Ski Mountaineering Day Trip of Mt Gordon Wapta Icefields

Approach

One day ski trip to summit of Mount Gordon in the Wapta Icefield, Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies.
Approximately 28 km round trip and 1250 m ( 17.5 miles and 4100 feet). Just over 5 hours up and 2-3 hours to ski down.

This ascent is described in detail in Chic Scott's "Summits and Icefields- Canadian Rockies - Alpne Ski Tours".

Park alongside the road into Num-ti-jah Lodge and ski across Bow Lake, and approach as per the Bow Hut access.

We passed several large groups in the canyon. It is better to be spaced out in this terrain trap but the avalanche hazard was low.


Large bowl below the headwall up to Bow Hut after exiting the canyon section.



Bow Hut on bench with Saint Nicholas Peak behind.



Gain glacier above hut. Ski up past Saint Nicholas and across glacier


Looking back at Saint Nicholas


Crossing glacier to Mt. Gordon. Route goes right around rocky buttress.



Summit with Mt Balfour in background.


Mount Balfour and Diableret glacier to right.(great sking)


Telephoto of Mount Balfour. Balfour is also a ski mountaineering objective and is climbed from the opposite side from Balfour hut.


Sking down below Saint Nicholas.

Images

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