Klassen Mark. - Summits & icefields. 1: Alpine ski tours in the Canadian Rockies

Mark Klassen is an ACMG/IFMGA certified mountain guide who has been backcountry skiing since 1984.

Mark has played and worked in the snow since he was 18 years old. He ski patrolled in the Canadian Rockies for 12 years, seven of those as an avalanche forecaster. Since becoming a Mountain Guide in 1996, Mark has worked as a heli-ski and ski touring guide, avalanche educator and public avalanche forecaster.

He has skied throughout the Canadian Rockies, the Columbia and Coast ranges in BC, the Alps and the Andes. Mark has completed numerous major ski traverses on three continents.

When Mark is not ski touring, rock climbing or mountaineering he can be found at home in Banff, Alberta.

Chic Scott has almost 50 years of backcountry ski experience and has completed 10 Grand Traverses, including the first successful Great Divide Traverse from Jasper to Lake Louise. He has climbed and guided extensively in the European Alps and North America. He is an honorary member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, the Calgary Mountain Club and the Alpine Club of Canada and is a recipient of the Banff Mountain Film Festival Summit of Excellence Award.

Chic resides in Banff, where he makes his living giving presentations and writing books. To date he has written ten books, including guidebooks, histories and biographies. For more information see www.chicscott.com.

The authors would like to thank all those who have helped create this new edition of Summits & Icefields, in particular Grant Carnie, Dave Birnie, Conrad Janzen, Chris Gooliaff, Aaron Beardmore, Mike Koppang, Marc Ledwidge, Karl Klassen, Rick Schroeder, Jeff Boyd, Grant Statham and Dave Smith.

We would also like to thank those who have allowed us to use their fabulous images in the book. And we cannot forget the dozens of individuals who contributed to earlier editions of Summits & Icefields. Your excellent information and many of your photographs are still included in this new edition.

A big thank you is due to the folks at Rocky Mountain Books who put this beautiful guidebook together Don Gorman, Joe Wilderson and Chyla Cardinal. Its great to work with professionals.

Finally we must give a special thank you to Will Meinen, who created the fantastic new maps in this book. He certainly went the extra mile for this project. If you have any need of Wills expertise he can be reached at wmcartography@gmail.com.

There are a number of backcountry lodges in the Rocky Mountains where you can have a comfortable wilderness ski experience. They vary from the deluxe to the rustic. Some offer fully guided and catered holidays; at others you take care of yourself and lead your own tours. They all offer excellent skiing opportunities. If you are planning on visiting one of these lodges, there are a few things you should bear in mind:

Pack light for the helicopter ride to the hut. Your luggage may be weighed and you may be charged for overweight items. If the trip is catered and guided you do not need to bring much just a change of clothes, hut shoes, a toilet kit, a book and a bottle of your favourite beverage (in addition to your ski equipment). The lodge will send you a detailed list of what you need to bring.

In the event of bad weather the helicopter may not be able to pick you up on the appointed day and return you to civilization. You may have to wait an extra day or two until the pilot can fly safely.

If you are taking medication be sure you have extra for several days.

It is always a good idea to leave a few buffer days after your stay at the lodge before you catch your flight home. If you do get out on time you can always ski for a day or two at the local resort.

Earplugs are a necessity at some of the lodges where you may be sharing a room with several others. If you snore, bring earplugs for your roommates.

If you are self-guided and self-catered you must be able to ski safely and competently in a wilderness setting. You must be able to do your own avalanche hazard evaluation and route finding and be able to deal with any emergencies. As well, you must know how to cook on propane stoves and heat with wood stoves. You should be sure you are familiar with the operation of all aspects of the lodge before you depart.

Note: All prices in this book are for the winter season 2010/11 and will change with time.

TALUS LODGE

This is a deluxe new lodge in a spectacular setting on a high alpine plateau.

Location The lodge is located just outside Banff National Park about 45 km southeast of Canmore 600 E 5600 N.

Maps Kananaskis Lakes 82 J/11

Canadamapstore.com White Man Mountain 082J073

Access A seven-minute helicopter flight from Mount Shark.

Facilities This is a beautiful, brand new lodge with room for 10 to 12 guests. There is a main lodge that sleeps ten and a private cabin with both a double and single bed. The sauna cabin has a sauna, showers and toilet.

Host Chris Espinel

Contact information
Box 731, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0
info@taluslodge.com
www.taluslodge.com
250-342-9358

Cost Talus Lodge offers a variety of three-, four- and seven-day catered packages, both guided and self-guided, ranging from $264 to $420/person/day (includes helicopter transportation).

Skiing Touring terrain in open meadows near the lodge and some advanced tree runs to the east.

AMISKWI LODGE

Amiskwi Lodge. Photo Alf Skrastins.

This is a cozy lodge with a great view of Mount Mummery, located just outside the north boundary of Yoho National Park. The lodge offers completely self-guided and self-catered packages.

Location Amiskwi Lodge is located at 2100 m in a meadow above Amiskwi Pass, 70 km northeast of Golden 500 E 5700 N.

Maps Blaeberry River 82 N/10

Canadamapstore.com Mt. Cairnes 082N067

Access A 20-minute helicopter flight from Golden.

Facilities A two-storey log building with room for 16 people in four upstairs bedrooms (bring your own sleeping bag). Fully equipped kitchen with propane stove, fridge and barbecue. Wood heating stove. Wood-burning sauna. Indoor composting toilet. Sunroom and workshop. Satellite telephone.

Host There is no host, as Amiskwi Lodge is self-guided and self-catered.

Contact information
Box 8126, Canmore, AB T1W 2T8
info@amiskwi.com
www.amiskwi.com
403-678-1800

Cost $800/person/week (includes helicopter transportation)

Skiing Located on the west side of the Continental Divide, Amiskwi Lodge is blessed with a deep snowpack. There is a variety of terrain suitable for beginner or expert skiers treed and open runs, powder bowls and panoramic ridges.

MISTAYA LODGE

Mistaya Lodge. Photo Tomaz Gehrke.

This is a very comfortable lodge that gets a high amount of snowfall. All trips are catered and led by certified guides. This is a lodge for those who want to be pampered a bit.

Location Northeast of Golden near the boundary of Banff National Park. The lodge sits at the edge of a small lake at an elevation of 2060 m in the upper basin of Wildcat Creek 500 E 5700 N.