There was some doubt earlier in the week whether we could do this trip with an Extreme avalanche danger rating and the #1 highway closed. Fortunately the road opened and the avalanche danger rating moderated. Despite the moderated avalanche danger rating we were pretty conservative staying below treeline and not venturing into the alpine on any of the three days (so no ski mountaineering).

The first day it was something like +4ºC at Roger's Pass and windy when we met at the Roger's Pass Discovery Centre around 10:30 am. We then skied the short distance into the hut which was locked and empty when we arrived. In the afternoon we skied up the Illecillewaet drainage to the "practice slopes". Snow was pretty good for the two or three runs we did.

A blurry Bill skiing the Illecillewaet practice slopes.

Terry leaving me in his dust.

David trying AT skiing.

Hut occupancy on Wednesday night was nine people total: spacious, pleasant and quiet.

The second day we went up the Asulkan and skied the trees below the Dome near the Mousetrap. I think again we did two or three runs. The warmer temperatures made the snow heavier than you would expect for January but it was not too bad. We met some friendly folks skiing in the same area who were staying at the Asulkan hut who had skied in the Alpine the day before and said it was not very good - very wind hammered. We also met a pleasant group from Quebec, the Gaspé, who normally skied the Chic-Chocs.

Thursday night we thought the hut was going to be full - and it was - but a large group of 16 did not show up until later Thursday evening.

Wheeler hut: David, Terry, John, Bill and Samuel.

During the night I woke in a drowsy state and heard "yeah it is right above John looking down at him". The "it" was a pine marten that made the strangest sound - I am not sure whether it was aggressive, curious or nervous. I am not sure how to describe the sound - sort of a cross between a purr and a growl maybe? We speculated that it had found a way in through the roof.It did not take anything and eventually left.

For the last day we thought about trying the NRC gullies but in the end decided to go up the Connaught drainage towards Balu pass.

Connaught creek: Mount Tupper on the left Mount Macdonald on the right.

We saw lots of evidence of strong winds and the large avalanche cycle that had occurred. With wind in evidence we decided to search out Ursus trees rather than go up to the pass which we thought would be very wind affected. Fortunately there was a nice broken trail up to the ridge where you get a view of Ursus trees where we had lunch.


Ursus trees.

We took a look at descending from this ridge down to an open little gully we had crossed coming up, but it was very steep at the top. We decided to ski the glades used to exit Ursus trees (we did n't end up skiing the Ursus trees). I thought I remembered a cliffy waterfall at the bottom of these glades which Chic Scott mentions you go into the forest to get around. We were, however, able to ski all the way down without taking to the bush.

Pretty warm temperatures for January meant that the snow was not what you would expect for Roger's pass in January. I think the trip was worthwhile, though, as the ski quality I think is much better than what I am hearing of in the Rockies near Calgary. Thanks to David for introducing the others to that British delicacy: custard, Samuel for the nice soups and snacks, Terry for the tasty apple and almond pie and washing my car and Bill for the Chef Prudhomme tasty cajun dish. Thanks to all for convivial company, flexibility and cooperation with the group decisions from John.