SteveR
Member
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2016
- Messages
- 902
In mid March we helicoptered into the Campbell Icefield Chalet in the backcountry NE of Golden BC, for our third week of looking after lodge operations this winter. While there are some routine chores, and maintenance responsibilities- we were also there to ski. We had a great week of that in full-on spring skiing weather, along with the Okanagan section of the Alpine Club of Canada.
Our home for the week is the cabin to the right, with the wood fired sauna at centre.
![_1090241 copy 2.jpg _1090241 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76560-a8e3b6d1edd4e14c2eefb3a8520d28eb.jpg)
Returning to Campbell Icefield Chalet after the first afternoon of skiing.
![_1090003 copy 2.jpg _1090003 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76573-741b7b4325ae3703240d4c26b8b8d96e.jpg)
The weeks routine goes like this. Climb.
![_1090011 copy 3.jpg _1090011 copy 3.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76562-ba4cdc7b88c016e3d97ec8b1cebcb895.jpg)
Ski.
![_1090059 copy 2.jpg _1090059 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76563-5db36b15ff7fc3f9cd3715faa6ef875a.jpg)
Repeat until tired.
![_1090083 copy 2.jpg _1090083 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76564-2312f6108c993c5d3acb3505f1a49732.jpg)
A highlight was a tour through a pass and up onto the Campbell Icefield itself, which is one valley over from the basin where the lodge is located.
![_1090007 copy 2.jpg _1090007 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76589-9fbe718f5b3855342f1682188ce8e3ca.jpg)
At the Low Col.
![_1090123 copy 2.jpg _1090123 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76566-ff10bba4df3b92675e5a44e6ad50628d.jpg)
Onwards towards the icefield.
![_1090132 copy 2.jpg _1090132 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76567-7f714d1f96c1bffcc84dee52f35056a8.jpg)
Through the moraines below the toe of the icefield.
![_1090133 copy 2.jpg _1090133 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76565-57aac0b71cb9ce77df2f81fe76654747.jpg)
Lunch break on the High Col, after crossing the south part of the icefield.
![_1090142 copy 2.jpg _1090142 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76568-779216fa736557800a78c2d4d1c5aeb6.jpg)
Time for some powder skiing!
![_1090198 copy 2.jpg _1090198 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76569-488eecf6dbeb73876e7d4b3e5d8a804f.jpg)
120 degree panorama of the icefield.
![Untitled_Panorama1-1 copy 2.jpg Untitled_Panorama1-1 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76570-9a1920c7d8cc556a57fb096034b97295.jpg)
Back up, again.
![_1090178 copy 2.jpg _1090178 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76571-d3b1392f96d72ffc14232f6a71c97b60.jpg)
Ski some more.
![_1090183 copy 2.jpg _1090183 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76572-6d71d619b05617e5382e1c860a10641d.jpg)
Home.
![_1090334 copy 2.jpg _1090334 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76586-af3e35a87854c9784a54a1a7e6c2a7cd.jpg)
While conditions were too crusty around the lodge for a moonlight ski, the full moon kept the photographers busy on several evenings.
![_1090417 copy 3.jpg _1090417 copy 3.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76578-f29f066b418a7907b2cf2fe0a843b8b4.jpg)
And also made for some good morning images.
![_1090423 copy 2.jpg _1090423 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76584-88a155eae906c75da36dbc54c1a4fe09.jpg)
One day, some of us kept close to home and skied the nearby slopes of Paradise once the refrozen snow softened in the sun.
![_1090372 copy 2.jpg _1090372 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76574-8212f2dcc4b24a0179ca143fb8328f72.jpg)
Did I mention the springlike weather with daytime highs of plus 5 to 8 Celsius?
![_1090385 copy 2.jpg _1090385 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76575-8ef3dee7a50d62d308b5ca2d2e931389.jpg)
Corn snow on south and west aspects, with dry powder still on the high norths in the distance.
![_1090392 copy 2.jpg _1090392 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76576-b62b5ad675085526ad1d3b56fcc72f64.jpg)
That was all well and good, but dry powder was the goal for another outstanding tour, to the Bluewater Glacier. We are heading for the low point on the skyline.
![_1090250 copy 2.jpg _1090250 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76577-dc03a9d0dd38372ff197adba9336dc2c.jpg)
Looking back from the glacier. Spot the lodge?
![_1090256 copy 2.jpg _1090256 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76579-9c7f3dc8af663888012ef2c0a478c155.jpg)
At the top of the glacier in time for lunch.
![_1090265 copy 2.jpg _1090265 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76580-0e7596ce33a51118dd2d037268c4ea3e.jpg)
Views abound- looking over to the icefield, and the white pyramid of Mount Freshfield.
![_1090263 copy 2.jpg _1090263 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76581-cee02e5135e44b091edeecc0ceceff44.jpg)
Although low angle- the long descent down the glacier was fast and fun. The superb skiing quality called for a repeat run.
![_1090463 copy 2.jpg _1090463 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76582-abd326b31c320c5c19bcd15830bb98ef.jpg)
A telephoto look back from the lodge, at the days work on the glacier.
![_1090343 copy 2.jpg _1090343 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76583-92704baf74c27fb82cfbc7dd03107633.jpg)
My wife Jo- happy after another great week at the Campbell Icefield!
