Included:

• • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • If you choose the 7-day Bow-Yoho Traverse:
    • 6 days of skiing
    • A pre-trip meeting and gourmet dinner at the Truffle Pigs Bistro (for the 7-Day Tour)
    • Hotel stay and restaurant meals in Field at the start of the trip
    • Food during the tour
    • Huts as listed in the itinerary
    • Parks Canada backcountry permits
    • Shuttle drivers (to bring guest vehicles back to Field for the end of the trip)
    • Porter service (food will be waiting at the first hut)
    • Group equipment
  • If you choose the 5-day Bow-Yoho Traverse:
    • 5 days of skiing
    • Food during the traverse starting with lunch on Day 1
    • Huts as listed in the itinerary
    • Parks Canada backcountry permits

Not included:

• • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
  • Transportation to the starting point
  • ACC membership (the price of the 7-day trip is member price only, you can get membership for $51/year)
  • Porters for the 5-day trip (can be organized at an additional cost)
  • Pre and post-trip accommodations
  • Guide gratuities — optional
  • Travel and medical insurance

To enjoy the Bow-Yoho traverse, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for 5-7 hours a day for 5 or 6 full days, covering 6-10 miles (10-15km) of terrain every day. Hut elevations are approximately 7,200ft (2,200m), with 2,300ft (700m) vertical.

You will be carrying equipment throughout your hut-to-hut traverse. Expect to carry 2-4 lbs (1-2 kg) of group gear and 4 lbs (2 kg) of food, with the rest depending on your personal gear. The total weight of your pack should be up to 45 lbs (20 kg).

You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

To participate in this tour, you need to have previous powder skiing and ski mountaineering experience. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for 5-7 hours every day. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe.

Liability waivers are a standard part of all guided outdoor adventures. Recently, the requirements have become a bit more rigorous for ACMG guides—meaning that you’ll need to agree to the signing of the waiver at the time of booking.

Prior to booking, we ask you to review the waiver. During the checkout process, you’ll have to acknowledge the risks and agree to the signing of the waiver. You are required to bring a printed copy on the trip.

Please note that signing and agreeing to the terms of the waiver is required in order to join this adventure. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us prior to booking.

For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

• • Alpine touring skis, preferably with tech-style AT bindings, 150-185cm in length, wide (can be rented)
  • Ski crampons (mandatory, can be provided by guide)
  • Touring boots and poles with powder baskets (can be rented)
  • Climbing skins
  • Climbing harness
  • Prusik cord and 120 cm sewn sling
  • Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
    • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver – a modern digital unit
    • Lightweight snow shovel
    • Collapsible avalanche probe

For personal items, we recommend bringing:

• • Backpack (at least 65 L) — can be rented
  • Helmet
  • Sunglasses and ski goggles
  • Long wool or synthetic underwear 
  • Extra warm shirt (not cotton)
  • Medium weight fleece sweater
  • Softshell or fleece jacket
  • Softshell pants
  • Insulated jacket (down preferred)
  • Insulated pants (fleece or other synthetic) — optional
  • Waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or equivalent)
  • Waterproof pants with side zippers (Gore-Tex or equivalent)
  • Socks (wool or synthetic)  
  • Wool or fleece hat
  • Waterproof ski mountaineering gloves or mitts
  • Lightweight ski gloves
  • Neck tube or balaclava
  • Sun hat
  • 3 locking carabiners, 2 non-locking carabiners
  • 2 4-5 m long 6 mm cord, 1 sewn sling
  • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
  • Water bottle and 1L of water
  • Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
  • First aid kit and small blister kit
  • Personal toiletry kit and toilet paper
  • Large stuff sack for carrying food
  • Sunscreen and lip balm
  • Pocket knife
  • Sleeping bag — three-season bag rated between -7 and -9°C
  • Stuff sack — optional, but recommended
  • Insulated booties or sandals
  • Camera — optional

All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. In Lake Louise, Canmore, or Banff, you can rent:

• • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe
  • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles
  • Splitboards

If you plan on using alternate touring systems such as telemark skis, frame-style AT bindings, or splitboards, please contact your guide in advance.
Ski rental locations are in Lake Louise, Canmore, and Banff, and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

Group sizes:

• • For these Bow-Yoho traverses, the max guest-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
  • It takes a minimum of 3 people to run the 5-day tour. The maximum group size for the 5-day tour is set at 20 participants.
  • The price of the 7-day trip is member price only, you can get ACC membership for $51/year.

Ski touring in the Bow-Yoho Traverse can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis. If you plan to ski tour with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

If your group has ski tourers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

To get to the Bow-Yoho Traverse, most people fly into Calgary International Airport 2,5 hours away.

If you’re joining the 5-day Bow-Yoho traverse, the starting point is Lake Louise on Day 1 of the tour—make sure to fly in at least a day prior to the start of the tour, as you’ll start the traverse on Day 1. You’ll meet your guide at the Alpine Center at 8:30am.

If you’re joining the 7-day Bow-Yoho traverse, the starting point is Field on Day 1 of the tour. You’ll meet your guide sometime in the afternoon at the Truffle Pigs Bistro & Lodge in Field, BC, have dinner, a briefing, and you’ll start the traverse on Day 2.

You can rent a car or take a bus straight to Field or Lake Louise from Calgary Airport.

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!