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Touring
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Thunder Mountain
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Burstall Pass
A gorgeous, easy ski tour through an expansive valley Burstall Pass is a classic Nordic Ski Area on the Smith Dorrien road. Parking is easy to find with a well established trail sign to Burstall Parking. You will get on a non track set Nordic Trail which is heavily used for snow shoeing, walking and nordic skiing in the winter. The trail is meandering and mostly flat until you get to the back of the valley. The trail through the valley hugs the left hand side to mitigate avalanche exposure off of Mount Birdwood and Commonwealth Peak. Once you are at the back of the valley you ascend toward the Col between Snow Peak and Burstall Pass Peak like most places in this area this is most likely a skin track already in. You are exposed to some overhead hazard at this point from Snow Peak and will only want to proceed if safe to do so. If stability allows you can continue on to the col between Snow Peak and Burstall Pass Peak or just descend through the trees. This is a beautiful ski tour with expansive views. If you feel comfortable with some exposure and stability is good you could continue on to the Burstall Pass Peak Route but this would certainly move this tour from easy to complex. This is a scenic tour with not a lot of actual turns as the approach is fairly long both in and out, however, this shouldn't deter you if you enjoy beautiful views and more of a traverse-style ski tour. Written by Kylee Toth
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Mount Engadine Burnt Trees
A gentle slope with well spaced, burnt trees This is an awesome beginner ski tour with well spaced trees and a gentle slope. There is very little overhead hazard unless you ascend higher onto the ridge or continue further down the valley between Mount Engadine and The Tower. The ski in is usually a well packed dual use trail between snow shoers and skiers. The ascent route is straightforward as you gently wind through the giant burnt tree forest. The runs are short but that just means you can do a few laps if you like. This is a great day with lovely views. To access the trail you park on the side of the road, there are usually many cars parked here and there is a summer trail sign for Rummel Ridge. You ascend gently for 2 km through the forest and are rewarded with a lovely lookout view of Spray Lakes and a bench if you want a short break. Continue on until you hit the burnt trees. You can ascend at this point or continue further as the burnt trees extend for approximately 2 kms. This is where you can choose your own adventurous ascent and descent. The burnt trees give this ski tour a unique feel and provide for some unusually pretty views. This is a really good beginner ski touring route with a short approach and mellow terrain but you will still want to make sure you have proper avalanche training and gear to venture into this zone. The best time to ski this area is between December and March as it is a lower snow volume area. This makes a good full day tour if you do a number of laps or great half day, late or early start adventure. Written by Kylee Toth
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Chester Lake Ski Tour
This is a classic beginner ski tour in the Canmore/Kananaskis area. Great views and minimal avalanche terrain to the lake make this a popular choice for a great day out. The Chester Lake Ski tour is a lovely double track trail that winds through the forest before opening up to an expansive valley with towering peaks on either side of a beautiful lake. This ski tour is a go-to classic for people of all ages in the Canmore/Kananaskis area. If you don't go beyond the lake you are not in avalanche terrain, which makes this a great outing with minimal risk. The trail is easy to follow and makes for a fun, fast and flowy descent. You will want to holler on your way down to warn ascent parties that you are coming as this trail is very busy especially on a weekend. There is no cell reception in this area so while the trail is straightforward and simple you are still in a remote spot and should take proper precautions. If you want to find some low angle powder stashes continue west from the lake for some playful tree skiing. If you continue past the lake please be sure to have proper avalanche equipment as you will be entering avalanche terrain. Bring a friend, a great lunch and have an enjoyable day! To access this trail you can get on the Smith Dorrien road via Highway 40 from Calgary or just past the Nordic center from Canmore. You will park at the Chester Lake trailhead which is directly across from Burstall pass it is a popular trailhead with outhouses and a map of the area. There are two trails going to the lake in the winter one is for snow shoes and one for cross country skiing. The cross country ski trail is preferable for ascent and descent as it is wider, smoother and flatter. Written by Kylee Toth
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Helena Ridge Ski Tour (Helena Ridge, Helena shoulder, Helena glades)
A longer but mellow ski tour to a ridge with spectacular views The route to Helena Ridge starts up the well trafficked Rockbound lake hiking and snowshoe trail. The trail is a wide double track that is well signed and makes for a fun, fast and flowy descent. Follow this trail as it twists its way through the forest. Once it levels out to undulating flats you will most likely see a skintrack off to your right. If you have lucked out and you're the first group to break trail head out of the valley toward the well spaced and gladed slope. From the valley to the top of the ridge the terrain is low angle and easy to put in a great skintrack. One of the benefits of this ski tour is that once you pop out of treeline the terrain doesn't ramp up in angle. However, you will want to avoid the slope to skiers right as it is a very clear avalanche path from the ridge (there are no trees or very sparse trees to valley bottom). Under very stable conditions this is a great ski run but you will want to make sure the hazard is low if you decide to descend that way. You can put in a gentle, low angle skintrack right to ridge top where you are afforded 360 degree views - hit this on a clear, windless day and it will make your jaw drop. This is a great place to have a snack or lunch before dropping into a fun run down. People often lap from just below treeline to get a few more meters or powder laps in. There are many options for gladed ski lines back down to the valley and this area doesn't get tracked out quickly. This is a perfect tour on a higher avalanche hazard day or just for a spectacular view! Written by Kylee Toth
