New Years tradition in our circle is brought in the only way we know it should be brought in. Tradition has formed where we either book a hut or a lodge and bring in the new years skinning. This year we planned to spend it the Rogers Pass area hoping it would deliver the early seasons goods.

This years snow conditions (or lack there of) had provide little early season turns and we spent most of our time at the Nordic center for our days outside in the early season. Pre-New Years reports of snow pack in the Rockies remained quite meager however having a short drive from the Calgary to our lodging West of Golden we want to get some turns. Knowing the areas under the Crowfoot Glacier gets more snow from the effect of blowing snow off the glacier into the trees we set out to the Crowfoot Glades with our fingers crossed. Once we got to the Parking lot we where greeted by the Majestic Rocky Moutnains along icefield that reminded us why ski conditions don’t even matter and just being out here with the mountains covered in a blanket of white is Epic!.

As we started the skin in and up we where stoked on a supportive snowpack and some good powder in the trees. I usually avoid this area as I prefer longer runs to yo yo laps and enjoy the areas with fewer people. But as result of the driving ahead and not sure what the snowpack was going to be we figured Something that was a short approach was a better call for the day and I’m glad we did as the Crowfoot Glades delivered the goods. We where one of three small groups in the area that day and whatever older tracks where layed had been blown. So we ran the Trees into the gully for a couple runs getting some short steep pitches into the gully. Lukas getting some air of a little drop here.

Feeling confident in the snow pack we decided to go take a look at the steeplines point North East and they did not disappoint.

From there we left for the Hillside Lodge & Chalets about 10 mins West of Golden which was a perfect base camp. 

We'll after a slow start to the season Rogers Pass delivered the goods! everything had been closed for Avy Control the till the day we started skiing the pass. As a result we where the only group skiing and setting a track in the Cheops Glades for the first two days! And that was followed by 35 cms in 24 hrs and with most areas closed we headed to McGill Shoulder to avoid what was sure to be a busy Grizzly Shoulder and practice slopes and where once again greated by the goods. I'll the the pictures do the talking. 

What a week to get the stoke on for a year that with plans for a long weekend at Peyto and April Ski Mountaineering in Alaska the Stoke is HIGH!

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