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Icefall Traverse: Hut-to-Hut Skiing in British Columbia

Itinerary
Icefall Traverse
Guide(s)
Larry Dolecki, Jana Poborilova, Ryan Smith, Icefall Lodge
Trip options

Add-ons

Some dietary requirements can be accommodated. Vegetarian and gluten free are generally ok, vegan diet cannot be accommodated. Let us know down below if you have special dietary requirements.

Liability waivers are a standard part of all guided outdoor adventures. For this trip, acknowledging the risks and agreeing to sign the waiver is mandatory before the trip. This is required in order to join the adventure—please check more details in the FAQ section.

Icefall Traverse: Hut-to-Hut Skiing in British Columbia
Itinerary
Icefall Traverse
People
1 Person
Date(s)
--
Duration
7 day
Guide(s)
Larry Dolecki, Jana Poborilova, Ryan Smith, Icefall Lodge
Reserve deposit (50%) $0
Second Payment Amount: $0

  • A week of superb ski touring through some of Canada’s best touring terrain is just a few clicks away! The Icefall Traverse is as good as it gets—high peaks, complex glacier terrain, and comfy huts. Each lodge or cabin offers something new, whether it’s the longest run in Canada, dozens of glacier runs out the door, or some terrific tree skiing. An ACMG guide will lead you through BC’s terrain, make sure you don’t miss out on epic descents, and find just the perfect terrain for you. You’ll end each day at the huts, enjoy a hearty warm meal, and enjoy million-dollar views from the living rooms.

    • Kick the adventure off with a heli ride into the Mons Hut, sitting at the toe of the glacier near the base of Mons Peak. Get settled in and ready for untouched backcountry terrain! Stepping out the door, you get a view of the Icefall on the Lyell Glacier—the traverse will pass above this icefall the next day.

      The Mons Hut gives access to many ski peaks and long glacier runs. Possible objectives for today include Mons Peak, Cambrai or the North Glacier on Mount Forbes. At 3,612 m (11,850 ft), Mt Forbes is the highest peak in Banff National Park. The run on the North Glacier takes you right up to the imposing north face. Once you’ve had enough for the day, return to your cozy and warm hut.

      Meals: Lunch and dinner
      Accommodation: Mons Hut

      One skier on the Icefall Traverse

    • Time to move—this morning, you travel to the Lyell Hut. There is a long run down to the edge of the Icefall Canyon, a 2,000′ deep hole ringed with sheer cliffs and filled with frozen waterfalls.

      The Lyell Hut sits on a rock outcropping at 2,835 m (9,300 ft) and is surrounded on all sides by glaciers. This is the highest elevation ski touring hut in Canada. You can watch alpenglow sunsets on the north face of Mt Forbes out the front window! One evening possibility is to ascend Christian Peak, Lyell 5, watch the sunset and ski down to the hut in the evening twilight. It takes about 10 minutes to ski from the summit to the hut.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Accommodation: Lyell Hut

      Lyell Hut on the Icefall Traverse

    • Cross the Continental Divide over into Alberta and ski Rudolf, Edward and Ernest (Lyell 1, 2, and 3). These are some of the highest peaks in the range, and you can normally ski right off of the summits. From the summit of Lyell 3 at 3,448 m (11,312 ft), you have a 2,200-meter (7,218 ft) descent down a run called the Wild West—the longest ski run in Canada! This run was first skied over ten years ago, but it has only been skied a handful of times since. The addition of the Alexandra Cabin has made this run a lot more feasible for the average group.

      An alternative for getting to the Alexandra Cabin is to ski the Deep End. This run skis more directly to the Alexandra Cabin, exits the glacier much sooner and has more trees and rock for reference. If the visibility isn’t good this is a great option for getting to the Alexandra. With over 1,500 m (4,920 ft) of vertical drop, it is still a huge run in a spectacular setting.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Accommodation: Alexandra Cabin

      Icefall Traverse glacier

    • After a comfortable night in the Alexandra Cabin with a wood stove and a sauna, you will head for Icefall Lodge, where you will spend the next two nights. The route to the lodge climbs up out of Lyell Creek by either the portal or the Shark’s Gate. The addition of the Alexandra Cabin means you will do this in the morning when it’s cooler and generally safer.

