Yoho-Bow traverse, BC & AB Rockies

I guided the venerable Yoho-Bow traverse 28-31 March. Yes, that's backwards. 93N road closure obliged. There was snow to VB in Field but that may have changed now. That first day to SM was a doozy with heavy packs...

Isolated Col (29 March) had wind slabs near the top on both aspects, but manageable. Fortunately the large paths on the N aspect from Isolated Peak had previously slid huge during last week’s event with the debris mostly covered. Good skiing.

The Collie NE glacier run (30 March) was great with boot-top cold powder top to bottom and the best coverage I’ve ever seen there.

We skiied to Bow Lake from Peyto Hut on Tuesday 31 March. Conditions and glacier coverage excellent, although the amount of glacier recession at the toe of the Bow Glacier is depressing. There’s now a rock outcropping near the bottom that wasn’t there a short time ago.

As expected, everywhere evidence of the widespread natural cycle during the Pineapple Express including on the canyon bypass. Some impressive accumulations