![_1090467 copy 2.jpg _1090467 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76585-90ae986a32639a688bde8adf7031c804.jpg)
More pix from the trip:
https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/CampbellIcefield-March2019/
Our February 2019 trip that we organize for a group of friends:
https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/Campbell-Icefield-February-2019/
Our home for the week is the cabin to the right, with the wood fired sauna at centre.
![_1090241 copy 2.jpg _1090241 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76560-a8e3b6d1edd4e14c2eefb3a8520d28eb.jpg)
Returning to Campbell Icefield Chalet after the first afternoon of skiing.
![_1090003 copy 2.jpg _1090003 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76573-741b7b4325ae3703240d4c26b8b8d96e.jpg)
The weeks routine goes like this. Climb.
![_1090011 copy 3.jpg _1090011 copy 3.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76562-ba4cdc7b88c016e3d97ec8b1cebcb895.jpg)
Ski.
![_1090059 copy 2.jpg _1090059 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76563-5db36b15ff7fc3f9cd3715faa6ef875a.jpg)
Repeat until tired.
![_1090083 copy 2.jpg _1090083 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76564-2312f6108c993c5d3acb3505f1a49732.jpg)
A highlight was a tour through a pass and up onto the Campbell Icefield itself, which is one valley over from the basin where the lodge is located.
![_1090007 copy 2.jpg _1090007 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76589-9fbe718f5b3855342f1682188ce8e3ca.jpg)
At the Low Col.
![_1090123 copy 2.jpg _1090123 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76566-ff10bba4df3b92675e5a44e6ad50628d.jpg)
Onwards towards the icefield.
![_1090132 copy 2.jpg _1090132 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76567-7f714d1f96c1bffcc84dee52f35056a8.jpg)
Through the moraines below the toe of the icefield.
![_1090133 copy 2.jpg _1090133 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76565-57aac0b71cb9ce77df2f81fe76654747.jpg)
Lunch break on the High Col, after crossing the south part of the icefield.
![_1090142 copy 2.jpg _1090142 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76568-779216fa736557800a78c2d4d1c5aeb6.jpg)
Time for some powder skiing!
![_1090198 copy 2.jpg _1090198 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76569-488eecf6dbeb73876e7d4b3e5d8a804f.jpg)
120 degree panorama of the icefield.
![Untitled_Panorama1-1 copy 2.jpg Untitled_Panorama1-1 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76570-9a1920c7d8cc556a57fb096034b97295.jpg)
Back up, again.
![_1090178 copy 2.jpg _1090178 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76571-d3b1392f96d72ffc14232f6a71c97b60.jpg)
Ski some more.
![_1090183 copy 2.jpg _1090183 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76572-6d71d619b05617e5382e1c860a10641d.jpg)
Home.
![_1090334 copy 2.jpg _1090334 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76586-af3e35a87854c9784a54a1a7e6c2a7cd.jpg)
While conditions were too crusty around the lodge for a moonlight ski, the full moon kept the photographers busy on several evenings.
![_1090417 copy 3.jpg _1090417 copy 3.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76578-f29f066b418a7907b2cf2fe0a843b8b4.jpg)
And also made for some good morning images.
![_1090423 copy 2.jpg _1090423 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76584-88a155eae906c75da36dbc54c1a4fe09.jpg)
One day, some of us kept close to home and skied the nearby slopes of Paradise once the refrozen snow softened in the sun.
![_1090372 copy 2.jpg _1090372 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76574-8212f2dcc4b24a0179ca143fb8328f72.jpg)
Did I mention the springlike weather with daytime highs of plus 5 to 8 Celsius?
![_1090385 copy 2.jpg _1090385 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76575-8ef3dee7a50d62d308b5ca2d2e931389.jpg)
Corn snow on south and west aspects, with dry powder still on the high norths in the distance.
![_1090392 copy 2.jpg _1090392 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76576-b62b5ad675085526ad1d3b56fcc72f64.jpg)
That was all well and good, but dry powder was the goal for another outstanding tour, to the Bluewater Glacier. We are heading for the low point on the skyline.
![_1090250 copy 2.jpg _1090250 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76577-dc03a9d0dd38372ff197adba9336dc2c.jpg)
Looking back from the glacier. Spot the lodge?
![_1090256 copy 2.jpg _1090256 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76579-9c7f3dc8af663888012ef2c0a478c155.jpg)
At the top of the glacier in time for lunch.
![_1090265 copy 2.jpg _1090265 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76580-0e7596ce33a51118dd2d037268c4ea3e.jpg)
Views abound- looking over to the icefield, and the white pyramid of Mount Freshfield.
![_1090263 copy 2.jpg _1090263 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76581-cee02e5135e44b091edeecc0ceceff44.jpg)
Although low angle- the long descent down the glacier was fast and fun. The superb skiing quality called for a repeat run.
![_1090463 copy 2.jpg _1090463 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76582-abd326b31c320c5c19bcd15830bb98ef.jpg)
A telephoto look back from the lodge, at the days work on the glacier.
![_1090343 copy 2.jpg _1090343 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76583-92704baf74c27fb82cfbc7dd03107633.jpg)
My wife Jo- happy after another great week at the Campbell Icefield!
![_1090467 copy 2.jpg _1090467 copy 2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/76/76585-90ae986a32639a688bde8adf7031c804.jpg)
More pix from the trip:
https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/CampbellIcefield-March2019/
Our February 2019 trip that we organize for a group of friends:
https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/Campbell-Icefield-February-2019/
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