Mt Field ski tour
/It was -25C when we grabbed another coffee in Lake Louise, and continued into Yoho National Park, just beyond the Divide into BC. We parked just off the highway at the gate, put the skins on our alpine touring gear, and headed on up the road that had been packed down by Park's Canada skidoos before the last storm. Numerous frozen waterfalls are displayed on the cliffs around you as you make your way along. After a 6km trek on the road (almost 2 hours with the AT gear), we had some tea, and then headed up a creek drainage heading west off the road. At times, it was a little tough going through tight trees towards Mt Field, but before too long, we were into the alpine, cutting our own track way north, below Mt Wapta.
We weren't in the sun much, being November - stopping on a cold day like this isn't in the cards. We ripped the skinsoff, and headed down on a semi-predetermined route that we had eye-balled from the road.. We had to adjust the route a bit when we ended up standing on a reasonably substantial cliff, but it wasn't a big deal. The snow was fantastic for the third week of November - really only wind-affected at our high point. Soft and fluffy to the valley bottom on a nice firm snowpack with 10-15 cm of new stuff on top! Apart from the cold, and a still-open creek by the road, it was a stellar day! -15C back at the car, after an hour of doing the xc shuffle - and I could feel both my feet...
Given the 12 km of road travel - not a venture I would do every week. But for some awesome scenery, and one great run, I wouldn't have missed it!
