We parked on the side of the #93 just before Bow Summit just after 9:00 am I think. Temperature was around -5°C with a nice blue sky.This coordinator was embarassed as he had forgotten his skins. Carl lent me some half skins, thanks Carl, that worked well in the flattish initial section through the trees but as it steepened on the firm refrozen crust I struggled. I had packed (and remembered!) a little bit of glacier gear as on the NE side of the peak is a glacier run. At Arnold's suggestion I wrapped some prussiks around my skis and they did give me enough grip. During the day the prussiks slipped a bit and had to be adjusted a few times. I don't think G3, Coltex or Black Diamond have to worry about competition from prussiks, but it did avoid a wasted day for me - thanks Arnold!

On an earlier trip we had gone up the drainage, and gone too far up it necessitating quite a steep exit from the drainage. The route this day was a bit bushier, but not too bad. We emerged from the trees south of the drainage. Then it was on up to the ridge with great views opening up as we ascended.

We stopped for a lunch just as the ridge was flattening out a bit for a pleasant break to enjoy the view.

On the earlier trip we had to boot pack quite a way along the ridge but on this day there was enough snow to keep the skis on. Skiing rolls and wind scoops on the ridge I was n't very confident in spots as I did n't have a proper ski edge. Thanks again to Liz and Arnold who pounded out a sidewalk in one spot for me. I was slow and at the back.

A bit too late I remembered from the earlier trip that it is probably best to contour east below the summit on the last section rather than stay on the ridge. So a bit too late I yelled the info to Carl in the lead, who with Liz had been doing the trail breaking. Using two routes we got to above the col to the east of the summit to look down the glacier to Dolomite creek and Isabella lake.

It was more wind hammered here than on the previous trip and the weather, as forecasted, looked threatening coming in over the Wapta. My original plan had been to ski the glacier. Though wind hammered at the col the glacier may have been good lower down but after a group discussion, noting the weather and with this coordinator noting his poor equipment choices, we decided to head back the way we came. Pretty nice spring skiing, especially up high, on our descent.

Carl found us a fast and fairly non bushy route on the south edge of the drainage staying above it and using CPS (Carl Positioning system) got us out 20m from the cars at 2:00 pm.

About +3°C at the cars and no isothermal snow! A few of us stopped for a libation and some socializing at the hostel in Lake Louise.

Thanks Carl, Damian, Dave, Liz, Arnold, Kevin and Bob for coping well with this "ropey"(not just because of the rope on his skis!) coordinator John("ropey" - British term: see) .