We had a fabulous day, in an area not frequently visited (by Ramblers or anybody else).
We set out up the Healy Creek trail shortly after 9 after walking through the parking lot past a line-up for the gondola that had to be close to a kilometer long. It was pretty cool (around -12) and didn't warm up a whole lot all day. From the Healy/Simpson junction we followed a fresh track towards Simpson Pass along the summer trail for a while before turning left, crossing our up and down tracks from Terry's trip eight days earlier, and picking up the Great Divide Trail about 400 metres north of where we had climbed the "cliff band" on that earlier trip. There we ran into that fresh track again and followed it along the GDT for a kilometer or so. The skies were completely clear but we were in the shade of the continuation of the cliff band and it was getting close to noon, so we headed up and south to find a lovely opening for our lunch.

Lunch break in our first direct sunshine

Socially distanced lunch

From there and for the afternoon we were in a spectacular winter wonderland. Frost on the trees, wide open spaces, great views in all directions (The Monarch, Mt Ball, The Massive range and Bourgeau, Eagle Mt, Howard Douglas, Great Divide and Assiniboine). We headed south about a km (again on the single skier fresh track) before turning east to the gap between the knoll above the Wawa chair and Twin Cairns.


Crossing the meadows west of Wawa Ridge (Mt Bourgeau in bkg)

Meadows west of Wawa Ridge (photo from Brian)

Our first turns of the day (and this trip was mostly about the tour, not the turns) were off the west slope of that knoll after which we followed an existing up track about halfway up Twin Cairns from where we could look at those turns.


Our first turns in lower left (off the knoll above the Wawa chair) (Mt Bourgeau in bkg)

The run down the north slope of Twin Cairns was absolutely fabulous, with a selection of easy pitches. From there we climbed back up to the Wawa knoll.


Knoll above Wawa chair (Assiniboine in bkg)

Again some nice turns down to the top of the Wawa chair and then down the ski-out to the cars at about 3:30.
Whereas last Sunday I enthused about the Sunshine Meadows to the south of the ski area, this week I was equally smitten by the terrain to the west of the ski area. Of course bluebird skies and fresh untracked snow on top of a supportive base didn't hurt.
About 6 1/2 hours, 18 km and 850m elevation gain.
Many thanks to participants: Sim,Bill,Arnold,Alda,Clifton,Mark, and Brian for joining me,Carl (C/S).