      Once you reach the lodge, you are treated to a sauna, shower, electricity, wood stove, double rooms, running water, and many other comforts. The Icefall Lodge sits at treeline, and if the weather is snowy, there are many tree skiing possibilities here. It is usually possible to arrive at the lodge earlier in the week if there’s bad weather up at the huts. There are multiple ski objectives, both summits and ski runs from the lodge.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Accommodation: Icefall Lodge

      Long ski run on the Icefall Traverse

    • Climb over Ice Pass and ski down to the Rostrum Cabin. It is also possible to ski to the summit of Mt Kemmel along the way and enjoy a 1,200-meter (3,940 ft) ski down to the hut. The Rostrum Cabin sits at treeline with a view of the blue ice and tumbling glaciers draping Rostrum Peak. While it is smaller than the lodge, it has many of the same comforts.

      Meals: Breakfast and lunch

      Happy skiers relaxing at the hut on Icefall Traverse

    • The last day is a skin up to the Tempest Glacier and a long run down to the valley bottom for a helicopter pick-up. You will pass through Porcupine Saddle, skiing past blue glacier ice and sometimes through crevasses. In the right conditions, you can climb and ski from the summit of Icefall Peak to the valley floor, another run of over 2,100 m (7,000 ft) vertical. Once you reach the valley floor, a helicopter will come pick you up, marking the end of the trip.

      Departure signs

    • What you get on this adventure:

        • ACMG certified local guides with extensive experience and knowledge of the area
        • 7-day guided Icefall Traverse
        • Accommodation in 5 different mountain huts and lodge
        • Helicopter transport in and out
        • All meals during the tour (food prepared by either the guide of a chef at the cabins/lodges)
        • Light packs; huts pre-stocked with most food
        • Blankets and duvets provided at huts and lodge

      Some dietary requirements can be accommodated. Vegetarian and gluten free are generally ok, vegan diet cannot be accommodated.

      What’s not included:

        • Transportation to the staging area
        • Ski touring equipment
        • Any extra costs regarding rescue or helicopter lifts
        • Accommodations
        • Guide gratuities — optional
        • Travel and medical insurance — optional

    • In order to join skiing the Icefall Traverse, you should be an experienced backcountry skier with expert downhill skiing ability. You should be able to tour 1,800 m (6,000 ft) vertically on recreational days touring. The biggest day of the tour involves 1,500 m (4,920 ft) of climbing and 4 km (2.5 miles) of valley bottom travel. Make sure you’re fit enough to cover these

      Since you’ll be backcountry skiing, there may be variable conditions with anything from powder to frozen crud, breakable crust, moist snow or corn. You must be able to ski in control in any of these conditions to avoid hazards such as crevasses or cliffs.

    • 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.

    • Skiing / riding gear

        • Ski touring skis, telemark or splitboard (snowshoes are not an acceptable option) OR a splitboard
        • Climbing skins
        • Ski crampons — not optional
        • Harness (light mountaineering style)
        • Touring boots (make sure they’re comfortable)
        • Ski poles
        • Avalanche transceiver (digital), probe and shovel
        • Backpack 40-45 liters (has to fit everything you bring plus a small amount of group gear on traverse days)
        • One locking and one non-locking carabiner
        • Helmet (optional)
        • Sunglasses
        • Goggles
        • Repair kit for your bindings & skin wax to prevent snow build-up on skins

      Clothing

        • Wind and waterproof shell jacket (Gore Tex or equivalent)
        • Wind and waterproof pants (Gore Tex or equivalent)
        • Base layer (wool or synthetic)
        • Ski pants
        • Jacket (Soft shell, fleece)
        • Light to medium down or fiber jacket
        • Hat
        • Gloves (2 pairs) (thinner touring gloves and thicker skiing gloves)
        • Ski socks
        • Leisure clothing for the evenings

      Miscellaneous

        • Light silk sleeping bag liner (there are blankets at the huts, but not regular laundry service)
        • Pillow case (no pillows at the Mons, Lyell, and Rostrum—use the pillow case to stuff clothing into)
        • Thermos or water bottle (1-2 liters)
        • Sun and lip cream with SPF protection
        • Small first aid kit with personal medications, blister kit, etc.
        • Camera
        • Headlamp
        • Earplugs
        • Power adaptors and necessary chargers for your devices

    • Group sizes and pricing

        • For the Icefall Traverse, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 8:1.
        • It takes a minimum of 3 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 8 participants.

      Skiing the Icefall 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 younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

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

    • To get to Golden BC, the staging area and starting point of the Icefall Traverse journey, most people fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC). From there, you can rent a car and drive to Golden. Make sure to reach Golden at least a day prior to the start of the tour, as you have a helicopter flight early in the morning of Day 1.

    • 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!

Have more questions? Read our FAQ
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