WHERE: Wapta Icefields, AB
WHEN: March 16 – 20, 2026
DESCRIPTION: We’ll be skiing the classic north–south Wapta Traverse across the Wapta and Waputik Icefields, starting from Peyto Lake and finishing near Sherbrooke Lake / Great Divide Lodge on Highway 1. The route links four ACC huts and travels over glaciers, passes and broad alpine bowls, with lots of opportunity for summit “side quests” and powder laps along the way.
This is not a rushed itinerary: five days gives us ample time to move safely, manage conditions and still go after a few peaks.
Arrival – Fri 13 March: Flight to YYC, Car Rental, Drive to Canmore
Pre-Days – Sat /Sun 14/15 March: Group gear check & light touring shakeout (Saturday), Resort ski (Sunday)
Day 1 – Mon 16 March: Shuttle to start, Peyto Hut
Day 2 – Tue 17 March: Balfour (Rob Ritchie) Hut
Day 3 – Wed 18 March: Balfour (Rob Ritchie) Hut
Day 4 – Thu 19 March: Scott Duncan Hut
Day 5 – Fri 20 March: Ski out to the road and return to our vehicle
Post-Days – Sat 21 March: Rest, Resort resort ski.
Departure – Sun 22 March: Drive to Calgary, Flight out from YYC
Side objectives include some of the classic Wapta summits, weather and stability permitting.
COST: Shared costs include hut fees, car rental, and shuttle. Participants will be responsible for their own travel, food, equipment, insurance, park fees, and non-hut lodging. Approx 1700$ including price of flight.
GEAR: Helmet (mandatory), splitboard/touring skis + associated gear, avalanche safety gear (beacon, probe, shovel), sleeping bag (0C to -5C in hut), ski crampons, repair kit, appropriate clothing, navigation tools, ice climbing crampons, mountaineering ice axe.
TRIP LEADER: For more information or to sign up please contact Cedric De Belder (cedricdebelder@gmail.com)
MAX PARTICIPANTS: 7 (7 hut beds pre-booked, additional participant if hut space still available)
TRIP CLASSIFICATION: C. This is a multi-day ski mountaineering traverse on glaciated terrain. Everyone should be comfortable with:
Full days of ski touring with a hut pack (and some shared group gear)
Confident skiing in variable snow (breakable crust, wind-affected, powder, etc.)
Basic glacier travel and companion rescue skills (crevasse and avalanche), including AST1
Moving in exposed alpine terrain in winter conditions
Navigation, decision-making and avalanche safety are a shared responsibility for the group; this is not a guided commercial trip.
HAZARDS:
Avalanche
Communication and Rescue
Boots and Binding Systems
General Hazards
Terrain
Review trip hazards on our website: https://alpineclubtoronto.ca/activities/trip-hazards/ and contact trip leaders for more details.
ACC TRIP WAIVER: Signing of the ACC trip waiver is mandatory. Participants must read the waiver before attending. Members will already have signed the waiver on-line when completing their membership renewal/registration and do not need to sign it again. Please ensure that your membership is up to date.