Ideas Wanted: Ski Mountaineering in South East Alaska and the Canadian Rockies
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Hey everyone, looking for some ideas on locations to check out next May/June for a 14-21 day ski mountaineering trip. Looking for an area that requires one to be flown into and can provide enough ski options for a trip of this length. |
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southeast Alaska- as far as I know that time of year can pretty sloppy in terms of snow, no real freeze thaw cycle so its just isothermic mush...maybe alright on higher elevation mountains, like 10,000'+? |
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Selkirks/bugs. Look into Canadian Mountain Holidays. The Chugach would be nice too. Lots of companies up there. |
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christoph benells wrote:ULTIMA THULEWrangell St. Elias is a good option:) mountainproject.com/v/wrang… |
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what type of terrain are you after? |
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Will, May-June is not conducive to good backcountry skiing in the Canadian Rockies. Multi-day back country ski days like the Wapta Icefield are best done in the winter when the glaciers have good coverage. Believe it or not, I have had great waterfall ice days in May, but not on the steeper pieces, they normally fall by early Feb and cannot reform. Global warming. Good Luck on your trip. |
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Thanks to everyone that has left feedback so far, I really appreciate it. |
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I think you should ski denali. |
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You will not want your skis for mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies during that time of year. Mount Hector is a good example..we skin up roped up and ski down un-roped in the winter. Late spring/early summer is the absolute worst time to take skis on a mountain like Hector. The snow bridges are wet and heavy....skiing down a glaciated mountain in the winter, risk/reward worth it for most of us....Columbia, Twins...they will all offer the same issue that time of year...not enough coverage to be hauling skis on your back and to dangerous to be skied that time of year. Ski mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies is based on glaciated mountains. BC and/or the coast might offer you some safer options... |