Hilda, Parker Ridges Off-Trail skiing on 31-Mar-2019

Meeting at Laggan's we were undecided as to what to ski. The forecast of 15 cm of new snow on a hard crust had not come to pass. The avi forecast of low low low was encouraging but finding skiable snow on North facing aspects was going to be a challenge. While driving to bow summit we glimpsed skier tracks on a steep feature that none of us had skied before. So we slammed on the brakes and pulled a donut into the crowfoot glacier lookout parking lot.

Ramblers approach Crowfoot couloir

Shirley,Dave M,Dave K , Kim on the uptrack Crowfoot couloir

Ramblers uptrack crowfoot couloir

Ramblers ascending crowfoot couloir

nearing the top of Crowfoot couloir

Shirley,Dave M,Kim,Dave K, ripping em prior to shredding the hill

David above Crowfoot Couloir near Bow Lake

We finished off the day by staying at Hilda hut. Dave K, and Kim had built a beautiful little sleigh that they used to haul in a hundred pounds of water plus their gear.
No problems with the hut.

David, Ed, Kim and Shirley relax in Hilda hostel in Banff NP

Sleeping Cabin at Hilda Hostel in Banff NP

Next day on to Hilda ridge.

Ramblers Hilda ridge

Dave M,Shirley,Kim on Hilda ridge

We did three laps. It was dust on crust. Not powder but the day was lovely.

David, Shirley, Kim and Ed enjoy lunch on Hilda Ridge in Banff NP

Ed and Kim on Hilda Ridge in Banff NP

Another night in the hut .
The next day the grueling approach to Parker's . Two steps out the door and a hard right placed us on the uptrack.

Dust on crust Parker's Ridge

Uptrack Parker's 2 inches dust on crust

Making S's on Parker's

Ramblers ascend Parker Ridge in Banff NP

Another good night in the hostel
and we drove home.
We checked out the approaches to Noseeum creek but the creek was running.
We checked out the approach to the bottom of surprise pass and the snow looked ugly at Louise .
So we came home.

Thanks to David M , Kim and Ed for the photos

as well as to the kindness of strangers who provided a couple of the Crowfoot shots.

Participants: Kim,David,Shirley,David,Ed

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