Three Pass traverse

The three pass route is definitely a Roger’s Pass Classic, done in either a day or three it offers some beautiful views with  3 passes that you climb and ski through. A tour up Balu pass, down and then up to Catamount pass, a long descent and then up to McGill Pass and out to the Bostock parking lot. A 28 km 8000 foot tour.

We left the parking lot at 8.30am and toured up to Balu pass. Fast travel led us up to the pass by 10.30, Jay, Chris, Ian and I were primed and ready for the next two passes. Down into cougar creek and a quick snack to energize us for the three thousand foot climb to the top of Catamount mountain. 15 cm of fresh powder covered all the sun crusts and windslabs that were starting to poke out, things were looking fantastic. We were on the summit by 1.30 and carving some great turns down the NE side of Catamount.

Chris charged down the slope and then Jay followed. Jay skied a little further skiers right and into some snow that was  a little more solar. The warmth created more of a slab and he triggered a sizable slide. He was at the top and let it slide past him and down the pitch, and then had to ski the bed surface. Ian stayed in the shadows and had a fantastic run down throwing up some beautiful powder.

From there we skied down 4000 feet to Ursus Creek and started up towards Mcgill pass. A long but dramatic tour, surrounded by gnarly lines which we all talked about the potential of skiing any of them. Someday perhaps.

From the pass we skied down into Bostock creek and out. Needing a little more vertical I toured up a 1500 extra feet and met up with them at the parking lot.

Great tour. As I said worth doing quickly or leisurely. 

10750 feet  9 hr 30 mins  

Quick and to the point

Had an office morning, mailing and generally getting things done. Then off to Mt-Mackenzie for some quick and easy vertical. What I thought was going to be a stormy day turned sunny and I wished for my sunglasses. I guess its always better to have something and not need it then to need something and not have it.

!0 070 feet 4 hrs 55 minutes. day 69

Mt-Cartier

Perhaps Mt-Cartier is best done when you can ski the 7000 foot shot from the summit to the road as in mid winter conditions. Today was not mid winter conditions more spring /summer. Recognizing that it was not the best choice I still went with it since I had not summitted this mountain this year.

 Tracey and I went for a jog at the base of Mt-Cartier and when I mentioned to her that I was going up there she sort of laughed at me. The first 2000 feet had no snow on it and the summit looked miles away from where we were. But I am a stubborn man and a nice walk through a Fir forest didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

I booted up the forest floor till I reached snow and then toured the rest up to the summit. Things on the south side were getting a bit isothermal but I managed to minimize my hazards and worked my way up to the summit. The vantage that Cartier offers is amazing, views deep into the Selkirks and the whole Monashee range. There is an old fire cabin up here, where the rangers would live and watch for forest fires. A cool little cabin with 360′ views of everything as far as the eye can see.

I then dropped around to the North bowl, which required a bit of creative touring but I managed to wrap around and ski the 2000 foot bowl. Great spot that I have never been and always looked at.  The descent led me down and around the mountain setting me up for a great skin to the ridge.  I have always wanted to ski a NW chute of the summit that my friend Scott skied years ago, it seemed like such a dramatic line and today when I toured underneath it I realised how easy a line it is.

When I reached the ridge I was at 9000 feet so I did a fast, cruiser back down the bowl and took my skin track back to the ridge. Skins off and I was on my way down to the valley and the frustrating walk out. While boot packing out the bottom I ran into a deer carcass that was in the process of being eaten. By what I wondered? A cougar or a Grizzly? I  looked around and than hiked out of the area as quickly as possible.   7.5 hrs 10 200 feet