A story.
Went up towards Perley Rock.
A story.
Went up towards Perley Rock.
Indifferent weather limited the higher elevation options today. For a change we headed up towards Dispatcher Col.
We've skied the lower reaches of the Dispatcher Bowl before but never made it all the way to the col. It's a fine tour. Generally low angle except for the final haul up to the col where one is rewarded with a great view.
We ended the day by dropping back into the Connaught just skier's left of the waterfall. It wasn't pretty but we can legitimately tick it off the list!
At the col |
Waterfall above the Connaught |
Route |
The Tupper Traverse has a glorious remote feeling that is sometimes hard to achieve in Rogers Pass. We've come this way a number of times over the years. Each time the big slope behind Tupper gives us pause. It's huge and bloody steep. On this occasion we weren't overly concerned about stability. In fact it was hard as a rock. The greater hazard seemed to be catching an edge and sliding several hundred meters down a 40 degree slope.
Approaching the big slope |
Thinking about long slides |
Nick not sliding |
No one took a header thankfully and we stopped for an extended lunch break to enjoy the solitude.
Lunch |
Today began with another dash back to Albert Canyon for Steve. This time for skins.
Parks Canada finally relented on their collective punishment temporary safety closure of the Flat Creek access.
The crossing was still in, but just barely, and no one got wet feet to start the day. It would be a different story at the end of the day!
Photo: Nick |
Photo: Nick |
Then it was soaker time!
Photo: Nick |
After spending much of the season lamenting how busy Rogers Pass has become we then have a day like this. Not a soul to be seen.
We broke trail to just below the wind scoured col and descended far skier's right of the icefall.
At the end of the day we skied through the box canyon to just above the Elephant's Trunk which was good for a laugh and a few tumbles.
"Highway closed. Begbie or Fingers?" said Nick's text.
Begbie it is then.
The road is plowed for logging this year so that saved a few hundred meters of uphill slogging. We pointed the skis uphill and broke trail with no particular plan in mind until hitting the ridge.
It turned into one of those days when the snow is so deep and the terrain so steep that you're almost falling through the snow with barely contained glee.