3-day TRaverse - Bow To Peyto

This 3-Day traverse offers a great long weekend trip that consists of 2-night hut stay. One night at the Bow hut, with a secondary night stay at the Peyto hut. 

DAY 1

Pre ascent, the day will start off in Lake Louise. Here the guide will run through the days to come, where waivers will be signed and equipment will be checked.

To assist you in arriving smoothly at Lake Louise: You can find our meeting location here.

Once the equipment has been checked a convoy to the Bow Lake Car park where there will be a quick organisation of transport, with a vehicle to be left at the Peyto Lake parking lot, for the journey home.

It is approximately a 4-5 hour scenic ascent up through to the Bow hut. Passing over the cold water creeks that stem from the glacier, touring through some beautiful forest, and breaking into the Moraines as you commence your final ascent up to Bow Hut. It is certainly a great way to build some excitement for the next couple of days. 

Once you have reached the hut, the next task is to put your feet up and get yourself accustomed to the living quarters, as your guide fires up supper. After a quick rest, the guide will give you a quick lesson on how to tie into a glacier travel mode for the next day's travel day. 

Depending on how the timings work out this could offer the opportunity for a summit, or get some fresh turns from the surrounding slopes. 

DAY 2

The approach to Peyto hut is approximately another 5-6 hr tour on Glaciated terrain, approximately 7km in distance. 

After breakfast is served and your bellies are full, a debrief of Glacier travel will be given by your guide. This is so that you are aware of how to move carefully and efficiently through the terrain. Once your guide has taken you through the basics, you will commence your journey to Peyto hut, strolling past iconic peaks, such as St Nic, Mount Rhondda & Mount Habel. 

After a gorgeous scenic walk, Peyto will await your arrival. As you once again get accustomed to your new surroundings, the guide will fire up the kettle for a warm cuppa, and dinner will be served soon after. 

DAY 3

After a lie-in and a slower morning than the previous morning, this gives you an opportunity to take in the surrounding peaks before beginning your descent toward Peyto Lake, your final destination.

A roughly 10.5km descent, to the lake, with an elevation loss of 580m. 

4-day Traverse - Bow to Balfour

This 4-day traverse takes you from Bow hut to Balfour hut. 1 night at Bow hut, and 2 nights at the Balfour hut.

DAY 1 

The first day is the same as the day 1 itinerary for our 3-day traverse, so please see above. 

DAY 2

Bow Hut to Balfour Hut is approximately 7km, with an elevation gain of 580m, and a loss of 430m as you descend to Balfour. This is usually a very simple traverse, with the right conditions/ visibility. If the weather isn't good, then this day can take a little longer.  

DAY 3

Balfour Hut has a number of skiing options and great options for those who are looking to bag some peaks. This being the full day at the hut, allows to really get some skiing done. Vulture Peak, Mount Olive, & Mount Gordon, offer viable options, to go and ski, should weather/snowpack conditions allow. 

DAY 4

Day 4 is the exit day, will be a retracing of your tracks back via the Bow hut, back to the Bow Lake parking lot. 

5-day traverse - Bow to Yoho

This Traverse is the most famous of the traverses, seeing one night at the Bow hut, two nights at the guy hut and one night at the Stanley Mitchell, before descending down to Yoho. 

DAY 1 

The first day is the same as the day 1 itinerary for our 3-day traverse, so please see above. 

DAY 2

The day starts skiing west towards the open pass between Mount Rhondda and Mount Gordon, after a gentle descent towards the Collie Icefields. Making our way carefully through the broken Glacier, once at the top it is a descent onto the western part of Yoho Glacier. After a couple of ascents and descents brings you to the Guy Hut. 

DAY 3

A day of skiing around the Guy hut will allow for a fantastic opportunity to take in and complete some of those desirable turns.  

DAY 4

The fourth day brings the journey from the Guy hut to Stanley Mitchell. 

DAY 5

From Stanley Mitchell to the end, depending on what time of the year, may take alternative routes for each. Condition dependent on the road. 

Guide : Guest Ratios

Our ratios are 1:8 for the Wapta Icefields

Travel to the Lake Louise

Our suggestions for your most efficient way to access the program venue from a variety of locations and international ports of entry:

• Calgary (YYC) to Lake Louise:

  • Those Guests traveling from, or arriving by air at Calgary International Airport: Your most efficient route to join us at the Columbia Icefields will be through our base in Canmore, Alberta, then following the Trans Can west to Lake Louise, approximately a 2hr drive. A rental car or personal transportation will be required. 
    Find a travel plan here.

• Edmonton (YEG) to Lake Louise: 

  • Follow AB-2 S and then the Trans Canada Highway West to Lake Louise, approximately a 4hr 30mins drive. A rental car or personal transportation will be required.
    Find a travel plan here.

