Des Poilus Traverse

We set out from Bow Lake on Wednesday morning under changeable skies, and arrived at a very full Bow Hut in the early afternoon.

Ascending the gully below Bow hut

Some relaxed at the hut, while a few keeners skied up to Mt Gordon.


Alex yahooing after descending the east face of Mount Gordon

Thursday, the crux day, blessed us with bright blue skies. We rose at 6.00am, and set off up the headwall towards Mt Collie at about 7.15 am.


Departure from Bow Hut

Wapta Sunrise

Towards Mt Collie

Below Mt Collie, we roped up through the Crevasse area, and continued to the Des Poilus Headwall, which, despite the photo, is very steep.


Looking Back at S. Rhonda

Mountaineers in the sun

Deskinning at the Collie col

Descending Des Poilus Headwall

A rest at the bottom of the Des Poilus headwall

After crossing the Des Poilus, we zig zagged on tired legs up to Isolated Col, and descended the other side into the Little Yoho Valley and finally reached the Stanley Mitchell hut.


Descent from Isolated Col

Entering Trees above Stanley Mitchell

Friday was an overcast and snowy day. Some of the group enjoyed yo yo turns, while others toured up to Kiwetinok Pass.


Sheila on tele skis (on the tele slope)

Arnold on his new AT skis at the tele slopes

Skies were mixed and changeable on Saturday. Most of the group decided to try for the President, while others elected to head for Emerald Pass. After reaching the President Col, the weather turned particularly nasty and we decided not to ascend the last few hundred feet to the summit, and skied down the Glacier and back to the Hut.


Heading to the President

We are going all the way up there!

President Rope Team #2

Skirting the bergschrund at the top of the President glacier

Blue Ice below President Glacier

Sunday saw us doing the long slog (25km or so) back to the Takakkaw Falls parking lot, where the speedy group had gone ahead to collect the cars from Bow Lake.


Back at the Cars

From there, we reconvened at the Rose and Crown for food and beer.Thanks to Sheila, Jeannine, Alicja, Sim, Arnold, Carl, Bill, David, Bob, Manfred, Terry and Alex from C/S Stan for their truly excellent company, cheerful spirit, helpfulness and cooperation.

Lots more photos in a slide show at MobileMe web site
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Last update Friday, April 10 - CVM
And now, a video of turns on the tele slope near Stanley Mitchell hut: Video