhausting with a heavy pack pulling you backwards) and in a wild, remote place where rescue would be challenging at best. Rogers Pass is achingly close at this stage, but give the rappels your full attention and wait until you've finished them before dreaming of those burgers and beers back in Golden! The first rappel anchor is not well-marked and not in a particularly prominent spot, so describing it is tricky. However, it's a logical spot, and those with an eye for steep terrain and plenty of experience with this type of terrain will find it after a bit of poking around. The change of angle from horizontal to vertical narrows down the area you'll need to search, but it's slightly to the left of the line you naturally come down to reach the cliff, and on the eastern side of a prominent rock. Looking for that anchor is all part of the Bugs to Rogers experience! The rappels themselves are steep, and the last two are only just possible with 30 metre ropes - make sure you tie a knot in the ropes and exercise extreme caution. Once at the foot of the rappels you'll have a steep and tricky transition to get your skis back on, and then an initially steep but quickly easing slope leads you down into valley beneath the Fox Glacier. There are some serious seracs above the valley, so it's not a super dangerous spot, but it's not a place to linger. Skin out of the valley bottom, through a short section of trees, and in to Glacier Circle Cabin - a legendary hut with a storied history which makes a fitting location for the last night of your trip. Wake up the next morning and make the steep but skinnable ascent up to the vast expanse of the Illecillewaet Glacier. Cross this and then descend down past Perley Rock to reach the Illecillewaet parking lot where, if you're well organised, you'll have left a vehicle and a case of beers! Crack some open and toast the trip of a lifetime.
Skitour
Bow Yoho Traverse
The Bow-Yoho Traverse is more than a ski route — it's a journey through some of the Rockies' most legendary terrain, a rugged journey through some vast terrain. It is best done by staying in the excellent huts along the route (booked through the Alpine Club of Canada), but if the huts are booked up, those with a tolerance for carrying heavy packs can do it by staying in tents. Like the nearby Wapta Traverse, extending this trip by staying an extra night or two in some or all of the huts is a great option. The trip begins at the frozen expanse of Bow Lake, where the towering ramparts of the Wapta Icefield loom on the horizon. Skate across the lake's windswept surface before threading their way up a narrow canyon, gradually climbing through snow-laden forest and frozen waterfalls toward the alpine. The Bow Hut emerges on a bench high above the treeline, tucked beneath the imposing flanks of Mount Gordon - a welcome shelter and a gateway to the glaciated wilderness beyond. From here, the route ascends steadily onto the Wapta Icefield itself - a vast expanse of snow and ice. (Some choose to climb Mount Gordon, a panoramic high point with sweeping views that reach to the Columbia Icefield and beyond, but this does add a lot to the day and is better done as a return day trip from the Bow Hut.) Head west across this and make the loooong and gradual climb up towards Mount Collie. It's possible to tag the summit of Collie in the highly improbable event you're keen for some more skinning! From beneath Collie, head due south and follow a spectacular, broad ridge that undulates and then drops down to Guy Hut. Even by the standards of mountain huts, the Guy Hut is utterly spectacular and enjoys an epic view of Mont des Poilus. Taking an extra day or two to tour from the Guy Hut is highly recommended, for the views, if nothing else. The final chapter of the traverse is perhaps its most spectacular: a long ascent and then descent through the icefall-laced Isolated Col and down into the Little Yoho Valley, where the Stanley Mitchell Hut awaits. Tagging Mount McArthur is an option if the weather is good, but this is an adventurous and exciting day even without any detours. As you ski beneath towering limestone walls and past ice-choked gullies, the terrain softens and the Iceline Trail begins to take shape — a high alpine shelf with unparalleled views across the Vice President range and Yoho's glacial giants. Alternatively, if the weather and conditions aren't suitable for the Iceline, follow the Yoho Valley road out. The descent winds past frozen tarns and larch-filled basins, eventually dropping to Takakkaw Falls, where the roar of meltwater signals the return to the world below.
Skitour
Wapta Traverse
This north-to-south traverse of the Wapta Icefield is a classic route of the Canadian Rockies — committing, wild, and achingly beautiful — offering a high-alpine journey through one of North America's most accessible glacier networks. The hut network makes this a civilized tour on which you can carry a relatively amenable pack - something of a rarity on North American ski traverses. If the huts are fully booked, and you take the camping option, expect to carry an eye-watering amount of gear and food. For those staying in huts, booking an extra night in some or all of them is a great way to add some day tours to this itinerary, and remind yourself how pleasurable touring can be with a day pack! The huts are booked through the Alpine Club of Canada, and if they're full, don't count on being able to squeeze in. If you aren't booked into the hut, then you'll need to find alternative dates or take a tent. The Wapta Traverse begins at the north end of Peyto Lake - in summer, it's a shimmering turquoise basin just off the Icefields Parkway, but in winter, it's a frozen, tundra-like expanse. From the parking lot, the route descends steeply through forest to reach the outflow of Peyto Lake, this section often requiring skis on packs or careful "manoeuvring" (if you know, you know) through dense trees. Once on the frozen lake surface, the journey begins in earnest, crossing its length before ascending through rolling moraines (including a section of bootpacking) and onto the Peyto Glacier via a barren section of slightly descending moraine. Gaining the glacier requires care: this section is often crevassed, especially early or late in the season, and roped travel is advised. Once on the glacier proper, a long, steady climb leads up to the edge of the Wapta Icefield, where expansive views open up and the terrain becomes more forgiving. The Peyto Hut, perched on a rocky outcrop to the west, is the first major waypoint, marking the transition from a steep approach to the broad, glaciated plateau that defines the traverse. From here, the route travels south across the Wapta Icefield, weaving between peaks such as Mounts Thompson and Habel. Navigation can be tricky in poor visibility, with subtle terrain features and hidden crevasses requiring caution. The terrain undulates gently for much of the traverse, with occasional steeper sections as you drop into and climb out of shallow glacier bowls. The travel is mostly mellow, but the sense of exposure and remoteness is ever-present. The next stop is the Bow Hut, but its relative proximity to the Peyto Hut means that some teams skip it and proceed straight to the Balfour Hut. Regardless of which option you choose, the St. Nicholas–Olive col needs to be crossed, and it's a defining feature that signals the approach to the central section of the route. This col is often wind-scoured and may require boot-packing or side-stepping depending on conditions. Once over the col, the route swings eastward briefly before descending onto the fun and open Vulture Glacier and reaching the Balfour Hut, another critical waypoint nestled beneath its eponymous peak. The next segment leads toward the Balfour High Col, the crux of the route and its highest point. This section requires careful assessment of avalanche conditions, as it involves steeper slopes and potential overhead hazard from some pretty chunky seracs. The Balfour Glacier is heavily crevassed in places, and route-finding through the seracs below Mount Balfour can be complex. Efficient travel and sensible route finding are essential here. Once over the high col, the descent to the Scott Duncan Hut offers a relief in gradient and a dramatic shift in landscape, with views extending toward the Yoho Valley. The descent down to the Scott Duncan is great fun and you eat up the distance quickly. The final leg of the traverse climbs up to the col immediately east of Mount Niles. From there, either drop straight into the valley below or, if you want to avoid the overhead avalanche hazard that option can entail, hold your height and swing around beneath Mount Niles into the valley due south of it. Both options meet just north of Sherbrooke Lake, which should be frozen anytime the Wapta ski traverse is possible. Cross the lake - as tedious as it sounds, but at least the scenery is good - and then descend/climb/traverse/bushwhack down to the parking lot, just steps from the Trans Canada Highway.