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Rummel Lake Trail
An easy ski tour with no avalanche danger This is a classic snow shoe and beginner ski tour in Kananaskis. A gentle grade and undulating forest trail make this a scenic and mellow ski tour. Great for kids and beginners or on higher hazard days the tour takes you to a pleasant frozen lake which is a great lunch spot. Even if you don't reach your destination you will enjoy the pleasant forest you travel through. There are a few strategic bench rest spots en route that provide for some nice places for a snack out of the snow. The trailhead starts directly across from the turnoff to Mount Engadine Lodge and Mt. Shark cross country ski areas. You park on the road and the trail is usually quite wide due to the large number of snow shoers who pack it down. A nice place for afternoon snack or tea is at Mount Engadine Lodge across the road from the trailhead. This is also a great tour if you're not familiar or comfortable with avalanche terrain as you don't go through any on your way to the lake. This is a good zone to practice with your avalanche safety gear in preparation for more complex tours. This is a good adventure November through April as the trail gets packed down well and retains snow. The tour is user friendly for all age groups and abilities although it is 6km to the lake (12 kms total) so don't underestimate that distance and remoteness in winter conditions. Make sure to bring proper winter gear and communication devices as there is no cell reception on the Smith Dorrien. Written by Kylee Toth
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Panorama Ridge (Taylor Lake Ski Tour)
This is an extremely popular ski tour with simple terrain and lovely views. This is a very popular ski tour and for good reason - it is straightforward, low hazard and affords a lovely view. You park at the Taylor lake parking lot and tour up a well beaten path. This is a multi use snowshoe, hiking and ski touring trail, be courteous of other users and be sure to keep an eye out for downhill traffic especially later in the day. You will either want to follow the FATMAP track to veer toward Panorama Ridge after you have ascended 600 meters or follow a usually-well-worked in skin track that veers to the right from the main Taylor Lake trail. If you don't veer to the right you will head to Taylor Lake. It is very easy to find your way to Panorama ridge from Taylor Lake as well, so don't fear if you miss the turn. Once you come out of treeline into an open expansive valley you will start ascending through low angled mixed forest. There are tonnes of beautiful, huge larch trees here that make travel very easy. You ascend through mellow trees to the ridge. At this point you follow the ridge to the obvious highpoint. It is important to note that this is the area of most significant avalanche danger on this route, proceed with caution practicing good route finding techniques and making sure you have consulted the avalanche bulletin. Even if you don't top out on the ridge the low angle larch trees make for some lovely ski laps. The top of Panorama ridge is spectacular and you will surely want to snap a few photos. The total ascent is deceptively over 1000 meters so this makes for a great day tour. A bobsled style descent back through the forest makes for a quick and fun exit, just make sure you holler around blind corners! Written by Kylee Toth
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Healy Pass (Sunshine slack country, Egypt Lake view point)
An easy ski tour with mellow terrain and minimal avalanche danger Healy Pass begins at the Sunshine ski hill parking lot. It is best to drive past the gondola station and day lodge to the back lot which is used for backcountry access. The trail begins by crossing a wooden bridge close to the gondola station and heading up toward Sunshine Ski Hill. If you are on the main groomed path after 100 meters you have missed the turn off to the Healy Pass trail, it is well marked with a National Park sign. The path up the Sunshine Ski out is also enjoyable for a no avalanche risk and on piste tour. The Healy Pass ski tour follows the summer trail and meanders through the forest - it is a very gradual climb and not particularly strenuous. As you continue down the drainage you will pass a few very well defined avalanche paths on your right. Cross these swiftly and one at a time. The trail will continue until you are out of treeline on a gentle slope. These slopes are generally very low angle and meadowy in the summer and provide for gentle slopes in the winter. If you climb all the way to the lookout you are rewarded with a nice view of Egypt lake and the Ramparts this is a great place for hot chocolate and lunch. If avalanche hazard allows there are a plethora of options for skiing along the Healy Pass trail - you could tour up toward Wawa ridge or the Twin Cairns for some steeper laps or head toward Mount Bourgeau for a very long and big summit. Please note however as soon as you deviate from the Healy Pass trail you will be entering more complex terrain so make sure you have proper training and are prepared. This ski tour is a beautiful outing and will inspire you to check out the area in all different seasons. In the summer this area is renowned for beautiful wild flowers and in the fall for a sea of yellow larch trees a truly spectacular zone in all seasons! Written by Kylee Toth