Wapta Traverse :: World Class Ski-Mountaineering

Wapta Traverse

Dates & Price
Week 1 : March 20 (evening) - March 27, 2010, 1 Spot Left

Week 2 : April 3 (evening) - 10, 2010, 1 Spot Left

Cost per person is $1595 + GST

Arc'teryx is a supportive sponsor of the winter Wapta Traverse Mountain Adventure and we thank them for their assistance.

The Wapta Traverse should hold the number one spot at the top of everyone’s list of must-do experiences. This world-class winter ski-mountaineering destination is a spectacular journey across the Wapta and Waputik Icefields, providing you with fantastic views, amazing glacier runs, and the ultimate backcountry experience.

Starting the traverse at Peyto Lake, we’ll make our way across the two icefields, spending the evenings warming up, eating great food and sleeping in the comforts of the Alpine Club of Canada’s Peyto, Bow, Balfour and Scott Duncan Huts. Along the way many exciting ski ascents are immediately adjacent to the traverse to try your hand at ski mountaineering. Objectives could include Mounts Rhondda (North and South), St. Nicholas, Olive, Gordon, and Balfour. This camp can be whatever you want it to be - learn the basics of winter alpine travel, or come just for the skiing, the peak-bagging, and to improve your skills.

We run the Wapta traverse every year and it consistently fills up early. Register today to avoid the inevitable waitlist and ultimate disappointment!

Level of Difficulty

This camp is designed for people with little or no previous mountaineering experience. You must have a good level of fitness, be able to comfortably ski the equivalent of blue/intermediate runs at downhill ski areas, and be able to ski with a 16 – 18kg (35 – 40lb) pack for several hours. Porters will be used to transport the majority of food to the huts, however participants will be expected to share in the carrying of any other group food and gear.

Information packages:
Week 1 Info Pack
Week 2 Info Pack NOW FULL

Gear List

Info on sign up process

Photo: © Mike Dodge

2010 Planned Itinerary*

Day 1 – meet at 7:00pm at the CAC in Lake Louise
Day 2 – start traverse at Peyto Lake; stay at Peyto Hut
Day 3 – Stay at Peyto Hut
Day 4 – Stay at Bow Hut
Day 5 – Stay at Balfour Hut
Day 6 – Stay at Balfour Hut
Day 7 – Stay at Scott Duncan Hut
Day 8 – descend via West Louise Lodge on Highway 1, camp ends at Lake Louise
*Subject to change

Included

Guiding throughout the camp
Accommodation at the CAC in Lake Louise on the first night
Accommodation at the Alpine Club Huts along the traverse
All meals starting with dinner on Day 2 and ending with lunch on Day 8th
Breakfast at Laggan's on Day 2
All group gear

Not Included

Transportation to/from Peyto Lake (Participants will be expected to use their own vehicles and carpool to Peyto Lake)
Dinner on Day 1 or 8
Lunch on Day 2 (please bring a bag lunch with you)
Accommodation on Day 8
Personal gear (see equipment list)

Staff:

Week 1 - Wapta Traverse		Week 2- Wapta Traverse
ACMG Mountain Guide Jeremy MacKenzie		ACMG Mountain Guide Peter Amann

Jeremy is an internationally certified Mountain Guide and has been a member of the ACC for well over a decade. One of his favourite summer activities is guiding at the GMC. He also enjoys working with Rescue Dynamics instructing on various ACC Amateur Leadership training courses and teaching the Canadian Military's Search and Rescue Technicians. Winters have typically found him enjoying the deep powder of the Purcell Mountains while heli-ski guiding at RK Heli-Ski. Most recently he can be found working in the Public Safety Program with Kananaskis Country. Jeremy lives in Canmore where he shares his mountain obsession with his wife Arian.		Peter has worked as a Mountain Guide in many ranges throughout western Canada. He routinely works in many of the camps for the Alpine Club of Canada, including 20 years at the General Mountaineering Camp and has been one of the instructors for the North Face winter leadership course for 7 years. He also works with training the Canadian Military's Search and Rescue Technicians, and worked as the Avalanche Forecaster at Marmot Basin for 18 years. Peter has taught both Rock and Mountaineering courses for 25 years, and guided many private ski touring and climbing parties. Peter presently works as lead guide for Robson Helimagic out of Valemount, teaches AST Avalanche courses and guides ski touring in the winter months.

Camp Manager Ron Caves		Camp Manager Peter Caputa

Bio to Follow		Peter Caputa has been an active volunteer within the Alpine Club of Canada for the past seven years. He’s led trips up many peaks in the Canadian Rockies, and skied down a few very nice runs. Peter is “stoked” to be your camp manager on the Wapta Traverse, and will do his best to make this a memorable experience. When not playing in the mountains, Peter works as a biologist in the forests of Northern BC. He will be happy to point out the rich biodiversity found on the Wapta Icefield.

Other great winter trips offered by the Alpine Club of Canada:

	Banff Mountain Film Festival - Ice Climbing November 9 - November 13, 2009		Wapta Traverse - Week 1 March 20 (eve) - March 27, 2010
	Rockies Ice February 14 - February 19, 2010		Balu to Bostock Ski Traverse April 1 - April 4, 2010
	Marmot Women's Ski Camp March 5 - March 9, 2010		Wapta Traverse - Week 2 April 3 (eve)- April 10, 2010
	First Summits Winter Mountaineering March 11 (eve)- March 15 (eve), 2010		Butters Lake Ski Traverse April 9 (eve)- April 17, 2010
	Kokanee Powder Week March 13 - March 20, 2010		Peakbagging on the Columbia Icefield May 1 (eve) - May 8, 2010

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