[MCR] Rockies: Kananaskis - Abruzzi Traverse

My friend Christian and I completed a ski traverse April 28-May 2, which started at French Creek in Kananaskis Country and travelled south through the Joffre and Italian groups, finishing up via Connor Lakes and a pick up on the Elk River FSR. This is the southernmost leg of the "Super Divide" ski traverse from Whitehorn Pk to Mt Harrison.

Overall still good snow coverage throughout this area, except we were surprised to run out of snow at 1800 m on a steep south aspect in Maiyuk Creek west of Mt Abruzzi so we had to walk for a couple of km at one point. However, exiting Forsyth Creek at the end of the trip there was snow in the forest down to below 1700 m and on the road to 1450 m.

There was a major avalanche cycle recently throughout the areas we traveled through with many avalanches to size 4 taking out a lot of timber. But during our trip we had virtually no avalanche concerns. There were strong crusts on most slopes that stayed intact and carried a skier throughout the day even though we had warm temperatures and minimal overnight freezes. The last three days of the trip we had regular light snowfalls but they bonded well to the moist crusts.

The glaciers also had good coverage and crevasse bridging.

Christian Jensen

ACMG Apprentice Ski Guide

Mark Klassen

ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide

photos/ facebook.com/alpinism

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