Apr 09 07 |
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Now is the high season for ski mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies. Andy Paul and I enjoyed fabulous conditions when we climbed Mt. Field today. The picture was taken from the summit by Andy; that’s the Trans-Canada Highway 1300 m below. The run of 1200 m of vertical from the summit to the Takakaw Falls road was wonderful — boot-top powder almost all the way. As usual, Andy set a “take no prisoners” pace (5:40 from car to car), leaving me in serious need a day off….
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Show all locationsEntry for Tuesday, 7th April 2009 by
Everett, filed under 
Ski Mountaineering.
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7 Responses to “Ski mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies”
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Crikey! 5 hours 40 minutes car-to-car! The road is miles away in that pic, you guys are fast!
At this time of year you’ve got to move fast in order to be off the steep bits before noon (solar time) when things start falling apart (cornices falling, snow getting heavy, etc.) It took us 4:15 to get from the car to the summit but the descent was really fast because 1200 of the 1300 m of vertical was on skis and the snow was in superb shape. In <30 minutes we were back down to the Takakkaw Falls road, and that included several rest stops to allow my burning thighs to recover! Then it was 4.5 km on a mostly flat and icy road back to the car; fast double-poling on alpine touring gear.
Wow – I can see we need to get out there with our skis. Although getting up early might be a bit of an issue.
Looks gorgeous. I’ll trade sailing on San Francisco Bay for back-country skiing in the Rockies any day!
Some of the ‘Kats’ know the Takakkwa road under deep snow conditions, don’t we
I’ve crawled on my belly to spread my weight crossing sections of that road without sinking up to my neck in fresh powder!
And it took so long and so much effort that we never did get to the ice routes! 
Yeah, and I think Tish was on the verge of tears by the time we finally reached the parking lot
I think we have a photo somewhere of that debacle 