Bow Yoho Traverse

Everyone on your camp will travel across the icefields together, but there is flexibility in the itinerary to accommodate individual objectives such as learning skills in glacial travel, bagging winter summits, completing a first major ski traverse, or even hunting powder.

There will be time and opportunities to summit some coveted peaks. Possible ski-mountaineering objectives include mounts Rhondda (3,055m), St. Nicholas (2,970m), Olive (3,130m), Gordon (3,202m), Collie (3,116m), Yoho (2,760m), Des Poilus (3,166m), McArthur (3,015m), Isolated Peak (2,823m), the President (3,138m) and Vice President (3,066m). Many of these mountains can be skied directly from the summit!

Other highlights of the trip include passing the beautiful Takakkaw Falls frozen in its winter coat, and the potential to ski both President’s Pass and the Iceline Exit from the Stanley Mitchell Hut. 

• The basic Bow-Yoho route could be completed by a strong party in 3 days, but our extended itinerary allows your group plenty of time for day trips to classic summits, passes and powder bowls, without your heavy pack. We think it’s these experiences which make the Bow-Yoho truly unique. 

  • Day 1: Meet at 7AM (MST) in the Canadian Alpine Centre hostel in Lake Louise. Go over paperwork and gear, organize the car shuttle and begin your trip by skiing across Bow Lake and up to the ACC’s Bow Hut. There will be plenty of time on this day to run over skills such as crevasse rescue and opportunities for your first turns in the glades or slopes close to the hut.  
  • Day 2 :  A day out of the Bow hut, give you plenty of options for classic rookies ski touring. Summits of Rhondda, Gordon, or St Nicolas peaks are all possible.
  • Day 3: Travel to the ACC’s newest and most modern hut, the Louise & Richard Guy. Summiting either Rhondda, Gordon or Collie is possible en route before you drop into the Des Poilus glacier basin. 
  • Day 4: A day out of the comfortable Guy Hut will give you the opportunity to ski some nice turns off Yoho Peak or get more adventurous and try to summit Collie or Des Poilus.
  • Day 5: This is one of the crux days of the traverse as the traditional route takes you over Isolated Col – an exposed and crevassed high pass which is susceptible to avalanches. From the col, a good weather day could see you summiting McArthur. Either way, you are guaranteed some nice turns as you descend into the Yoho Valley and check in to the Stanley Mitchell Hut.
  • Day 6: Chic Scott describes skiing in the Yoho Valley as “the quintessential Canadian Rockies skiing experience”. You will have a full day to explore the region from the convenience of the Stanley Mitchell Hut. If conditions allow, the run off off President Pass is a must! And summiting the Vice-President or President is the icing on the cake for many a Bow-Yoho traverse.
  • Day 7: Return to civilization to Emerald Lake or the Transcanada Highway either by the Iceline exit (a stunning, high elevation route) or down the Yoho Valley road past Takakkaw Falls (the second tallest waterfall in Canada). Debrief with your guides and head home with life long memories. 

• Intermediate

  No previous mountaineering experience is required, however, you must have backcountry skiing/splitboarding experience and be able to comfortably ski the equivalent of blue/intermediate runs at downhill ski areas in variable conditions (powder, crust, icy etc.) with a heavy pack. Familiarity with touring equipment and the use of avalanche transceivers is also essential as is good all round fitness. You need to be capable of skinning uphill for several hours with a 35-40lb pack.
  
  If you have any concerns about your suitability for this camp please contact the office before registering. 

Food

Evenings will be spent enjoying great food, socializing in cozy hut surroundings and resetting for the next day’s skiing. Food supplies will be carried in by porter to reduce pack weights and increase the quality and enjoyment of skiing. There will be a mix of lightweight but nutritious backpacking meals and snacks to keep you properly fuelled and hydrated for your adventure. All of our food is provided by specialized backcountry caterers based out of the Bow Valley. Check out our sample menu for full details of catering on ACC Adventures camps and courses.

Accommodation

Completing the Bow-Yoho wouldn’t be the same without also getting the full ACC hut experience. You’ll visit three very different styles of hut – the Bow, Guy and Stanley Mitchell – with two nights at each. The Bow Hut is by far the largest and most accessible of the huts, you can expect day and overnight trippers here and a social vibe. The Guy offers modern comfort in a spectacular location; until 2016, the traverse required camping at this location so this addition has made the traverse more accessible and comfortable for ski tourers. The Stanley Mitchell is a classic log-style, cosy cabin built in 1940.  Staying here is an experience in itself with fantastic views across the mountains and communal and social dining. Guests will be expected to assist the guides with hut duties such as collecting snow for water helping with dishes. 

Guiding

Our ACMG certified ski guides will ensure your journey across the Wapta is both safe and enjoyable. Our guides will be welcome to answering questions about the region as well as everything from ski technique to gear. The maximum ratio of guides to participants will be 6:1 to ensure participants can travel at a pace which is right for them and have the chance to ask questions.

The ACC hires guides certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Visit the ACMG website to learn more about what they do!