• Travelling from British Columbia: 

  • For our Guests travelling and arriving from locations in British Columbia: Please use the following map link to aid in your planning and arrival at, The plan provided commences in Golden, approximately 1hr from Lake Louise.
    Find the travel plan here
     

Early ARRIVALS

ACCOMMODATION & TRIP PREP

For those looking to arrive early ahead of your program, our base in Canmore, Alberta as well as the townsite of Banff, a further 20 minute drive inside the East Gates of Banff National Park, offer a variety or useful pre-trip amenities and comfortable accommodation options. Following are our suggestions for accommodation and gear and equipment retailers to help you prepare:

• ACCOMMODATION:
   

  • CANMORE 
    ALPINE CLUB OF CANADA
    THE PAINTBOX LODGE

  • BANFF
    BUFFALOBERRY LODGE

  • LAKE LOUISE
    CANADIAN ALPINE CENTRE
    THE POST HOTEL
     

• GEAR PURCHASES PRE-COURSE:

  For those looking to purchase gear and equipment prior to your course, we would suggest the following local Bow Valley retailers:

  • Vertical Addiction
    • Located in Canmore, Vertical Addiction offers a complete selection of technical climbing, mountaineering and ski equipment along with a broad selection of technical clothing. 
       
  • Monods Sports
    • Located in Banff, Monods is one of the longest operating outdoor equipment and clothing retailers in the Bow Valley. Monods have a large selection of technical clothing offerings
       
  • Black Diamond Equipment
    • Our Affiliate Partners at Black Diamond Equipment are our first choice for technical clothing and equipment. Check out their broad range of technical clothing and equipment and purchase at either Monods or Vertical Addiction locally.
       

Your Mountain Guide's Transportation

TRANSPORTATION COSTS

In addition to your Ascent Package Fee, an additional fee of $150 CDN will be applied to your order. These amounts are paid in full and directly to our Guiding Staff to cover the longer transportation routes required to arrive at the Columbia Icefields. In circumstances where you are able to provide your Guide with Transportation from our hubs in either Canmore or Lake Louise, and where no other factors make prohibit this option, this fee will be waived.
 

MOUNTAIN MEAL PROGRAMS

MEAL PROGRAMS PROVIDED

Provided in the meal program is Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, as well as high-energy snacks for the duration of your trip.

Required Equipment & Personal Items

• Ski Boots
• Skis/ Split Board
• Ski Poles 
• Skins - trimmed to specific equipment
• Avalanche Beacon*
• Avalanche Probe*
• Avalanche Shovel* (Metal)
• Ice Axe*
• Crampons* 
• Harness* 
• Ski Helmet
• Ski goggles
• Sunglasses (We suggest Julbo Sun Glasses)
• 50+ SPF Sunscreen
• Lib Balm with SPF
• Headlamp with Fresh Batteries
• Water Bottle - 2 X Collapsable Nalgene Style Water Bottle
• Blister Kit
• Camera
• Ear Plugs
• Backpacks - Large Pack (50L-75L) Depending on Program
• Sleeping bag (-9 minimum)

* means Cloudnine can provide it if needed.

essential clothing

• Base Layers - Tops and Bottoms (Wool or Synthetic Only) x2
• Mid Layers - Tops and Bottoms (200 Weight Wool or Synthetic is Ideal)  x2
• Socks - Wool Blend is best, no cotton x2
• Light Collared Synthetic Shirt (optional, nice for the really hot sunny days) x2
• Softshell Jacket and Pants
• Gore Tex Jacket and Pants
• Sun Hat
• Buff Style Neck Tube or Similar x2 
• Insulated Hat
• Gloves - Heavyweight and Lightweight Options
• Underwear + spares
• Down or Synthetic Insulated Jacket

Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance

The best method to protect your investment with us should unforeseen is to purchase a Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance Policy. We strongly recommend purchasing coverage.

Lifestyle Insurance has covered many of Cloud Nine Guests on trips all over the world, and we have first hand experience seeing these policies activated by our Guests. 

Safeguard your trip costs and investment with us. Request a Quote from Lifestyle Financial.

Is this coverage required?

• For Canadian Residents, coverage is suggested by not required to register.
• For Non-Canadian Citizens, coverage is suggested but not required. It is strongly suggested that your policy includes Emergency Medical Coverage, unless you carry alternative policy which will respond in the event of medical emergency.

WAIVER - Release of Liability & Indemnity Agreement

Prior to booking you will be required to acknowledge that you have been provided a copy of our Waiver of Liability Agreement for your review. All participants, or their legal guardians wishing to participate on any Cloud Nine Programs, must acknowledge that they have been presented this document in advance of booking, have read it in its entirety, and understand the agreement being entered into by signing. While there is no obligation to enter into this agreement with us, it is a condition of our service provision. 

   REVIEW OUR WAIVER OF LIABILITY HERE

Booking TErms & Conditions

Before you book your course, please review our Booking Terms & Conditions. We do not accept bookings without your voluntary acceptance of these terms. Please read carefully as these terms outline specific policies and guidance for both our staff and clients with respect to refunds, cancellations, rescheduling etc.

   REVIEW OUR BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS HERE

Book a free consultation

Book a phone call or video call with either of our Program Managers or with our Director of operations HERE. 

This is an excellent preliminary step towards booking a trip with us. It allows us to better understand your requirements and needs for your desired objective. 

Program Managers:
Jack Tebb

Director of Operations: 
Mike Trehearne