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Banff

WAPTA SKI TRAVERSE: HUT-TO-HUT ADVENTURE IN BANFF - CANADA

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Ski Touring

Category

4 Days

Duration

Intermediate

Experience

Medium

Fitness

From 1 to 6

Participants

What you'll do

Discover the ultimate ski touring adventure in Banff, Canada. Over four days and three nights, traverse from Bow Lake to the Great Divide Lodge, staying in mountain huts each night. Start at Bow Hut, nestled in Bow Glacier Cirque. On day two, traverse to Balfour Hut, summiting peaks along the way. Day three challenges you with the Balfour High Col ascent, with a chance to summit Mt. Balfour (3,285m). End at Scott Duncan Hut before your final descent via Bath Glacier or Sherbrooke Lake. Experience the best skiing in Banff and ski touring in Canada at its finest.

Itinerary

We begin our adventure by meeting the guide for a final gear check around 7 a.m. From Banff or Lake Louise, we head to Bow Lake, the starting point of our traverse. The day's journey includes 400 meters of elevation gain over 8 kilometers, offering stunning views of the Canadian Rockies.
Departing from Bow Hut, we travel over the Olive St Nick Col, reaching an elevation of 2800 meters. Along the way, there's a chance to climb and ski a peak, making the most of the incredible alpine surroundings. Our destination for the day is the Balfour Hut, nestled in a high alpine paradise. Expect a minimum of 580 meters of elevation gain and loss over 7 kilometers.
An early start takes us over the Balfour High Col, with elevations reaching 3000 meters. The breathtaking alpine setting offers options for an additional ski run, depending on the conditions. We then continue to the Scott Duncan Hut at 2700 meters. The day's journey involves 520 meters of elevation gain and a 250-meter descent over 10 kilometers.
On the final day, we descend from the Scott Duncan Hut into Sherbrooke Creek, enjoying some fantastic skiing along the way. The route concludes with some exhilarating tree skiing, marking the end of our epic Canadian Rockies winter experience. The day involves a descent of 1200 meters over 12 kilometers. You will arrive in the late afternoon; we reccomend to book the flight back the day after.

Important stuff

From the highest peaks to the hidden trails, we've got your back

Once you book, your trip is guaranteed to run, allowing you to book your flights with confidence.

Want to change your departure date or trip? No problem—enjoy maximum flexibility to make changes up to 60 days before departure.

Travel with peace of mind. Our insurance package covers accidents and rescue during outdoor activities, medical expenses, and luggage protection, as well as trip cancellations and 24/7 medical assistance from our insurance partner.

see more on How it works

What's included

Accident insurance
Medical and luggage insurance
Travel cancellation insurance
ACMG IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide
Transportation from Banff Guides's Office to ski touring trip starting point
Hut accommodation
Food
Flight
Visa (if applicable)
Transport from airport
Transport to airport
Car rental
Snacks and drinks
Extra transfer
Tourist tax
Local tipping
Everything not mentioned in the “What’s included”
Pre & Post activity food
Pre & Post activity accommodation

Accomodations

Bow Hut, Balfour Hut, Scott Duncan Hut

Every day a different hut! Sleeping in mountain huts in the heart of the Canadian wilderness, surrounded only by snow and peaks! A true adventure!

Guides

Jeff & Alpine Air Adventures

Jeff & Alpine Air Adventures

Jess is ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide born in Canada. Jeff and his guiding team along with his family, Amy, Chloe & Kye look forward to meeting you and sharing this passion for adventure, which is found in the alpine air of the Canadian Rockies.

Meeting point

51.1782501-115.5727275
Banff

Frequently asked questions

Departures

All departures are guaranteed to run

April 2025
Fri
18 Apr
7:00 AM
Mon
21 Apr
6:00 PM

Sold Out

2390 €
(788 € deposit)

Reviews 5.0

1 total

Al
Alessia (Mar 2025)

It was my first time in Canada and I could have not hoped for anything better. The powder-snow was so deep, soft and light. The landscapes of the Canadian Rockies were breathtaking and massive. Our guide Jeff was simply amazing: a true Canadian that worked for decades in these mountains and was able to quickly adapt the plans with the weather conditions ensuring a truly exceptional (and safe) adventure. 4 days back-country skiing in some of the best mountains in the world, what a dream! Canada lived up to its name! Thank you Mapo Tapo!

2390 €

(788 € deposit)