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Burnaby
Canada
340 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2004 : 03:22 AM
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A few of us from school took off for a week to walk across the wapta/waputik icefields in late june. we first stopped in glacier nat'l park, ambled up great glacier trail to see Sir Donald, Illicilewaet Glacier and tried to see the asulkan hut. we spent another night at tak falls.
the wapta icefield is a popular ski mountaineer area due to relatively tameness of the glaciers and accessibility. in addition to our wise and trusty leader, RB, we relied on chic scotts 'summits and icefields' book, gem publications topo of yoho/banff nat'l parks, and RB's gps coordinates of the huts.
We started from sherbrooke valley and soon got onto the glacier from the moraine at the base of Mt. Niles, after a sketchy stretch of loose shale. it took us awhile to find the scott duncan hut. but it made reaching the hut one of the day's highlights. We watched the sun set on mts. Balfour and Lilliput before us and mt. Niles and Daly behind us.
The second day of the wapta, we passed mt. lilliput and followed some not-so-recent ski tracks towards balfour. The exceptional output individuals attempted mt. Balfour, at 3272 m, the highest peak on the Wapta, whilst the rest surveyed the route from a rocky prominence. This next section, down balfour high col, is a bit of sketchy traveling, due to hidden crevasses and reported icefall off the NE face. We did stop in the midst of this crossing for few photos and hoped that stuff wouldn't hit us or the rope. We arrived at the pass, where beautiful Balfour hut is situated, unscathed and totally exhilarated. From its windows is the expanse of balfour and the diableret glaciers. i was very sunburnt.
Day 3 - It is a gradual ascent up the Vulture Glacier towards Vulture Col. JK, NC, and VO made a run up mt. gordon while the rest went in the direction of mt. st. nick. after some debate (whining), we also decided to haul our asses up mt. rhondda south, and, many kick steps later, found a strange mailbox at the top. from these peaks, one can see the whole icefield below, including Bow Lake. In the evening at peyto hut, after a delicious meal of chili, the competition got serious during a card game of whisk. the weather starts to responds as well.
On the last day we were glad to descend Peyto Glacier towards the lake. The weather was undecided and overcast. We left the glacier without incident and, onto the moraine, passed the Glaciology Research buildings, proceeding down the canyon towards Peyto Lake. We crossed the deltas wherever possible to reach the east side of the lake where a trail is located. No bridge unfortunately. after several forgings thru very cold, fast water, we find the short trail that seems long in waterlogged boots. it takes us to the peyto lookout, a tourist attraction. We charge past the tourists and their cute umbrellas towards to the parking area. Marking the end of Wapta traverse. we started in yoho and somewhere in the wapta crossed into banff nat'l park. |
Edited by - Tash on 08/20/2004 03:34 AM
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 Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2004 : 7:25 PM
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Glad you enjoyed the Wapta, it is a classic Rockies ski traverse and really enjoyable (particularly in good weather). I'm not sure about the "tameness" though as there have been two deaths on the traverse in recent years.
http://alpineclub-edm.org/accidents/location.asp?where=701 |
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Burnaby
Canada
340 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2004 : 01:40 AM
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yeah, looking back, it was pretty sketchy...a group member took photos while descending from balfour high col.
 left, balfour ne face; back, vulture glacier & peak
 partway down from high col, balfour behind
 view from vulture glacier; balfour, the tallest; left, balfour high col at the base |
Edited by - Tash on 08/21/2004 01:51 AM |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
175 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2004 : 03:48 AM
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| Amazing pictures. One day..just one day I'll have the means and the knowledge to explore places like that. |
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Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5908 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2004 : 07:11 AM
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| Wow tash , looks awesome.Hope to do that one some day. |
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Calgary, Alberta
228 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2004 : 12:35 PM
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Great description. thanks.
As far as 'waterlogged boots'. I always take a pair of light weight water shoes with me and slip them on at any mountain water crossing. It helps save the feet. They can also be worn around the campsite at night.
Water freezes at zero centigrade? Tell that to anyone who has stuck their feet into a mountain stream. How can anything on this Earth feel so cold! Can feet scream?
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Port Moody, BC
Canada
458 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2004 : 6:32 PM
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Wapta is a great ski traverse... dense clouds that hung for days stalled our ski traverse, but we got one clear day for some pix...  
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Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Albert Einstein
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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
137 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2004 : 9:40 PM
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Wow, truly amazing. It never ceases to amaze me at the beauty of our country! I too hope to gain the knowledge to do such an amazing traverse in my life time!
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wapta/waputik icefields
