We arrived at the Yoho Valley road trailhead to amazing snow conditions - deep fluffy powder snow. The temperature was around -6C and there was no wind. The tracks were no longer visible as we started out what would normally have been a groomed trackset route. As we ascended up through the switchback section, the amount of powder snow seemed to decrease but there was still lots of it.

On the Road above Switchbacks

Still Lots of snow above the Kicking Horse Valley

A snowmobile track had been put in earlier in the week which made trail breaking easy.


Winter Wonderland - Cathedral Mtn. in background

In addition, there was a group of four women(from Field and Banff) and one other woman (from Field) with a dog in front of us. We eventually passed the group of four who had stopped for snacks and they eventually passed us again when we did the same. The trip in was straightforward until we skied the trail to the falls viewpoint. Mike broke trail for this section but it was relatively short.

We almost lost Aga here as she had stopped to take a photo

and didn't see us head into the viewpoint. She followed the trail of the four women to their endpoint, where she discovered that we were not there. She retraced her steps as did we and found each fairly quickly.

After finding Aga, our group then proceeded back to the falls viewpoint for photos.

Group Selfie at Takkakkaw Falls

We then followed the trail made by the four ladies to what we thought might be to the campground shelter.


Trail into Warden Cabin

It proved to be the Yoho warden cabin. In all the years I have been travelling this valley I had never visited this cabin so it was a interesting discovery. They were just closing up the cabin (one of the women was a Parks Canada employee who was checking something at the cabin) as we arrived.


Group at Warden Cabin

It was decided to head to the campground shelter for a sit down lunch at picnic tables. Trail breaking was necessary but the distance was also fairly short.


Campground Shelter - Our Lunch Spot

Lunch was completed around 3:00pm On the return we broke a new trail to the parking lot to join the existing track. The rest of the return trip was uneventful,


Heading Back

except for a large pile of snow which had fallen off the rocks above the highest switchback(or 1st switchback on return). It sat as a big blob on the road but was fortunately soft enough to ski right through it.


Aga skiing back to the trailhead. The "quick route" down from Cathederal Mountain behind.

As we approached the edge of the groomed trails, the groomers had been busy packing and tracksetting the last section to be skied.

It made for a slightly faster return.The arrival at the cars was around 5:00pm.

All in all, a wonderful day with superb snow conditions, nice weather and a great group. In particular, I would like to thank the group for the extra distance not normally travelled by Ramblers to a trailhead so that this trip could happen. Also, thanks to all for joining me for a wonderful day in the B.C. mountains.

Participants: Sim, Mike, Aga Thanks to Aga and Mike for being the trip photographers. Stats were 28km and 300+m elev gain.

Bob C/S.