A great team effort made this trip successful. There were several challenges including cold windy weather, navigation problems in a whiteout on Tuesday March 06 from Balfour hut to Scott-Duncan hut and a significant car accident involving one Rambler car but no people injuries near Banff on March 04.

Wapta Traverse March 4-7, 2018 by David

 

The plan was to ski from Bow Lake to the exit near Sherbrooke Lake over 4 days and 3 nights with possible peak ascents including Mt Balfour. We did ski this 37 km Wapta traverse but did not attempt any peaks due to poor weather.

As arranged, two Rambler car loads met at the Lake Louise Info Centre at 10.00am on Sunday, but the third car was involved in a serious car accident at the Bourgeau turnoff near Banff. After Jeannine’s car was towed to Calgary, Vi’s husband Brian kindly came to the rescue and drove the 3 ramblers to Lake Louise and onto Bow Lake where the trip began about 1.30pm. In reasonable weather we reached Bow hut about 4.30pm and enjoyed a pleasant stay with some other skiers.  

 

On Monday, we skied up to the col between Mt. Olive and Mt. St. Nicholas in reasonably clear weather but with a very cool wind.

Mt.Olive/Mt.St.Nicholas col: Jean-Michel, Jeannine, Vi, Clifton, Ealaine, Richard, in front John

This deterred any interest in peak bagging, so we continued onto Balfour hut where we arrived about 1.00pm after 4 hours skiing. After lunch, 4 of us skied towards the Diabieret Glacier hoping for turns but it was cold, windy and wind slabs. We were back at the cosy hut within 2 ½ hours. During the pleasant evening David was hit by intuition (liner).


Balfour hut interior: John, Jeannine, Clifton

Balfour hut interior: Ealaine, Vi, Jean-Michel, Richard, Jeannine

 

We decided on an early 7.30am start for Tuesday’s ski over Balfour pass with a possible ascent of Mt Balfour. When we got going at 8.00am via the bench route the weather was cold (~-20c) but little wind and it seemed to be clearing. However by the time we reached Balfour Pass about 11.30am, we were in a whiteout. Much credit to John for breaking trail around several crevasses. We decided to continue roped up, skins on, GPS’s working and compasses active. A slow plod ensued with the leader directed by compass bearing from number 2 on the rope (it is impossible to ski a straight line in a complete whiteout, which is what we had: visibility ~200 metres).

Around 2.00pm we took a brief lunch break.  It was now quite cold in the strong wind. David was bonking and Vi was very cold because her jacket zipper jammed open. Further plodding brought us within 500 metres of the Scott-Duncan hut. At this point we thought that the hut was on a visible rock buttress and started up a steep slope.  After some flaying about, we decided that the hut must be further down the glacier so retreated and pressed on. Soon we found a gradual slope that led to the hut arriving with considerable relief at 4.00pm. At 4.04pm the cloud lifted to give good views of the glacier and valley floor, but Mt Balfour remained in the cloud.  

As the hut slowly warmed up, so did we including Vi who was shivering under 2 sleeping bags. A good evening passed before Rambler bedtime of 9.00pm.

 

It was about -20c, when we left the Scott-Duncan hut at 9.00am with good visibility. Skiing unroped we reached the Daly/Niles col from which we could see our route down a ridge and over to Sherbrooke Lake.

Sunrise to south-west from Scott-Duncan hut

Sunrise from the Scott-Duncan hut on the Wapta Traverse

Col between Mt. Daly and Mt. Niles: John, Clifton, Vi

Ramblers ski around Mt.Niles near the end of the Wapta Traverse

It was relatively pleasant to treeline when we paired up for the tree descent. JM and Richard chose a double black diamond route while others struggled down easier terrain to skier’s right to regroup for lunch in the Sherbrooke drainage. The weather warmed and the views lifted as we skied down to arrive at the Great Divide Lodge on highway 1 just before 3.00pm. As previously arranged, John’s wife Karen drove up a few minutes later to shuttle drivers back to Bow Lake. It was -3c shade and warmer in the sunshine.


Ramblers skiing across Sherbrooke Lake

Wapta Traverse finished at the Great Divide Lodge: Jeannine, John, Vi, Clifton, Ealaine, Jean-Michel, Richard

 

The lodge kindly let us relax inside and even offered complimentary tea/coffee while we waited for our drivers to return. We left for Calgary soon after 4.30pm and I was home before 7.00pm without incident. Thanks to a great team for completing this Wapta traverse safely. Special thanks from the coordinator me (David) to John and Clifton for their expertise with GPS, trail breaking and rope carrying (though everyone contributed something). My sympathies to Jeannine on her car accident. And more special thanks to Rambler spouses Brian and Karen who jumped in to drive on a moment's notice.

Participants: David, Ealaine, John, Jeannine, Clifton, Vi, Jean-Michel, Richard