Wapta Traverse: Backcountry Skiing Hut-to-Hut

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • Experienced, ACMG/IFMGA certified ski guides with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 3 or 4-day Wapta Traverse backcountry skiing adventure
    • Permits
    • Food during the tour, from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the last day
    • Huts and fees

  Not included:

  • • Transportation to the starting point
    • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
    • Accommodations before and after the tour
    • Vehicles for the shuttle (bring your own or carpool)
    • Guide gratuities — optional
    • Travel and medical insurance — recommended
• How fit do I need to be?

  To enjoy this Wapta Traverse, you need to be in great physical shape. Previous backcountry skiing experience and ski mountaineering experience is also a requirement.

  You will be on your feet for 5-7 hours a day for 3 to 4 full days, covering 6-10 miles (10-15 km) or more of terrain every day. Hut elevations are approximately 7,200 ft (2,200 m), with 2,300 ft (700 m) vertical, and you will be doing your hut-to-hut traverse carrying up to 45lbs (20kg) of equipment. 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.

  For more backcountry skiing adventures in British Columbia, click here!

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  To participate in this Wapta Traverse, 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.

• Waiver and release of liability

  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.

• What do I need to bring?

  You need to bring all of the following personal equipment for the Wapta Traverse. Please don’t bring extra equipment. If you have any questions at all about gear please do not hesitate to contact us.

  Ski crampons are a must for spring ski touring, and they can make a big difference even on a powder skiing week at times. If you have any difficulty obtaining these please let me know. We have some spares and can likely set you up with a pair. If you have telemark bindings, G3 crampons have an attachment system that works well for most tele bindings.

  Clothing:

  • • Wool or synthetic socks and liner socks
    • Long underwear top (synthetic or wool)
    • Light fleece or wool sweater
    • Wind shell (nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type jacket)
    • Waterproof breathable jacket
    • Warm insulated jacket (down or synthetic)
    • Long underwear bottoms (synthetic or wool)
    • Multipurpose stretch nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type pants
    • Waterproof breathable pants
    • Warm hat (wool or synthetic)
    • Brimmed cap for sun protection
    • Face warmer (scarf, neck tube or balaclava) — optional
    • Light gloves (wool, synthetic or leather)
    • Insulated gloves or mitts with waterproof outer shell
    • Spare gloves or mitts
    • Handkerchief for blocking the sun — optional

  Snow safety equipment:

  • • Avalanche beacon with good batteries (and spares)
    • Shovel
    • Probe (2.4 m or longer preferred)

  Snow touring equipment:

  • • Skis or split board (160-185cm mid-fat to fat ski with rocker tip for powder and spring snow)
    • Ski crampons — must (they’re specific to your binding type, if you can’t find one to fit your binding, G3 crampons have an attachment system that works for many bindings)
    • Ski strap
    • Ski or snowboard boots
    • Poles
    • Climbing skins
    • Skin wax (or a candle)
    • Binding repair kit to fix your personal travel setup
    • Ski helmet
    • Ski scraper

  Personal equipment:

  • • Pack (30-40 liters will work fine)
    • Sunglasses (both orange and dark lenses help a lot for travel in all conditions)
    • Goggles (orange lenses)
    • Sunscreen and lip cream (SPF 30+)
    • Head lamp with good batteries
    • Insulated water bottle or thermos (1-2 L)
    • Lunch bag or container
    • Personal blister kit (i.e. Leukotape-P and Compeed/Second Skin blister pads)
    • Tincture of Benzoin or a medical product by 3M called Cavilon (these products help the
    • Leukotape stick for the whole week if necessary)
    • Pocket knife — optional
    • Camera — optional
    • Binoculars — optional
    • Prussik cord – 5m x 6mm — optional, for contributing to emergency toboggan construction

  Personal belongings:

  • • Duffle bag for your clothes
    • Shoes
    • Comfortable clothing for travel
    • Personal medications and toiletries
    • Ear plugs
    • Reading material — optional
    • Chargers and adapters for electronic devices
    • Cash to pay for your beer tab, souvenirs, and gratuities
• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear can be rented for this Wapta Traverse if you don’t have your own. In Lake Louise, 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 us in advance.
  Ski rental locations are in Lake Louise 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 and age requirements

  Group sizes:

  • • For the Wapta Traverse, regardless if you choose the 3 or 4-day version, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1
    • It takes a minimum of 3 people for the tour to operate. The maximum is set at 12 people.

  Ski touring in the Wapta 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 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.

• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to the Wapta Traverse adventure, most people fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC) 2 hours away by car.
  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 Lake Louise Alpine Center in the morning.

• Safety measures and insurance

  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!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

  Basic

  • • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Flexible

  • • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If canceled 30-59 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If canceled within 29 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Super Flexible

  • • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If canceled 30 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If canceled within 29 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.

  Early Bird booking

  Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit. 

  As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best. 

  More about how Early Bird bookings work below:

  • • Only a 10% non-refundable deposit must be paid upon booking, but this deposit can be transferred to any other 57hours adventure in case the dates don’t end up working for you.
    • Once our guides publish new tour dates, we’ll reach out to you so you’ll be the first one to choose from newly released dates.
    • When you pick your date, you’ll confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total trip amount (amounting to the standard 30% deposit). 
    • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy (found above) applies.
    • The remaining balance is due 90 days before the trip.