Headway Systems: Campbell Icefields

DAY 3 - Alan Drainage DAY 4 - More trees DAY 5 - Dome & Big Easy Monday we woke up to yet another warm day with lots of snow falling so it was decided that a tour down the valley would be the best and safest route. We headed back down through the trees, down the Bluewater Creek and then headed north up the Alan Campbell drainage. We had found some great skiing in that area the year before but breaking trail through 40 centimetres of heavy wet snow almost broke us.
Bluewater Creek. The lodge's generator is down here.	The snow was so heavy and wet Roy was having a hard time keeping up momentum to turn

Steve has the difficult job of trail breaking through the trees. We took turns breaking trail but the snow was so heavy that no one lasted very long as lead trail breaker.	You can see by the trench just how deep the snow was. What you can't see is just how blooming heavy the snow is.
Once we got to the open meadow, no one had any enthusiasm or energy to go any further. We managed to get in some reasonable turns on the way back down the drainage before starting the climb back up the Bluewater to home. A couple of keeners stayed out and skied yesterdays trees again.
Sunset at the end of a long hard day.	The group relaxing and sharing some appies.


Some people had more energy than others for cards or reading (with your eyes closed).
Day 4 More trees. Unfortunately the weather was socked in again so trees were on the agenda. 3 people skied the trees on the ridge above the lodge while 5 of us sussed out some trees below the lodge. Between blizzards like conditions and elephant snot snow, we did manage to plough a few turns. The smart ones stayed put and enjoyed some quiet time in the lodge. Day 5 The Dome & Big Easy It was a fine thing to wake up to bright blue and clear skies. For first timers to Campbell, this was their first glimpse at the amazing scenery in the area. Avalanche conditions were still very high so Jesse offered to lead us up a safe route to the Dome.
Morning view of the Big Easy.	Checking transceivers before heading out.
Photo courtesy Steve Riggs			1. The Dome Our destination today is the Dome taking a route shown to us by Jesse and his wife Christine. Approximate route shown in red. Ladies Last Chance - there ain't no trees past this point. Some of us spent a awesome day sking in the trees below LLC a couple of days later. 2. Bluewater Glacier This will be the destination for some of us the following day.
Ena, Franz and John take a break before tackling the hard crusty snow down through the trees.	Christine leads the way up through the moraines towards the Dome.


Back Row: Larry Fisher, Ena Spalding, Franz Dopf, Robbie Dopf, John Bargman, Steve Riggs, John Davies, Karen Fisher, John Alliston, Roy Scarisbrick Front Row: Brian Dechene, Jim Eickmeier, Barb Davis, Joanne Riggs, Carol Guthrie, Betty Alliston
In the background you can see the 2 Christmas tree runs that caused a lot of grief over the next few days. The heavy wet snow had become un-skiable due to the wicked sun crust that had formed on top. It was our only safe route to access the Dome and the Bluewater though.	Robbie cresting
The view looking north from the top of the Dome. I believe this is the Freshfield range.
"If you're not falling then you're not trying hard enough."		It was a tricky descent from the top of the Dome as there was a bit of a sun crust in places. But lower down it was pretty fine.
Photo Steve Riggs After leaving the Dome we headed back up past the lodge and up onto the Big Easy.		Here's a shot and video of some of the gang skiing from last season.