May 11,2003
| This 24km loop in the Smith-Dorrien valley is one of the classic spring tours of the Rockies. Three of us left the Burstall trailhead at nine,heading straight ahead, instead of right, at the top of the first hill. Travel was fast and easy on crusty snow for the first 2 km of logging road, beyond that, the route to treeline alternated between open flats and steeper forest sections. |
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At treeline the crusts of lower down were replaced with calf deep powder, this was going to be a great day! Here we had a choice, left or right around the knoll at center? We opted to go right, into the main drainage leading up to the toe of the French Glacier.Mt.French is to the left, Mt.Robertson on the right. |
| The group ahead of us chose the left option,and that is the way described in "K-Country Ski Trails".However it has some exposure to slides on the left,and also loses some hard won elevation dropping down from the moraines onto the ice. |
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Once we got onto the glacier, it was a long moderate climb up to the gap between Mts. French and Robertson,and onto the Haig Icefield at the top. Ahead you can see tiny dots, which are other skiers. |
| The thunderous sound of many sluffs coming down from the cliffs on either side entertained us as we slogged ever upwards.Loosened by the warming weather, these small slides posed little threat, as we were well out on the center of the glacier, in fact they were somewhat reassuring as they had no effect on the underlying snowpack. |
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The view opened up as we climbed the French Glacier,Mt. Birdwood and Commonwealth Peak are the toothlike summits behind the ridge of Mt.Burstall on the right.
As we skied through the gap and onto the Haig Icefield,the panorama above,looking south,greeted us.Below is the view west, past our lunch spot to Mt. Sir Douglas at center.Just visible at center, below Sir Douglas is the snow slope we crossed over to and climbed, after eating and taking in the incredible setting.
| We skied across the end of the Haig to the bottom of this slope,which, at over 40 degrees and 150 vertical meters, is the crux of the trip,as it can present a serious avalanche hazard but must be climbed to reach the col above, and the top of the Robertson Glacier.The snow was well frozen still and the hazard was low,the easiest and safest route was to just remove the skis and boot directly up. |
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At the col (elev. 2900 m.) we rested briefly, for it was quite cool and we were eager for what was sure to be a memorable run down the Robertson.Here's my ski partners Danielle and Andy. |
We traversed slightly right from the col to get the best fall line, Andy pushed off and got first tracks. Here is the view all the way down the Robertson Glacier to the flats of the Burstall trail in the distance.
| As expected, the snow was perfect, the picture says it all! 500 more vertical meters of turns to go! |
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When we hit the moraines below the toe of the glacier, the skiing over old avalanche debris became "interesting".Here's one last picture looking back up,I put the camera safely in the pack before tackling the football to tv sized blocks which covered much of the valley floor.After that it was a quick schuss down to treeline and through the dead forest, and back on the familar plod down the logging road to Burstall trailhead. Tired, but elated from one of the best days of the ski season, we reached the car at 5:30, and stepped out of the boards for the final time till fall. Or was it...?
Skiers: Danielle Monnier, Andrew Riggs
Words,pictures,webpage: Steve Riggs