3 good days skiing in Waterton Park from 2 nights in the ACC hut near Cameron Lake. 10-20cms of new powder on "cement" (~1 metre of snow melted and frozen to a solid crust), -5c to -10c, with hazy sunshine and some minor flurries. It dosn't get much better but we need to recheck our route finding and not blindly follow other people's errors.

We left Ed's place in south Calgary by 6.45am to park at the trailhead on the Cameron Lake road soon after 10.00am. After lunch in the hut we set off for Forum Ridge via Alkimina Pass at 12.15pm. Emerging above treeline on Forum Ridge we merged with another up track to de-skin where the ridge flattens out. Then an excellent run down to skier's left of our uptrack in mellow terrain through widely spaced trees to near the Alkamina "road". Peter chose to return to the hut while David and Ed took another run. On top we met about 10 wardens, both Canadian and American, who had set the other uptrack starting from behind the car park outhouse and skied the steep line down to Cameron Lake.We chose to repeat our previous route before returning to the hut about 5.30pm. We enjoyed a pleasant evening with fellow guests, Ken and Carol from Lethbridge ACC and their 12+13 year old grandchildren.

Day 2, David and Ed skied to Summit Lake, while Peter preferred to relax around the hut. Unfortunately, Ed and I took a wrong fork and followed an old uptrack before hacking our way up in 3 1/2 hours to the knob south of Summit Lake with much sweating and cursing. After a well earned lunch we enjoyed 2 good runs down to Summit Lake before returning to the ACC hut along the summer trail by aid of Ed's GPS; something we should have consulted much earlier. Our fellow guests this night were a bi-lingual family including 2 young children (5 & 7?) from Lethbridge.


Peter, David and Ed relax in Cameron Lake ACC hut at Waterton Park

Day 3, all 3 of us skied back up to Forum Ridge via the excellent track put in by the wardens.


Ed and Peter near ACC hut at Cameron Lake in Waterton Park

Peter and Ed de-skin on Forum Ridge in Waterton Park

David and Peter de-skin on Forum Ridge in Waterton Park.

We repeated our previous descent route before returning to the hut for lunch.Then with all our gear to the car and a surprising busy car park by 2.30pm. Initially we drove back up highway 22, but it was snowing so we deviated east to Nanton and then north up highway 2. Peter dropped me off at home in Central Calgary about 6.30pm.

All in all a good trip especially considering the generally poor Alberta snow conditions this winter. The ACC hut sleeps 8 comfortably, but is hot upstairs from the very convenient propane heating. It is an easy 2 km ski/snowshoe/walk from the car on the Cameron Lake road. Water can be from a stream but most seem to use snowmelt. Most guests seem to be families enjoying a rustic experience but the backcountry skiing can be excellent as we found out. Ideally you need 4 minimum to break trail. Waterton is also prone to chinooks which bring wind and rain ruining any skiing in a hurry.The hut also has an irritating drip from the chimney and could use a porch to prevent traipsing in snow and ice from outside the door but otherwise is comfortable.Overnight Wilderness Passes ($9.80/person/night) were not required this visit nor in 2016, but ACC seems confused on this.


Peter prepares to ski from Cameron Lake ACC Hut at Waterton Park

.Participants: David,Peter,Ed